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The new auditor general for Wales will get started in the job this summer, after her appointment was backed by Senedd Members.
The auditor general’s duty is to audit the accounts of public sector bodies across Wales, and look into how they manage and spend money.
What is the auditor general?
The auditor general for Wales is independent of government, not a civil servant, and is appointed by the King.
The auditor general is the statutory external auditor of most of the Welsh public sector. This means they audit the accounts of county and county borough councils, police, fire and rescue authorities, national parks and community councils, as well as the Welsh Government, its sponsored and related public bodies, the Senedd Commission, and National Health Service bodies.
The auditor general’s role includes examining how public bodies manage and spend public money, including how they achieve value in the delivery of public services. The auditor general publishes reports on that work, some of which are considered by the Welsh Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee. He also reports every year on how well individual local authorities are planning for improvement.
The Office of Auditor General for Wales was created in 2005 and the current incumbent, Adrian Crompton, has been in the post since July 2018. The post can be held by an individual for a maximum of eight years.
Catherine Mealing-Jones will take over from Adrian Crompton in July, when his eight-year term comes to an end.
Ms Mealing-Jones has more than 30 years of experience in public service. She has previously served as director of growth at the UK Space Agency, as well as chief executive of the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park Authority. She is also a chartered public finance accountant.
She was named as the Senedd’s cross-party finance committee’s preferred candidate, and received the backing of Senedd Members on Wednesday March 4.
Ms Mealing-Jones said it was an “honour” to be nominated and to “have the opportunity to build on the great work of Adrian Crompton during his time in the role”.
She continued: “Public services across Wales are facing real and growing pressures – and addressing them requires sustainable long‑term solutions and fresh approaches to ensure that all the people of Wales continue to receive the services they rely on.”
The new appointment vowed to “work closely” with the public sector to “support their efforts to deliver for communities, maximise value for public money, and strengthen public trust through the highest standards of decision‑making, transparency and accountability”.
South Wales East Senedd Member Peredur Owen Griffiths led the recruitment process as part of his role as finance committee chair.
The Plaid Cymru MS said: “She has shown a deep commitment to public service throughout her distinguished career to date and demonstrated the key attributes required of this position.
“The panel and the committee were impressed with Catherine’s experience and integrity, and feel she is very well-equipped to continue and develop the critical work undertaken by the Wales Audit Office.”
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