The most recent edition of Deloitte’s “Audit Committee Brief” discusses priorities for the current quarter and future periods. I thought the discussion of how audit committees have adjusted their meetings and other committee processes in light of the limitations imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic was particularly interesting. Here’s an excerpt on prioritization of agenda items and meeting materials:
Many audit committee chairs have been reassessing the way their time is spent in meetings. Regardless of how the meeting structure has changed, prioritizing the agenda has been key for the committee’s effectiveness. Audit committee chairs should consider taking a step back to reevaluate what’s top priority. Simply following a previously created annual calendar or last quarter’s agenda may not allow the committee to focus on the right topics. Some audit committee chairs have pushed topics that aren’t top priority to later in the year or to consent agendas to allow more time for some of these critical discussions.
Many committees have reviewed meeting materials when considering ways to enhance effectiveness. Some companies are sharing more memos or narratives with pre-read materials; these provide committee members a bigger picture view and allow the members to come better prepared with questions. It can also provide a way to stay informed in between meetings. Some committees are providing more written questions to management before meetings. This doesn’t mean that questions are limited to those provided in advance, but it may help management come more prepared to discuss what’s important to the audit committee and allow for more robust discussions.
The publication also addresses topics such as financial reporting, forecasting, risk oversight, compliance and other challenges facing audit committees in the current environment.
-John Jenkins, TheCorporateCounsel.net July 28, 2020
