1.3 TAKEHOLDER RELATIONSHIPS
1. Stakeholder Relationships
a. For internal auditors to be effective, Sawyers Guide for Internal Auditors, 6th edition, states that they must build and maintain strong constructive relationships with managers and other stakeholders within the organization.
b. These relationships require conscious ongoing focus to ensure that risks are appropriately identified and evaluated to best meet the needs of the organization.
c. Internal auditors have a responsibility to work together with external auditors and othwe stakeholders to facilitate work efforts and compliance with regulators.
d. Key stakeholders include the board of directors, audit committees, management, external auditors, and regulators.
2. The Board and the Audit Committee
a. For the internal audit activity to achieve organizational independence, the chief audit executive (CAE) must have direct and unrestricted access senior management ant the board.
1) The IIA Glossary defines a board as an organization’s governing body, such as a board of directors or other designated body of the organization, including the audit committee, to whom the CAE may functionally report.
b. The audit committee is a subunit of the board of directors. However, not every member of the board is necessarily qualified to serve on the audit committee.
1) Some statutes have imposed the following significant restrictions on the membership of the audit committee:
a) No member may be an employee of the organization except in his or her capacity as a board member.
b) At least one member must be a financial expert.
2) Many stock exchanges require that all listed organizations have an audit committee.
3. Role of the Audit Committee
a. The most important function of the audit committee is to promote the independent of the internal and external auditors by protecting them from management's influence.
b. The following are other functions of the audit committee regarding the internal audit activity:
1) Selecting or removing the CAE and setting his or her compensation
2) Approving the internal audit charter
3) Reviewing and approving the internal audit activity's work plan
4) Ensuring that the internal audit activity is allocated sufficient resources
5) Resolving disputes between the internal audit activity and management
6) Communicating with the CAE, who attends all audit committee meetings
7) Reviewing the internal audit activity’s work product (e.g., interim and final engagement communications)
8) Ensuring that engagement results are given due consideration
9) Overseeing appropriate corrective action for deficiencies noted by the internal audit activity
10) Making appropriate inquiries of management and the CAE to determine whether audit scope or budgetary limitations impede the ability of the internal audit activity to meet its responsibilities.
c. The following are other functions of the audit committee regarding the external auditor
1) Selecting the external auditing firm and negotiating its fee
2) Overseeing and reviewing the work of the external auditor
3) Resolving disputes between the external auditor and management
4) Reviewing the external auditors internal control and audit reports
4. Relationships with Management
a. According to Sawyer's Guide for internal Auditors, 6th edition, internal auditors are responsible for performing their mission, maintaining their objectivity, and ensuring the internal audit a activity’s independence. They also should develop and maintain good working relationships with management.
b. Good relationships are developed by communicating electivity, resolving conflicts constructively, and using participative auditing methods.
1) Participative auditing is a collaboration between the internal auditor and management during the auditing process. The objective is to minimize conflict and build a shared interest in the engagement. People are more likely to accept changes if they have participated in the decisions and in the method use to implement changes.
2) However, internal auditors are ultimately responsible for guiding and directing the audit because the responsibility for the final audit opinion is theirs.
Stop and review! You have completed the outline tor this subunit. Study multiple choice questions 9 and 10 on page 33.