Finance Committee

Membership

These include:

1. an independent Chairperson appointed by the Council in rotation from the members of the Finance Committee
2. a representative for each SKAO Member appointed by their State or international organisation (voting)
3. representatives from countries with observer status at the Council (no vote)

Chairperson (independent): Mr Bishen Singh (NRF, South Africa)

Member Representatives (April 2024)

Observers

Subcommittees

The Finance Committee has three supporting subcommittees for scrutiny, advice and recommendations to the Council.  Each Member of the SKAO (State or international organisation) appoints their own representative to the Subcommittee.  Associate Members of SKAO can appoint a representative to observe at the meetings.  Each subcommittee has delegated responsibility from the Finance Committee for oversight of the SKAO of:

1. Administration Subcommittee: administration management including, but not limited to, review of staff remuneration and amendments to the SKAO Staff Regulations.
2. In-Kind Subcommittee:  in-kind procurement processes.  In-Kind contributions are non-financial (such as providing staff for a project), and the Subcommittee evaluate, review and approve a cost-book value of the In-Kind contributions.
3. Tender Subcommittee: procurement processes. 

Rules and Regulations

The Finance Committee follow:

• Finance Committee Terms of Reference:  which explains what the Committee must review including:
  • financial management - budgets, payment schedules and member contributions, auditing and risk management, and annual accounts
  • finance planning and policy – rules and regulations, long-term planning, valuing assets and assessing participation in phases either for later development or outside the SKA project
  • Observatory membership – related financial contributions, conditions and liabilities
  • Administrative oversight - review of SKAO staff remuneration and related policies and regulations
  • Procurement – contract awards – both competitive and single/sole source, and in-kind contracts, or any Country-of-Origin issues
• Finance Committee Rules of Procedure:  which explain the composition of the Committee, rules relating to conduct and attendance, and how meetings work e.g. voting.
• the Financial Protocols (Annex B to the SKAO Convention):  which states that the SKAO must follow principles of sound financial management and explains how the Funding Schedule (how much each member pays) is reviewed and managed.  High level details are also provided on methods of budget approval, assets provided by host countries, and loans and liabilities.