1.8 ROLE OF INTERNAL AUDIT IN RISK MANAGEMENT
A one time, audit professionals thought of risk only in the context of an audit (e.g., the probability of not discovering a materiel financial statement misstatement) Today, after extensive and mitigated in every aspect of an organization's operations. Thus, CIA candidates should understand the distinct responsibilities of (1) the internal audit activity and (2) senior management and the board for enterprise-wide risk.
Performance Standard 2120 Risk Management
The internal audit activity must evaluate the effectiveness and contribute to the improvement of risk management processes.
1. Overview
a. The IIA Position Paper: The Role of Internal Auditing in Enterprise-Wide Risk Management states that "risk management is a fundamental element of corporate governance. Management is responsible for establishing and operating the risk management framework on behalf of the board.
b. “Enterprise-wide risk management (ERM) brings many benefits as a result of its structured, consistent and coordinated approach. Internal auditor's core role in relation to ERM should be to provide assurance to management and to the board on the effectiveness of risk management.
c. “When internal auditing extends its activities beyond this core role, it should apply certain safeguards, including treating the engagements as consulting services and, therefore, applying all relevant Standards. In this way, internal auditing will protect its independence and the objectivity of its assurance services. Within these constraints, ERM can help raise the profile and increase the effectiveness of internal auditing”
2. Role of the Internal Audit Activity
a. Internal audit can add value to an organization by providing the board with assurance that
1) The major business risks are being managed appropriately and
2) The risk management and internal control framework is operating effectively.
b. An organization can undertake a broad range of ERM activities. However, internal auditors should not undertake any activities that could threaten their independence and objectivity.
1) The IIA Position Paper groups the internal audit activity’s roles into three categories:
a) Core internal audit roles regards in ERM
b) Legitimate internal audit roles with safeguards
c) Roles the internal audit activity should not undertake
2) A helpful memory aid is
C Catch
L Lying
R Records
3. Core Internal Audit Activity Roles in ERM
a. Giving assurance on the risk management process
b. Giving assurance that risks are correctly evaluated
c. Evaluating risk management processes
d. Evaluating the reporting of key risks
e. Reviewing the management of key risks
4. Legitimate Internal Audit Activity Roles Given Safeguards
a. Facilitating identification and evaluation of risks
b. Coaching management in responding to risks
c. Coordinating ERM activities
d. Consolidating the reporting on risks
e. Maintaining and developing the ERM framework
f. Championing establishment of ERM
g. Developing an ERM strategy for board approval
5. Roles the Internal Audit Activity Should Not Undertake
a. Setting the risk appetite
1) Risk appetite is the amount of risk an entity is willing to accept in pursuit of value it reflects the risk management philosophy and influences the entity’s culture and operating style.
b. Imposing risk management processes
c. Management assurance on risks
d. Making decisions on risk responses
e. Implementing risk responses on management's behalf
f. Accountability for risk management
6. Role in Risk Management
a. The following Interpretation clarifies the internal audit activity's role :
Interpretation of Standard 2120
Determining whether risk management processes are effective is a judgment resulting from the auditor's assessment that :
• Organizational objectives support and align with the organization’s mission;
• Significant risks are identified and assessed;
• Appropriate risk responses are selected that align risk with the organization's risk appetite; and
• Relevant risk information is captured and communicated in a timely manner across the organization, enabling staff, management, and the boards carry out their responsibilities.
The internal audit activity may gather the information to support this assessment during multiple engagements. The results of these engagements, when viewed together, provide an understanding of the organization's risk management processes and their effectiveness.
Risk management processes are monitored through ongoing management activities, separate evaluations, or both
b. Two Implementation Standards link the assessment of risk to specific risk areas:
Implementation Standard 2120.A1
The internal audit activity must evaluate risk exposures relating to the organization’s governance, operations, and information systems regarding the:
• Achievement of the organization’s strategic objectives;
• Reliability and integrity of financial and operational Information;
• Effectiveness and efficiency of operation and programs;
• Safeguarding of assets; and
• Compliance with laws, regulations, policies, procedures, and contracts.
Implementation Standard 2120.A2
The internal audit activity must evaluate the potential for the occurrence of fraud and how the organization manages fraud risk
c. Establishing a risk-based audit model and participating in the organization's risk management processes are ways for the internal audit activity to add value.
7. Responsibility for organizational Risk Management
a) The division of responsibility is described in Practice Advisory 2120-1, Assessing the Adequacy of Risk Management Processes.
1) Risk management is a key responsibility of senior management and the board.
a) Management ensures that sound risk management processes (RMPs) are in place and functioning.
b) Boards have an oversight function. They determine that RMPs are in place, adequate, and effective.
c) The internal audit activity may be directed to examine, evaluate, report, or recommend improvements.
i) It also has a consulting role in identifying, evaluating, and implementing risk management methods and controls.
2) If the organization has no formal RMPs the CAE has formal discussions with management and the board about their obligations for understanding, managing, and monitoring risks.
3) The CAE must understand management’s and the board’s expectations of the internal audit activity in risk management. The understanding is codified in the charters of the internal audit activity and the board.
4) Senior management and the board determine the internal audit activity’s role in risk management based on factors such as (a) organization culture, (b) abilities of the internal audit activity staff, and (c) local conditions and customs.
a) That role may range from no role, to auditing the process as part of the audit plan, to active, continuous support and involvement in the process, to managing and coordinating the process.
i) But assuming management responsibilities and the threat to internal audit activity independence must be fully discussed and board-approved.
5) RMPs may be formal or informal, quantitative or subjective, or embedded in business units or centralized. They are designed to fit the organization’s culture management style, and objectives. For example, a small entity may use an informal risk committee.
a) The internal audit activity determines that the methods chosen are comprehensive and appropriate for the organization.
6) To form an opinion on the adequacy of RMPs, internal auditors should obtain sufficient, appropriate evidence regarding achievement of key objectives.
Stop and review! You have completed the outline for this subunit. Study multiple-choice questions 20 through 22 on page 37