The NCA has a range of formal business planning arrangements in place to ensure we focus on our statutory responsibilities and strategic objectives. The NCA Corporate Plan 2019-20 to 2022-23 set out our core objectives for 2019-20 – the Performance Statement (Chapter 2) reconciles our planned work against outcomes achieved. The Corporate Plan is supplemented and detailed in Branch and Team Business Plans and in individual performance agreements. These arrangements set out their team and individual responsibilities and provide a line of sight for each staff member from their work to the NCA’s organisational goals and objectives.

The NCA has committees in place to monitor and manage the NCA’s work and oversight particular responsibilities and objectives– see Chapter 2. These structures provide crossagency input and particular focus on key areas such as work health and safety.

The NCA has a defined corporate control framework in place to ensure the proper management of the agency. Key documents and instruments include Accountable Authority Instructions, Authority and Audit Committee Charters, a Risk Management Policy and Framework and delegation arrangements for relevant functions and operations.

The NCA manages audit and assurance arrangements through the NCA Audit Committee. The Committee provides independent assurance and advice in relation to the NCA’s risk, control and compliance frameworks and its external accountability responsibilities.

The Audit Committee met four times in 2019-20, and considered and monitored the NCA’s:

• financial reporting
• planning and performance matters
• risk management arrangements
• the NCA’s control framework
• governance and compliance matters, including fraud control arrangements
• audit and assurance plans and reports.

Further details on the NCA Audit Committee are included in Chapter 1.

The NCA ensured sound risk management arrangements were maintained during the year. The Senior Leadership Team actively monitored the NCA’s strategic and other significant risks.

The NCA maintained appropriate records management arrangements in 2019-20 in accordance with the requirements of the Archives Act 1983 and related Australian Government information management policy.

The NCA has a strong ethical framework, based on the APS Values, Employment Principles, and Code of Conduct. The framework is upheld through a range of human resource policies and employment arrangements (such as the NCA Enterprise Agreement and the NCA’s Performance Management and Appraisal Scheme), as well as awareness training at induction and through periodic updates and reminders.

The NCA conducted a detailed Fraud Risk Assessment in mid-2019 and updated the Fraud Control Plan to reflect the Assessment. The NCA maintains sound fraud control arrangements, including through a range of preventative controls, procedural arrangements and periodic awareness training.

The NCA maintained appropriate protective security arrangements in 2019-20, in line with requirements set out in the Australian Government’s Protective Security Policy Framework.

The NCA also maintained appropriate business continuity arrangements to ensure core functions and operations can be maintained in the context of a disruptive event, to the extent possible.