Time to reflect on your internal audit function
Read time: 3 mins
On 9 January, the Institute of Internal Auditors refreshed their Global Internal Audit Standards which guide the worldwide professional practice of internal auditing. The 15 guiding principles are each underpinned by 52 standards that contain requirements, considerations, and examples for conformance.
Senior management and internal audit functions must take heed of these updates and understand what the changes mean for them, as these will be essential to maintain an effective internal audit function and demonstrate adequate oversight and leadership. A high-level overview of the key changes is set out in the table below – watch this space for a detailed gap analysis guide to help internal audit functions get ready for implementation in January 2025!
Additional features / considerations | High level details |
Changes to IIA’s “fundamentals” |
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Shift in responsibilities |
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Next steps
- The new standards are effective from January 2025 – internal audit functions should conduct a gap analysis and prepare for a transition to the new standards. You will also need to communicate the new standards to your Audit Committee and advise them of resulting changes in your internal audit approach / methodology.
- If your internal audit function has an EQA process falling in 2024, you will be able to measure against the current standards. If it falls in 2025, you can accelerate this to 2024 and measure against current standards, with a readiness assessment to identify any gaps against the new standards.
- Consider adding a project for 2024 covering internal audit reforms in light of the new standards or as an ongoing project, perhaps using an independent external firm to conduct or support the exercise.
- Refresh your mandate / charter, the scope and breadth of support and communication with the Board and other senior managers. This is particularly important as there is now a much stronger emphasis on senior managers to oversee principle and material risks and controls, and ensure there is adequate assurance over these as part of the FRC’s new Corporate Governance Code 2024.
- Think outside the box. Take the opportunity to reframe and rebrand your internal audit function, increase your footprint across the organisation to provide the highest quality work, assurance, support, and advice that ultimately aligns your function to what is important to your organisation.
- Watch out for PKF’s detailed gap analysis guide to be issued in due course.
If you are looking for additional support and guidance on how to implement the new internal audit standards, please do not hesitate to get in touch.