The firm would be responsible for helping guard against financial and reputational risks, as well as bad practices within the council, the DCC audit and risk subcommittee meeting was told yesterday.
Previously, the council had relied on an ''assignment by assignment'' approach to internal audits, which meant ''limited'' formal planning to address risks, a report by council financial controller Gavin Logie said.
The new appointment came after the council sought proposals from the private sector, resulting in two from Crowe Horwath and PricewaterhouseCoopers.
Crowe Horwath's selection meant it would hold a three-year contract to provide internal audit services, at a cost to the council of up to $64,860 in the first year, Mr Logie said.
That was based on a daily-rate charge, budgeted for up to 70 days in the first year.
The following two years would be approved subject to ''satisfactory performance'', with a maximum increase in the daily rate of 2.5% per year, he said.
• The Dunedin City Council is to undertake a last-minute review of its incoming conflict of interest policy, following an Auditor-general's report into the handling of a conflict by the Queenstown Lakes District Council.
Auditor-general Lyn Provost, in a report released last week, said the QLDC properly handled a conflict of interest over a proposed subdivision by a family trust of chief executive Adam Feeley.
But Ms Provost also said the former Serious Fraud Office boss and Queenstown Lakes Mayor Vanessa van Uden ''could have done some things better''.
The findings have since prompted the DCC to delay plans to introduce its own conflict of interest policy.
The draft policy was due to be presented at next week's full council meeting, but would now be reviewed in light of the Auditor-general's findings, DCC corporate services group manager Sandy Graham told yesterday's audit and risk subcommittee meeting.
The council would now review ''a couple of aspects'' of the draft policy, and was expected to have a final version ready by Christmas, Ms Graham said.
