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Who audits the internal auditors?

When I ask this question, I usually get a variety of answers ranging from "no one" to " the audit committee"! While the Internal Audit Activity is not subject to audit in the same way other company business units and processes are ,there are ways management can get reasonable assurance that the internal audit department is doing what it is supposed to do. One of these ways is the External Quality Assessment. IIA Standard1300 covers the Quality Assurance and Improvement Program that need to be established by the CAE covering all aspects of the internal audit activity. Standard1312 requires that "External Assessment must be conducted at least once every five years by a qualified,independent assessor or assessment team from outside the organization. The chief audit executive must discuss with the board: •The form and frequency of external assessment,and •The qualification and independence of the external assessor or assessment team,including any potential conflict of interest." The interpretation of the standard explains that external assessment can be in the form of a full external assessment,or a self -assessment with independent external validation. In addition to the external assessment ,the standards call for internal assessment which must include: •Ongoing monitoring of the performance of the internal audit activity,and •Periodic self - assessment or assessments by other persons within the organization with sufficient knowledge of internal audit practises. Do you think the above is adequate to provide management with reasonable assurance that the internal audit activity is performing its duties in conformity with the IIA standards? If not, what else would you suggest to do,for example: •Have the external auditors audit the internal audit activity •Have a peer review by other internal audit activity of an unrelated company. •Have an external assessment every year or two. Please share your experience and thoughts. Source: http://waelbibi.blogspot.ca/2013/08/who-audits-internal-auditors.html

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Question added by Deleted user
Date Posted: 2013/08/15
Shahid Abbasi
by Shahid Abbasi , Head Internal Audit , HBL Microfinance Bank Ltd

Sir, My Bit addition with regards to Banks/Financial Sector, As per the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision document "The Internal Audit Function in Banks" (June2012) "Banks Supervisors should regulary assess whether internal audit function has sufficient standing and authority within the bank and operates according to sound Principles." supervisors means Regulators here and Sound Principles mainly include those detailed by IIA or elsewhere.
  In my opinion an external assessment particularly from a professional audit firm not only helps the management but also the internal auditors to improve their standing and effectivness within an organisation.
   

Mustafa Fida Hussain karimi
by Mustafa Fida Hussain karimi , Head Of Internal Audit , Al Fardan Exchange LLC

external auditors on the request of management of the company can audit internal audit activities.

the external auditor as per the classification society of that company

Mohammed Salim Allana
by Mohammed Salim Allana , Compliance and Assurance Manager , United Arab Bank

The Internal Auditor placed high in the organisation and its performance is been assessed by External and Regulatory Auditors. The success/failure of internal audit reflects from the result of external and statutory audits. The Board Risk committee and Senior Management has to ensure effective controls are in place.

Waleed Al-Salout
by Waleed Al-Salout , Head - Internal Audit Department , AlJabr Finance Co.

Audit Committee

Subhranshu Ganguly
by Subhranshu Ganguly , Quality Analyst. , WIPRO

Sir in the ITES sector it is the client as an external auditor who investigates the internal audit. But here accounts is not the only criteria. There are other factors involved like no of customers assited, average handling time per call,customer delight survey etc. Hope my answer was useful

Thaikkattil Mathew Joshi
by Thaikkattil Mathew Joshi , Group Credit Controller , Gps Group,Dubai.

 

Answer: CAE,CEO and the Audit Committee.

 

Regards,

Joshi Mathew

CIA

Abdallah Khadrawi (CPA candidate)
by Abdallah Khadrawi (CPA candidate) , Finance Officer , Handicap International

The chief audit executive must develop and maintain a quality assurance and improvement program that covers all aspects of the internal audit activity and continuously monitors its effectiveness. The program must be designed to help the internal auditing activity add value and improve the organization’s operations and to provide assurance that the internal audit activity is in conformity with the Standards and the Code of Ethics.

Mohsin Sheikh
by Mohsin Sheikh , Internal Auditor (Senior) , SIUT, Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation Karachi

The CAE heads the intermnal audit dept and the Audit committe review the dept performance. Followed by planned occassional review conducted by the external auditor(s), to evaluate the processes, audit charter etc with its effectiveness, objectivity and independence.

 

Chief Audit Executive is entitled to manage a team from internal auditors to ensure that the internal audit activity follows the standards of the IIA (Institute of Internal Auditors.

Hassan Ahmed Hassan Elsafty
by Hassan Ahmed Hassan Elsafty , Internal Quality Auditor , Telecom Egypt

I think it is Being Documented at the IAA Charter which being Supervised and Authorized By the Audit Committee which Plans the Periodic Quality Assurance  Program to Evaluate Internal Audit Function and this is done as a Matter of Fact by third Party in Liaison between Audit committe & CAE and External auditor from the other side , and may be IAA QA Program  Be Done By internal auditors from other Firms which is Independent or Coalited with IAA Corporation and Again the Document which determines this Actions is IAA Charter ; 

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