The government of New South Wales in Australia has appointed Bola Oyetunji, a Nigerian-born professional, as the next Auditor-General.
Premier Chris Minns made the announcement and Oyetunji is set to be sworn into office in April, succeeding the current Auditor-General, Margaret Crawford.
According to a statement on the government website, Oyetunji was appointed following a merit-based recruitment process.
The statement read: “I welcome the appointment of Mr. Oyetunji as the next Auditor-General of this state.
“His extensive experience across all levels of government will be valued highly in this important role.
“Under Mr. Oyetunji, the Audit Office will continue to ensure public money is used to achieve the best outcomes for NSW.
“I’d like to thank outgoing Auditor-General Margaret Crawford PSM for her work over the past eight years, including the many significant reviews conducted by her and her team,” Minns said.
According to the Treasurer Daniel Mookhey, “Mr Oyetunji’s credentials in auditing, including his roles at the Australian National Audit Office and Audit Office of NSW, will be invaluable to ensuring public money is properly spent to best serve the people of NSW.
“I’d also like to take this opportunity to thank outgoing Auditor-General Margaret Crawford PSM for her service over the past eight years, working tirelessly to help the Parliament of New South Wales hold governments accountable for their use of public resources.”
Oyetunji said his, “Being appointed as the next Auditor-General for NSW is a great honour.
“I am committed to the integrity and independence required of the role in holding government and state agencies accountable for how they govern and use resources under their management. I look forward to serving the NSW Parliament in this capacity.”
Oyetunji’s professional background includes extensive executive leadership in areas such as strategy formulation, governance, data analytics, finance, accounting, and auditing at all levels of government, from Commonwealth to State and Local.
Oyetunji’s career started at the University of Ife, where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Economics. This academic foundation paved the way for his subsequent professional success.
Following his undergraduate studies, he pursued and earned a Master of Commerce in Banking and Finance from the University of New South Wales (UNSW) between 1997 and 1999, solidifying his knowledge of the financial sector.
His professional chapter began in July 1995 at Deloitte Australia, where Oyetunji served as a Client Manager until March 1997.
During this period, spanning approximately 1 year and 9 months, he honed his skills in client management, setting a precedent for his career in finance and auditing.
Transitioning to Ernst & Young Sydney in March 1997, he took on the role of Senior Manager. For over three years, until June 2000, he undertook significant responsibilities, contributing to his growing expertise in the field.
In December 2001, he took a significant step forward in his career by joining the Audit Office of New South Wales (NSW).
He was the Director for nearly 16 years, until January 2018, overseeing the superannuation, insurance, and finance industries while also acting as the Engagement Controller and signing Officer for the Auditor General of NSW.
This long tenure demonstrates his unwavering commitment and growing responsibilities in the public sector.
In March 2018, when he was appointed Senior Executive Director of the Audit Office of NSW, a position he will hold until September 2021.
This role lasted three years and seven months, where he provided leadership and strategic oversight in the auditing domain.
