CHURCH OF IRELAND DIOCESE OF DOWN AND DROMORE
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEM8ER 2023
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS, REPORT TO THE DIOCESAN COUNCIL OF DOWN AND DROMORE
Opinion
We have audited the financial statements of Diocese o* Down and Dromore for the year ended 31 December 2023 which
comprise the statement of financial activities (including income and expenditure account), statement of financial position
and the related notes, including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has
been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including FRS 102 The
Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting
Practice).
In our opinion the financial statements..
give a true and fair view of the state of the charity's affairs as at 31 December 2023 and of its incoming
resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure, for the year then ended.,
have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice.,
have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act {Northern Ireland) 2008.
Basis for opinlon
We conducted our audit in accordance with Intemational Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAS (UK)) and applicable law. Our
responsibilities under those standards are further described in the auditor's responsibilities for the audit of the financial
statements section of our report. We are independent of the charity in accordance with the ethical requirements that are
relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC'S Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our
other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe thal the audit evidence we have obtained
is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.
Concluslons relating to going concern
In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the trustees, use of the going concern basis of accounting in
the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.
Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions
that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the charity's ability to continue as a going concern for a period
of at least twelve month5 from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.
Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant
sections of this report.
Other Inforniation
The other information comprises the information included in the annual report, other than the financial statements and our
auditor's report thereon. The trustees are responsible for the other information. Our opinion on the financial statements
does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express
any form of assurance conclusion thereon.
In connection with our audit of the financial statements, our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so,
consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in
the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material
mi5Statements, we are required to determine whether there is a material misstatement in the financial statements or a
material misststement of the other information. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a
material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.
We have nothing to report in this regard.

CHURCH OF IRELAND DIOCESE OF DOWN AND DROMORE
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS, REPORT TO THE DIOCESAN COUNCIL OF DOWN AND DROMORE ICONT'D)
Opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006
In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit:
the information given in the trustees, report for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared is
consistent with the financial statements., and
the trustees, report has been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements.
Matters on which we are required to report by exception
In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the charity and its environment obtained in the course of Ihe audit, we
have not identified material misstatements in the trustees, report.
We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Companies Act 2006 requires us to
report to you if, in our opinion.,
adeotjate accounting records have not been kept, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from
branches not visited by us- or
the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns-, or
certain disclosures of trustees, remuneration specified by law are not made; or
we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit.
Responsibilities of trustees
As explained more fully in the trustees, responsibilities statement, the trustees are responsible for the preparation of the
financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view. and for such internal control as the trustees
determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material rnisstatement, whether
due to fraud or error.
In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are responsible for assessing the charity's ability to continue as a going
concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concem basis of accounting unless
the trustees either intend to liquidate the charity or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternattve but to do so.
Auditor's responsiblllties for the audit of the financlal statements
our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whetherthe financial ststements as a whole are free from material
misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor's report that includes our opinion. Reasonable
assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAS (UK) will
a￿ayS detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered
material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users
taken on the basis of these financial statements.
Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design proGedures in line with
our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The extent
to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below=
In identifying and assessing risks of material misstatement in respect of irregularities, including fraud and non-compliance
with laws and regulations. we considered the following..
the nature of the industry and sector, control environment and business performance including the design of the
remuneration policies, key drivers for directors, remuneration, bonus levels and performance targets-
results of our enquiries of management about their own identification and assessment of the risks of irregularities.,
any matters we identified having obtained and reviewed documentation of their policie5 and procedures relating to:

CHURCH OF IRELAND DIOCESE OF DOWN AND DROMORE
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS, REPORT TO THE DIOCESAN COUNCIL OF DOWN AND DROMORE (CONT'D)
identifying, evaluating and complying with laws and regulations and whether management were aware of
any instances of non-compliance.,
detecting and responding to the risks of fraud and whether management have knowledge of any actual,
suspected or alleged fraud.,
the internal controls established to mitigate risks of fraud or non-compliance with laws and regulations.
the matters discussed among the audit engagement team including significant component audit teams and relevant
internal specialists, including tax and valuations specialists regarding how and where fraud might occur in the financial
statements and any potential indicators of fraud.
As a result of these procedures, we considered the opportunities and incentives that may exist within the organisation for
fraud and identified the greatest potential for fraud. In common with all audits under ISAS (UKI, we are also required to
perform specific procedures to respond to the risk of management override.
We also obtained an understanding of the legal and regulatory frameworks in operation, focusing on provisions of those
laws and regulations that had a direct effect on the determination of material amounts and disclosures in the financial
statements. The key laws and regulations we considered in this context included ongoing compliance with the UK
Companies Act and tax legislation.
In addition, we considered provisions of other laws and regulations that do not have a direct effect on the financial
statements but compliance with which may be fundamental for their ability to operate or to avoid a material penalty.
As part of an audit in accordance with ISAS (UK), we exercise professional judgment and mairstain professional scepticism
throughoul the audit. We also-.
Identify and assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to fraud or error, design
and perform audit procedures iesponsive to those risks. and obtain audit evidence that is sufficient and appropriate to
provide a basis for our opinion. The risk of not detecting a material misslatement resulting from fraud is higher than
for one resulting from error, as fraud may involve collusion, forgery, intentional omissions. misrepresentations, or the
override of internal control.
Obtain an understanding of internal control relevant to the audit in orderto design audit procedures that are appropriate
in the circumstances. but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the internal control.
Evaluate the appropriateness ofaccounting policies used and the reasonableness ofaccounting estimates and related
disclosures made by the trustees.
Conclude on the appropriateness ofthe trustees, use ofthe going concern basis ofaccounting and, based on the audit
evidence obtained, whether a material uncertainty exists related to events or conditions that may cast significant doubt
on the charity's ability to continue as a going concern. Ifwe conclude that a material uncertainty exists, we are required
to draw attention in our auditor's report to the related disclosures in the financial statements or. if such disclosures are
inadequate, to modify our opinion. Our conclusions are based on the audit evidence obtained up to the date of our
auditor's report. However, future events or conditions may cause the charity to cease to continue as a going concern.
Evaluate the overall presentation, structure and content of the financial statements, including the disclosures, and
whether the financial statements represent the underlying transactions and events in a manner Ihat achieves fair
presentation.
We communicate with those charged with governance regarding, among other matters, the planned scope and timing of
the audit and significant audit findings, including any significant deficiencies in internal control that we identify during our
audit.
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HURCH OF IRELAND DIOCESE OF DOWN AND DROMORE
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023
INt)EPENDENT AUDITORS, REPORT TO THE DIOCESAN COUNCIL OF DOWN AND DROMORE (CONT'D}
Use of our report
This report is made solely to the charity's members, as a body, in accordance with section 65 of the Charities Act (Northern
Sreland) 2008. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we mighl state to the charity's members those matters we are
required to state to them in an auditor's report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not
accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charity and the charity's members as a body, for our audit work.
for this report, or for the opinions we h2ve formed.
CONOR DOLAN FCA
(Senior Statutory Auditor)
For and on behalf of
FINEGAN GIBSON LTD
Chartered Accountants & Statutory Auditors
Causeway Tower
9 James Slreet South
Belfast
BT2 8DN
Date:
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