www.theiia.org organizational governance embracing internal audits role
TRANSCRIPT
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Organizational Governance
Embracing Internal Audit’s Role
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Presentation Objectives
• The meaning of good governance• The IIA’s governance model• Participants and players• Specific Internal Auditing activities• Steps for embracing Internal
Audit’s role
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What is Organizational Governance?
Policies, processes, and structures used by an organization to direct and control its activities, to achieve its objectives, and to protect the interests of its diverse stakeholder groups in a manner consistent with appropriate ethical standards.
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In Other Words…
It (governance) is essentially a function of leadership and direction within an organisation; appropriate risk management and control over its activities; and the manner in which meaningful disclosure relating to its activities is made to shareholders and other stakeholders.
King II Report, 2002South Africa
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Governance Ensures The Organization:
− Complies with society’s legal & regulatory rules
− Satisfies the generally accepted business norms, ethical precepts, and social expectations of society
− Provides overall benefit to society and enhances interests of stakeholders
− Reports fully and truthfully to its owners, regulators, other stakeholders, and general public to ensure accountability for its decisions, actions, conduct , and performance
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EffectiveGovernan
ce
The IIA Corporate Governance Model
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Sound Governance Requires Synergy!!!
–Boards of Directors–Management–External Auditors– Internal Auditors
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Board Responsibilities
• Establishes the “tone at the top”
• Focal point for all governance activities
• Ultimate accountability• Oversees all organizational
activities, but does not directly manage any of them
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Senior Management
• Establishes strategic direction and an entity’s value system (with board oversight)
• Provides assurance of risk management process, operations monitoring, measurement of results, and implementation of timely corrective actions
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Operating Management
• Deploys strategy, enforces internal control, and provides direct supervision for areas under its control
• Accountable to executive management and ultimately the board for implementing and monitoring the risk management process and establishing effective and appropriate internal control systems
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External Auditing
• Provides independent assurance on the financial statement preparation and reporting activities in accordance with applicable regulations and accounting principles
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Internal Auditing
• Performs assessments to provide assurance the governance structures and processes are properly designed and operating effectively
• Provides advice on potential improvements to governance structures and processes
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What is Internal Auditing’s Role?
• Assessor
• Advisor
• Advocate
• Catalyst
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Standard 2130
IA should assess and make recommendations for improving the governance process:– Promoting appropriate ethics & values– Ensuring effective performance
management– Effective communication of risk & control
information– Effective coordinating of activities &
communication between Board, External Auditors, Internal Auditors & Management
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Internal Auditing Governance Maturity Model
More Structured
Less Structured
Perform audits of design and effectiveness of specific
governance related processes
Provide advice with focus on governance structure to meet compliance requirements and basic risks of organization
Consideration of best practices and adaptation to the specific organization – focus on optimization of
governance practices and structure
Allocati
on
of
Au
dit
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Specific Internal Auditing Activities
• Consider assessing the following:– Board Structure, Objectives, and
Dynamics– Board Committee Functions– The Board Policy Manual– Processes for Maintaining Awareness
of Governance Requirements
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IA Activities (continued)
• Consider assessing the following:– Education of the Board– Proper Assignment of Accountabilities
and Performance Management– Communication and Acceptance of
Ethics Policies and Codes of Conduct– Ethics Investigations and Related
Employee Discipline– Management Evaluation and
Compensation
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IA Activities (continued)
• Consider assessing the following:– Recruitment Processes for Senior
Management and Board Members– Employee Training– Governance Self-assessments– Comparison with Governance Codes or
Best Practices– External Communications– Oversight of External Audit
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Other Considerations
• Internal Audit’s role in governance may impair its independence and should be evaluated and if necessary communicated to management and the board.
• If impaired internal audit should not perform audits or assessments related to this role.
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Other Considerations (continued)
• Organizational strategies usually not questioned by the internal auditor may need to be if observed to be inadequate, conflicting or negatively impacting the organization or its stakeholders.
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Other Considerations (continued)
• Internal auditing must assess the “big picture” of governance.
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Other Considerations (continued)
• Governance is changing rapidly and requires the internal auditor to monitor these changes and evaluate how they impact the role of internal auditing in the future.
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Other Considerations (continued)
• Internal auditor skills and competencies should be evaluated before undertaking audits in the governance area.
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Possible Next Steps
• Discuss options for expanding internal auditing’s role with the chairman of the board and/or executive management.
• Discuss with other key stakeholders.
• Develop a broad framework of the governance structure in the organization, identifying potential areas of weakness or concern.
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Possible Next Steps (continued)
• Develop a multi-year plan to develop internal auditing’s role.
• Perform a pilot audit in one of the previously mentioned activities.
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IIA Resources
To review the IIA’s Position Paper on Governance and other topics visit The IIA Website at www.theiia.org. (click on “guidance”).