Tenure of Office
By Resolution 55/248 of 12 April 2001, the General Assembly approved a change in the term of office of members of the Board to a non-consecutive term of six years' duration, commencing 1 July 2002. Previously, members were appointed for a three year term, which was renewable. Appointments are staggered in such a way that the term of office of one of the members expires every two years. The General Assembly, therefore, appoints a new Board member every two years.
If a member of the Board ceases to hold office as Auditor-General (or equivalent title) in her/his country, the tenure of office is terminated and the person who succeeds her/him as Auditor-General becomes the new Board member. A Board member may not otherwise be removed during her/his tenure except by the General Assembly.
The members of the Board are expected to be available for approximately two weeks each year for meetings of the Board and Panel of External Auditors of the United Nations, the Specialized Agencies and the International Atomic Energy Agency. In addition, each member has to be available for whatever consultations are necessary throughout the year with the United Nations Administration, the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions and other governing bodies.
In addition to a full-time Director stationed in New York, each member provides audit staff from his/her national audit office to conduct audits at various United Nations locations. For the purpose of making a local or special examination or of effecting economies in the audit cost, the Board may engage the services of any national Auditor-General (or officer holding the equivalent title) or commercial public auditors of known repute, or any other person or firm which, in the opinion of the Board, is technically qualified.