Why KCG

• Kingston City Group (KCG) is an innovative service provider of internal audit, risk management, governance and advisory services that offers high quality service and value for Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in London and the South East. KCG is a shared services Consortium of HEIs that have pooled resources to work in partnership to provide internal audit and management assurance services to the Member institutions. All costs are shared between the Member institutions in proportion to professional service days delivered. The KCG Consortium is not profit-making from its Membership.

• Internal audit and management assurance generally have undergone significant change in the past several years, migrating from a reactive, retrospective and tick-box function based on financial compliance to a proactive, forward looking and challenge role that takes a risk based focus across all institutional activity. In addition to providing management assurance and an Audit Opinion on internal control for our Member institutions, The KCG Consortium is equipped to:
  • Assist and advise in the assessment and management of institutional strategic and operational risks at every level.
  • Identify business process improvement opportunities, cost savings and value for money (VfM) opportunities.
  • Advise on enhancements to governance and management arrangements.
  • Benchmark performance in a variety of activities between the Member institutions.
  • Act as a catalyst for institutional change (culture, structure, management arrangements, processes and procedures etc) and seek opportunities to enhance the delivery of the institutions' corporate objectives.

• The primary advantage of the KCG Consortium arrangement is that it draws on the strengths of both outsourced and in-house service provision models. The KCG Consortium model provides a sensible alternative to outsourced provision and small in-house internal audit teams.

• The KCG Consortium provides high quality and modern internal audit and management assurance services, tailored to meet our Members’ needs, at reasonable fee rates that compare favourably with our direct competitors.

• The KCG Consortium distinguishes itself from its main competitors through its uniqueness in the HE sector and its in-house HE sector expertise and characteristics. KCG’s competitive edge is its ability to provide genuinely tailored internal audit and management assurance services at a competitive cost/price to its Member institutions with a thorough understanding and knowledge of HE culture and operations.

• Each Member institution monitors the quality of services it receives on a regular basis and within the established framework. In addition, a Members’ Group with representatives from each Member institution oversees quality at an organisational level. The Consortium’s services are benchmarked and reviewed regularly for value for money, which the Members’ Group oversees. This Group is also used as a Users’ Forum and to disseminate good practice across KCG’s Member institutions.

• The KCG Consortium is an Unincorporated Association, jointly owned by the Member institutions. This arrangement allows all Member institutions to be actively involved in the governance, management and operations of KCG, and to share in all benefits.

• Together with our external collaborative partner, Tenon Group, The KCG Consortium has an enormous range of service offerings which allows us to deliver high quality internal audit and management assurance at reasonable cost to our Member institutions.