Following a unanimous recommendation by the Officers of Parliament Committee, Parliament has today appointed Andrew McConnell (pictured) as New Zealand’s next Deputy Controller and Auditor-General.
Mr McConnell is currently Acting Deputy Director-General Te Uru Rākau – New Zealand Forest Service with the Ministry of Primary Industries, having previously been its Deputy Director-General Compliance and Governance and Director Māori Agribusiness.
Prior to this, he held senior roles at the Department of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Justice. He also worked at the Office of the Auditor-General as a Sector Manager from 2000 to 2010.
Greg Schollum, who has served as Deputy Controller and Auditor-General since 2015 will retire from the role on 30 April.
In a statement today, the OAG said Mr Schollum had made “an immense contribution to the Office, New Zealand’s public sector, and to the accounting and auditing profession both in New Zealand and internationally during his career”.
The Deputy Controller and Auditor-General is appointed under the Public Audit Act 2001 in the same way as the Controller and Auditor-General, and is also an Officer of Parliament. The Deputy has the same responsibilities under the Act as the Auditor-General, but to be carried out subject to the Auditor-General’s control.
Mr McConnell will commence in the role from 1 May.
