The purpose of The Schwan Food Company’s Audit Services department is to provide independent, objective assurance services designed to add value and improve the organization's operations. It helps the organization accomplish its objectives by bringing a systematic, disciplined approach to evaluate and improve the effectiveness of the overall control environment and the network of enterprise business risk management, control, and governance processes.
SCOPE OF WORK
The scope of work of The Schwan Food Company’s Audit Services department is to determine whether the organization’s network of enterprise business risk management, control (including reporting and disclosure controls), and governance processes, as designed and represented by management, is adequate and functioning in a manner to ensure:
• Risks are appropriately identified and managed.
• Interaction with the various governance groups occurs as needed.
• Significant financial, managerial, and operating information is complete, accurate, reliable,
and timely.
• Employees’ actions are in compliance with policies, standards, procedures, and applicable
laws and regulations.
• Resources are acquired economically, used efficiently, and adequately protected.
• Programs, plans, and objectives are achieved.
• Quality and continuous improvement are fostered in the organization’s control processes.
• Significant legislative or regulatory issues impacting the organization are recognized and
addressed appropriately.
Opportunities for improving management control, profitability, and the organization’s image may be identified during audits. They will be communicated to the appropriate level of management.
INDEPENDENCE
To provide independence, the reporting relationships, authority and responsibility of The Schwan Food Company’s Audit Services department are established by the Audit Committee on behalf of the Board of Directors. The chief audit executive reports to the chief financial officer for administrative purposes and also has full and independent access to the chief executive officer and the Audit Committee. Personnel in The Schwan Food Company’s Audit Services department report to the chief audit executive. The approval of the Audit Committee is required for the removal or replacement of the chief audit executive. It is the policy of the Audit Committee to devote a portion of each meeting to an executive session at which only the chief audit executive is present. In at least two meetings per year, outside director members of the Audit Committee shall consult privately with