19 December 2008
By Alex Klaushofer
The former head of the Government's Accountancy Service has been appointed as the first chair of the National Audit Office.
Sir Andrew Likierman, who oversaw the introduction of Best Practice accountancy standards during his ten years at the Treasury, was selected for the post by Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Commons Public Accounts Committee chair Edward Leigh.
The new position is being created as part of governance reforms of the NAO following a review by the parliamentary select committee that scrutinises the watchdog, the Public Accounts Commission, in February this year.
The commission's report, which followed a row about the expenses and accountability of former NAO comptroller and auditor general Sir John Bourn, recommended that the NAO be established as a corporate body, governed by a chair and board of largely non-executive members.
But plans to pass the legislation necessary to bring about the changes, in the form of a constitutional renewal Bill, have been put back as the economic crisis has dominated parliamentary time.
A spokeswoman for the NAO said that the delay would not stop the new chair from taking up the one-day-a-week job in the new year. 'He will be ratified in due course,' she said. 'He will be operating as planned.'
Leigh said he was 'delighted' with the appointment. 'I chaired the panel that interviewed a strong field for this important new post,' he said.
He added: 'I have no hesitation in describing Sir Andrew as an outstanding candidate with profound knowledge and experience of both the public and the private sectors and with a distinguished academic record.'
PFdec2008
