Case Study: Enhancing Public Procurement Oversight: Audit of a National Regulatory Authority Licensee

12 Jun
Posted by: Barkers Procurement
Category: Case Studies
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National regulatory authority procurement review case study image demonstrating governance, compliance, and strategic procurement improvement.

Discover how Barkers helped a national regulatory authority ensure public money is spent responsibly while embedding sustainability considerations into procurement processes.

A national regulatory authority tasked Barkers with auditing a licensee’s procurement activities over three consecutive financial years. Using the NAO (National Audit Office) Framework as a benchmark, our team assessed whether the licensee was meeting its obligations and managing public funds responsibly. Our audits provided the regulator with clear insights into performance, risk areas, and opportunities for improvement, while also highlighting the licensee’s efforts to integrate sustainability practices into its operations.

Business Requirement

The regulator commissioned Barkers to conduct annual audits for 2021/22, 2022/23, and 2023/24, focusing on four key areas of contract and commercial management. Each audit aimed to:

  • Evaluate the licensee’s performance against the NAO Framework.
  • Provide evidence of compliance with public procurement rules.
  • Assess whether public money was being spent efficiently and responsibly.

The audits were designed to give the regulator a robust basis for oversight, ensuring contracts and procurement processes were effectively managed, while also considering ESG factors where relevant.

Our Approach

Barkers’ audit team conducted a comprehensive review each year, examining thousands of documents and interviewing both internal and external stakeholders, including:

  • Senior managers at the licensee
  • Key suppliers
  • Relevant government departments
  • Industry code administrators

We structured interviews and assessments around the NAO Framework’s seven pillars:

  1. Commercial Strategy
  2. Capability and Governance
  3. Market Management and Sourcing
  4. Contract Approach
  5. Contract Management
  6. Contract Lifecycle
  7. Transition and Termination

Each audit culminated in a detailed report and a presentation to the regulator, highlighting:

  • Performance against each pillar
  • Progress compared with prior years
  • Recommendations for improvement

Sustainability considerations were woven into the audit, reflecting the licensee’s commitment to ESG principles, even though they are not explicitly required by the NAO Framework.

Outputs

For each financial year, Barkers delivered:

  • A comprehensive audit report (~70 pages) with detailed analysis, evidence, and auditor scores.
  • A presentation summarising key findings, progress, and recommendations.

For example, the 2023/24 audit involved:

  • Reviewing 1,380+ documents
  • Engaging 49 stakeholders (including 29 in-depth interviews)
  • Documenting 24 key findings

Our work enabled the regulator to scrutinise contractual agreements, assess performance, and ensure value for money, while also recognising and encouraging the licensee’s ESG efforts across procurement and operational processes.

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Enhancing Public Procurement Oversight: Audit of a National Regulatory Authority Licensee – Case Study

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