How does an external auditor use the work of an internal auditor?
The external auditor may be able to use the work of the internal audit function to obtain audit evidence in a constructive and complementary manner depending on?
What is objectivity?
The ability to perform tasks without bias
How is objectivity promoted in the internal audit function?
Objectivity is promoted when the internal auditors:
What is competence?
The attainment and maintenance of knowledge and skills of the function as a whole at the level required to enable assigned tasks to be performed diligently and with the appropriate level of quality.
What are factors that may affect the external auditor’s determination about the competence of the internal audit function?
What are factors that may affect the external auditor’s determination about the competence of the internal audit function?
How do objectivity and competence relate to each other?
Objectivity and competence are a continuum from low to high, a high level of one attribute cannot compensate for a low level of the other.
How should internal audit activities be perfomed?
Through the application of a systematic and disciplined approach to planning, performing, supervising, reviewing and documenting internal audit activities.
What should an external auditor consider when evaluating whether a systematic and disciplined approach is applied to the internal audit function?
When should an external auditor not use the work of the internal audit function to obtain audit evidence?
If the external auditor determines that:
What should the external auditor consider regarding the use of internal audit work before using it to obtain audit evidence?
What significant judgments should an external auditor make in determining when to use the work of the internal audit function to obtain audit evidence?
What significant judgments should an external auditor make in determining when to use the work of the internal audit function to obtain audit evidence?
How is undue use of the internal audit function to obtain audit evidence prevented?
Less of the work should be used, which will require:
What should the external audito evaluate regarding their involvement in the audit when using work from the internal audit function and internal auditors’ direct assistance?
Whether the use of the work and the direct assistance of internal auditors results in too little involvement of the external auditor in the audit.
What should the external audito evaluate regarding their involvement in the audit when using work from the internal audit function and internal auditors’ direct assistance?
Whether the use of the work and the direct assistance of internal auditors results in too little involvement of the external auditor in the audit.
Should internal auditors be used to perform critical procedures?
No
What are examples of critical procedures that shouldn’t be performed by internal auditors?
Should an external auditor reperform some of the body of the work of the internal audit function that the external auditor intends to use in obtaining audit evidence?
Yes
What should the external auditor do before the conclusion of the audit regarding the internal auditor’s work?
The external auditor should make an overall assessment of the usefulness of the internal auditor’s work to obtain evidence.
When should an external not use the internal auditor to provide direct assistance?
If the internal auditor lacks the necessary objectivity or competence.
What should the external obtain before using an internal auditor to provide direct assistance?
The external auditor should obtain written acknowledgement, in the audit engagement letter, from management or those charged with governance, as appropriate, that:
How should the external auditor determine the work that may be assigned to internal auditors?
The external auditor should: