Which one of the following is the major purpose of performing analytical procedures in internal audits?

People often ask: is an internal audit necessary? What if we’re a smaller organization, should we be spending our already limited resources on an internal audit program?

If your clients depend on you to provide efficient, compliant, and secure services, then the answer is a resounding “yes”.

Internal auditing is an important function of any information security and compliance program and is a valuable tool for effectively and appropriately managing risk. Are we ensuring we are doing what we say we’re doing? Are there gaps in our policies and procedures? Are there any areas for improvement? Are we meeting our compliance goals? These important questions are addressed through internal auditing.

What is the Purpose of an Internal Audit?

According to the Institute of Internal Auditors:

The Role of Internal Audits

“The role of internal audit is to provide independent assurance that an organization’s risk management, governance, and internal control processes are operating effectively.”

An internal audit is conducted objectively and designed to improve and mature an organization’s business practices.

The purpose of auditing internally is to provide insight into an organization’s culture, policies, procedures, and aids board and management oversight by verifying internal controls such as operating effectiveness, risk mitigation controls, and compliance with any relevant laws or regulations.

5 Reasons Why Internal Audits are Important

Internal auditing programs are critical for monitoring and assuring that all of your business assets have been properly secured and safeguarded from threats. It is also important for verifying that your business processes reflect your documented policies and procedures.

Let’s take a look at five reasons why internal auditing is important and its purpose in keeping your organization compliant with the common frameworks and regulations.

  1. Provides objective insight
  2. Improves efficiency of operations
  3. Evaluates risks and protects assets
  4. Assesses organizational controls
  5. Ensures legal compliance

How Do Internal Audits Provides Objective Insight?

You can’t audit your own work without having a definite conflict of interest.

Your internal auditor, or internal audit team, cannot have any operational responsibility to achieve this objective insight. In situations where smaller companies don’t have extra resources to devote to this, it’s acceptable to cross-train employees in different departments to be able to audit another department. By providing an independent and unbiased view, the internal audit function adds value to your organization.

How Do Internal Audits Improve the  Efficiency of Operations?

By objectively reviewing your organization’s policies and procedures, you can receive assurance that you are doing what your policies and procedures say you are doing, and that these processes are adequate in mitigating your unique risks.

By continuously monitoring and reviewing your processes, you can identify control recommendations to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of these processes. In turn, allowing your organization to be dependent on processes, rather than people.

How Do Internal Audits Evaluate Risks and Protects Assets?

An internal audit program assists management and stakeholders by identifying and prioritizing risks through a systematic risk assessment. A risk assessment can help to identify any gaps in the environment and allow for a remediation plan to take place.

Your internal audit program will help you to track and document any changes that have been made to your environment and ensure the mitigation of any found risks.

How Do Internal Audits Assess Controls?

Internal auditing is beneficial because it improves the control environment of the organization by assessing efficiency and operating effectiveness. Are your controls fulfilling their purpose? Are they adequate in mitigating risk?

How Do Internal Audits Ensure Compliance with Laws and Regulations?

By regularly performing an internal audit, you can ensure compliance with any and all relevant laws and regulations. It can also help provide you with peace of mind that you are prepared for you next external audit. Gaining client trust and avoiding costly fines associated with non-compliance makes internal auditing an important and worthwhile activity for your organization.

Still have questions about developing your own internal audit program? Contact us today and let’s start building your internal audit program.

More Internal Auditing Resources:

6 Steps to Construct Your Internal Audit Program

Chief Compliance Officer Series: Constructing an Internal Audit Framework

CFPB Readiness Series: Developing an Internal Audit Process

Which of the following is the primary goal of internal auditing analytical procedures?

Determine the adequacy and effectiveness of the organization's systems of internal controls. Correct. This is a primary function of any internal auditing department.

What are analytical procedures in an audit?

02 Analytical procedures are an important part of the audit process and consist of evaluations of financial information made by a study of plausible relationships among both financial and nonfinancial data.

What is the purpose of performing final analytical procedures?

Purposes of analytical procedures Analytical procedures are performed as an overall review of the financial statements at the end of the audit to assess whether they are consistent with the auditor's understanding of the entity. Final analytical procedures are not conducted to obtain additional substantive assurance.

What are the five major types of analytical procedures in auditing?

Typically, five types of audit procedures are normally used by auditors to obtain audit evidence. Those five audit procedures include Analytical review, inquiry, observation, inspection, and recalculation.