RESOLUTION 3770 EXHIBIT E 
Port of Seattle Audit Committee Charter 
Adopted December 11, 2012, and last amended by redline February 25, 2020 
Section I:    Purpose and Authority. 
A.  The Audit Committee is a standing committee created by the Seattle Port Commission. Its
general purpose is to represent the commission and have review and oversight authority
on matters relating to the Port of Seattle auditing process and procedures. It will assist
the Port of Seattle Commission in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities for: 
(1)  The integrity of the port’s financial statements; 
(2)  The effectiveness of the port’s internal control system over financial reporting,
compliance, and operations; 
(3)  The periodic performance audits to be conducted on Port of Seattle operations,
programs, activities, and business processes; 
(4) The independent auditor’s qualifications and independence; and 
(5)  The performance of the port’s internal audit function and external auditors. 
B.  In carrying out these responsibilities, the Audit Committee shall determine that all
internal audits are conducted under the United States Government Accountability
Office’s Government Auditing Standard and the Institute of Internal Auditing standards. 
C.  The Audit Committee is empowered to seek any information it requires from Port of
Seattle employees on audit matters, all of whom are directed to cooperate with the
committee’s requests. The committee shall keep the Executive Director apprised of all
such requests. 
D.  If the committee determines that in order to meet its responsibilities it requires the
independent services of an outside advisor or consultant having expertise in financial
reporting, auditing, and internal controls, it may propose the retention of such advisor or
consultant to the commission for approval. 
Section II:    Duties. 
The Audit Committee will: 
A.  Inform the commission of the independent auditors selected, based  on an  open
competitive process, to audit the financial statements and the  federal grant and
passenger facilities charge programs of the Port of Seattle and other audit services.1 

1 Section II(A) was amended June 28, 2016, for clarity.

                     B.  Oversee the Director of Internal Audit’s plans and activities and review with the director
the staffing and organizational structure of the internal audit function, including
coordination of audit effort with the external auditors. Audit Committee responsibilities
will include: 
(1) Formally approve the Director of Internal Audit’s annual audit plan. The annual
plan will include which operations, departments, vendors, agreements, and leases
are to be audited by the Director of Internal Audit and audit staff during the course
of the year. 
(2)  Review the Internal Audit Department staffing needs. 
(3)  Review and recommend to the full commission the Internal Audit Department
annual budget. 
(4)  Make recommendations to the commission on the appointment, replacement, or
dismissal of the Internal Audit Director or any external auditors. 
(5)  Review the findings and recommendations of internal audits conducted at the
Port of Seattle, in regards to financial compliance, internal controls, performance,
and efficiency. 
(6)  Elicit any recommendations of the improvement of such internal controls or
particular areas where new or more detailed controls or procedures are desirable.
Schedule and hear reviews of these improvements presented by Port of Seattle
staff as deemed necessary. 
C.  Review with the port’s external auditors: 
(1) The independent auditors’ annual audit of the port’s financial statements, as well
as related notes and management’s discussion and analysis. 
(2)  The management letter and the schedule of unadjusted differences. 
(3) The independent auditors’ annual audit of the passenger facility charges. 
(4) The independent auditors’ single audit of the federal grant awards administered
by the port. 
(5)  The independent auditors’ judgments about the quality of the port’s accounting
principles as applied in its financial reporting. 
(6)  Any performance or accountability audits performed on the Port of Seattle. This
will include a review of final audit findings and recommendations including
management’s response and analysis. 
D.  Review other external audits conducted on Port of Seattle operations, programs,
activities, and business processes. In carrying  out these responsibilities, the Audit
Committee shall: 
(1)  Encourage  discussion  between  management,  the  commission,  and  other
stakeholders in order to identify future potential areas of performance audit
focus. 

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                             (2)  Provide recommendations to the commission regarding specific audit areas for
consideration, including suggested audit objectives, scope, and evaluation criteria. 
(3)  Inform the commission of the external auditing firms selected, based on an open
competitive process, to review external audits conducted on Port of Seattle
operations, programs, activities, and business processes.2 
(4)  Report the results of such audits to the commission when completed. 
E.  Discuss with management the port’s policies with respect to risk assessment and risk
management. 
Section III:   Internal Responsibilities. 
A.  The Audit Committee will: 
(1)  Assess as necessary the goals and objectives of the Audit Committee and monitor
progress in achieving those goals and objectives. 
(2)  Provide an annual  report to the  commission that describes how the Audit
Committee has discharged its duties and met its responsibilities. 
Section IV:   Composition. 
A.  The Audit Committee will consist of at least two members of the Port of Seattle
Commission and one public member approved by the commission. Commission members
of the Audit Committee, as well as the committee chair, will be selected by the
commission president at the beginning of each calendar year. 
B.  The public member will be recommended by the Audit Committee for appointment and
confirmation by the commission. The public member may be removed during his or her
term by the commission president. 
Each committee member will be independent of port management and any external audit
firm currently employed by the port or subcontracted by any auditor employed by the
port. The public member must have the following qualifications: 
(1)  Experience with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and generally
accepted auditing standards (GAAS). 
(2)  Experience in the preparation or auditing of the financial statements of public
entities. 
(3)  Experience in the application of GAAP in regards to estimates, accruals, and
reserves. 
(4)  Experience in the assessment and evaluation of internal controls, including risk
assessment. 

2 Section II(D)(3) was amended July 11, 2017, to conform to the June 26, 2016, amendment of Section 2(A) 

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                             (5)  An understanding of or experience with a public sector audit committee. 
(6)  An understanding of or experience with performance audits. 
(7)  Can make a commitment to serve a three-year term. 
The public member will serve as an advisor to the Audit Committee and is not considered
a voting member of the committee for the purposes of quorum determination or voting
on any official business of the committee. 
Section V:   Meetings. 
A.  The committee will meet at least four times a year, with authority to convene additional
meetings as circumstances require. 
B.  All committee meetings shall be open to the public, except for portions of meetings that
can be considered executive session for the Port of Seattle Commission under RCW
42.30.110.3 
C.  A quorum of the committee is required to conduct official committee business. A quorum
is defined as a majority of voting members. 
D.  The committee will invite members of management, auditors, or others to attend
meetings and provide pertinent information, as necessary. 
E.  Meeting agendas will be prepared and provided in advance to members, along with
appropriate briefing materials. Minutes will be prepared and approved by the Audit
Committee. 







3 Section V(B) was amended February 25, 2020, to provide a context in which the committee could consider
reports on audits that include sensitive or confidential content pertaining to information technology audits. 

Port of Seattle Audit Committee Charter as amended February 25, 2020                                Page 3 of 4