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Audit Commission > National Fraud Initiative > Public sector > Case studies – Public Sector > Trade creditors case studies

Trade creditors case studies

Northumberland County Council

2010/11

The NFI trade creditor matches helped Northumberland County Council recover approximately £150,000 duplicate creditor payments.

Investigation of the matches highlighted issues with invoice input processes in outlying departments at a time the council was undergoing significant restructuring.

The Council immediately introduced a new standardised procedure, including a quarterly monitoring process set up by their internal audit department, designed to prevent future duplicate payments.

South Tyneside Metropolitan Borough Council

2008/09

By adopting an effective and coordinated follow up of NFI trade creditors matches, South Tyneside Metropolitan Borough Council found a number of duplicate creditor payments, which it is in the process of recovering. South Tyneside has addressed the control issues that the duplicate payments brought to light to reduce the probability of a repetition.