Former SFO head received £400,000 'irregular' payments Phillippa Williamson stepped down from her role as chief executive of the SFO six months ago, taking voluntary redundancy, and was paid £407,000 towards her pension as well as a further £15,000. A report from the NAO claims that these payments were "irregular," and said that it refused to approve the watchdog's annual accounts because they had not been approved by the Cabinet Office. Amyas Morse, comptroller and auditor general at the NAO, said: "There is no evidence that due process was followed in instigating this voluntary redundancy, for example, whether alternative positions within the civil service were sought prior to the severance being initiated. There is also no evidence that Cabinet Office approval was obtained. In the absence of Cabinet Office approval, the payment to MyCSP in respect of the CEO's departure must be deemed to be irregular. Prior to leaving her position at the SFO, Ms Williamson was earning an annual salary of £125,000.