Internal Audit Process Steps: Fieldwork Risk Analysis
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Internal Audit Process Steps: Fieldwork Risk Analysis
Explore our systematic process for internal audit fieldwork: a comprehensive guideline from risk identification to audit report approval and follow-up.
1
Identify and review the risk areas in the department or business function
2
Decide on audit objectives based on risk assessment
3
Develop an audit program and strategy
4
Brief the audit team on the audit objectives and plan
5
Gather and review relevant information and data
6
Conduct fieldwork including interviews, observations and testing
7
Document findings and evidence gathered during fieldwork
8
Identify and evaluate potential control weaknesses
9
Develop recommendations for improving controls and reducing risks
10
Draft the audit report
11
Approval: Audit Team Lead for draft report review
12
Revise the audit report based on feedback
13
Present the draft report to the auditee for response
14
Incorporate auditee's responses into the final report
15
Approval: Senior Management for final report review
16
Distribute the final audit report
17
Follow up on agreed upon corrective actions
18
Update audit files and records with final report and evidence
Identify and review the risk areas in the department or business function
In this task, you will identify and review the risk areas in the department or business function. You will analyze the potential risks and their impact on the organization. By understanding the risks, you will be able to prioritize your audit efforts and focus on areas of greatest concern. What are the key risk areas that need to be reviewed?
Decide on audit objectives based on risk assessment
Now that you have identified and reviewed the risk areas, it's time to decide on the audit objectives. Based on the risk assessment, you will determine what the audit should achieve. What are the main objectives of this audit?
Develop an audit program and strategy
To effectively carry out the audit, you need to develop an audit program and strategy. This will outline the specific steps and procedures you will follow during the audit process. Think about the resources and tools you may need to complete this task. How will you approach this audit and what steps will you include in your program?
Brief the audit team on the audit objectives and plan
Now that you have developed the audit program and strategy, it's time to brief the audit team. This will ensure that everyone is aligned and understands the objectives and plan. What are the key points you need to communicate to the audit team?
Gather and review relevant information and data
In this task, you will gather and review relevant information and data related to the audit. This will help you gain a deeper understanding of the department or business function being audited. What information and data do you need to collect for this audit?
Conduct fieldwork including interviews, observations and testing
Now that you have gathered the necessary information, it's time to conduct fieldwork. This may involve conducting interviews with key personnel, observing processes and activities, and performing tests. How will you conduct fieldwork for this audit?
Document findings and evidence gathered during fieldwork
During the fieldwork, it is important to document all findings and evidence gathered. This will serve as the basis for your audit report. How will you document the findings and evidence?
Identify and evaluate potential control weaknesses
In this task, you will identify and evaluate potential control weaknesses in the department or business function. This will help you understand the gaps in the existing controls and recommend improvements. What potential control weaknesses do you observe?
Develop recommendations for improving controls and reducing risks
Based on the identified control weaknesses, you will develop recommendations for improving controls and reducing risks. This will help the organization strengthen its internal controls and mitigate potential risks. What recommendations do you have for improving controls and reducing risks?
Draft the audit report
Now that you have gathered all the necessary information and completed the fieldwork, it's time to draft the audit report. The report should provide a clear and concise summary of the audit findings, recommendations, and any potential risks. How will you structure the audit report and what information will you include?
Approval: Audit Team Lead for draft report review
Will be submitted for approval:
Draft the audit report
Will be submitted
Revise the audit report based on feedback
After drafting the audit report, it is important to gather feedback and revise the report as necessary. This will ensure that the report accurately reflects the audit findings and recommendations. How will you seek feedback and incorporate it into the report?
Present the draft report to the auditee for response
In this task, you will present the draft report to the auditee for their response. This allows them to provide their input and address any concerns they may have. How will you present the draft report to the auditee and gather their response?
Incorporate auditee's responses into the final report
After receiving the auditee's response, you will need to incorporate their feedback into the final report. This will ensure that their perspective is accurately reflected. How will you incorporate the auditee's responses into the final report?
Approval: Senior Management for final report review
Will be submitted for approval:
Incorporate auditee's responses into the final report
Will be submitted
Distribute the final audit report
Now that the final report is ready, it's time to distribute it to the relevant stakeholders. This will ensure that the audit findings and recommendations reach the appropriate audience. How will you distribute the final audit report?
1
Email
2
Printed copies
3
Shared folder
4
Online portal
5
Presentation
Follow up on agreed upon corrective actions
Once the final report has been distributed, it is important to follow up on the agreed upon corrective actions. This will ensure that the recommended improvements are implemented. How will you follow up on the corrective actions?
Update audit files and records with final report and evidence
In this task, you will update the audit files and records with the final report and evidence gathered during the audit. This will help maintain a comprehensive audit trail for future reference. How will you update the audit files and records?