NEW YORK -- CONCACAF announced Wednesday the creation of an Audit & Compliance Committee. The office will help ensure that the Confederation manages its finances responsibly as it continues to reform.
The Committee's primary charge is to confirm the accuracy of CONCACAF's financial accounting as well as to examine its financial statements, consolidated financial statement and the external auditor's report. Leighton McKnight, a managing partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers in Jamaica and former President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Jamaica, will chair the Audit & Compliance Committee.
"As part of the new CONCACAF's commitment to inclusiveness, accountability and transparency, we have created a Committee that will ensure we remain vigilant and committed to developing the game," said CONCACAF President Jeffrey Webb. "This committee is comprised of individuals with the highest levels of integrity and competence, and they will help strengthen CONCACAF's future."
"I am deeply honored and very excited to be invited to assist in improving corporate governance in CONCACAF," said Committee Chair Leighton McKnight. "This critical organization in our region has faced significant governance challenges in the past, but now has the opportunity to positively shape its future. I eagerly look forward to making my contribution as a part of the team, adding significant value to the rebuilding process."
The Audit & Compliance Committee consists of Leighton McKnight (Jamaica), Chairman; Carlos Cordeiro (USA), Vice Chairman; Bruce Blake (Cayman Islands), Mateo Fabrega (Panama), Richard Groden (Trinidad & Tobago), Rodrigo Pliego (Mexico) and Andrew Griffith (Bermuda).
Chairman McKnight's biography
Leighton A McKnight is a chartered accountant by profession and is currently the managing partner of PricewaterhouseCoopers in Jamaica (PWCJ) where he is also responsible for human capital, marketing and a number of the firm's external engagements. His audit portfolio includes clients with group companies situated across the Caribbean region, North and Central America. He was responsible for establishing PWCJ's internal audit outsourcing practice and has over 30 years practical experience working in the auditing, accounting and financial consulting industries. Mr. McKnight has led numerous financial engagements in a wide range of industries including statutory financial audits, internal audits, management audits and special compliance audits.
He serves/has served in many extra-curricular capacities and is currently Chairman of the Government of Jamaica Audit Commission (responsible for the oversight of the Audit Activities of all Ministries, Departments and Executive Agencies), Member of Jamaica's Parliamentary Integrity Commission, Member of Jamaica's Parliamentary Integrity Commission, Member of the Independent Commission for the Judiciary (responsible for recommending the emoluments of Higher and Appeal Court Judges), Director and Finance Chair of Jamaica Football Federation and Jamaica's International Assembly
Representative for the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA). He is a past President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Jamaica, a past Director/Secretary of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of the Caribbean and has served on the Boards of many companies and charities.
Leighton is a B.Sc. Honours Graduate in Management Studies from the University of the West Indies, attended Emile Woolfe College of Accountancy in London, England and is a graduate of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants' Professional Examinations.
