Agenda item

Annual Review of the Effectiveness of Internal Audit

 

The Head of Internal Audit and Corporate Anti-Fraud will submit a report informing the Committee of the framework proposed to prepare, manage and deliver the Quality Assurance and Improvement Programme for the Internal Audit Function as required by the Public Sector Internal Audit Standards 2017.

Minutes:

The Head of Internal Audit and Corporate Anti-Fraud submitted a report informing the Committee of the framework proposed to prepare, manage and deliver the Quality Assurance and Improvement Programme (QAIP) for the Internal Audit Function as required by the Public Sector Internal Audit Standards (PSIAS) 2017. 

 

Appendices to the report provided an extract from the SAIAS together with the Draft QAIP Action Plan.

 

The report, in detailing background to the need for and  the specific requirements for a framework indicated that a draft QAIP Action Plan was currently being prepared.  In order to ensure continuous improvement and focus on quality and conformance, consideration was also being given to the designation of a Principal Auditor within the Internal Audit Team to maintain and manage the QAIP and general quality process.  This Auditor would then report to the Audit Management Team on a quarterly basis with an updated PSIAS self-assessment and QAIP actin plan.

 

In addition to the specific requirements of the PSAIS, there were a number of other continuous improvement related activities underway and these were detailed within the report which would also be reported upon within the overall QAIP process.

 

In the ensuing discussion, the following matters were highlighted:

 

·         The Head of Internal Audit and Corporate Anti-Fraud reported that in order to address the PSIAS requirements a review had been undertaken of the format and content of audit reports together with the quarterly progress reports as this would improve the clarity of key messages and assessment on implications for management to specify actions to be implemented.  In addition, the Annual Report format and content would be reviewed

·         Reference was also made to External Review of Internal Audit and to how this could be undertaken in future given the perceived limitations of the previous peer review.  This would have potential cost implication but was generally welcomed by Members of the Committee as it was felt that this would give additional assurance as to the performance of the Service

·         It was suggested that an analysis should be undertaken so that there was a comparison of performance with similar sized authorities

·         The timescales detailed within the Action Plan at Appendix 2 had been agreed by the appropriate officers

 

RESOLVED

 

(i)            that the proposed QAIP Framework setting out how the Service will meet the requirements set out in the PSIAS be approved; and

 

(ii)               that the Committee receive an annual update on the delivery of the Quality Assurance and Improvement Programme.

Supporting documents:

 

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