The process of performing an internal audit closely parallels the process of performing an external audit. Representative managers and employees from throughout the firm need to be involved in determining a firm’s strengths and weaknesses. The internal audit requires gathering and assimilating information about the firm’s management, marketing, finance/accounting, production/operations, research and development (R&D), and man- agement information systems operations. Key factors should be prioritized as described in Chapter 3 so that the firm’s most important strengths and weaknesses can be determined collectively.
Compared to the external audit, the process of performing an internal audit provides more opportunity for participants to understand how their jobs, departments, and divisions