Year Test 2 Flashcards
LA3, LA4, LA5 & LA6.1
Interna auditors should have
-Excellent comm skills
-Listening skills
-Soft skills
IA’s should report
-Weaknesses in systems and;
-Make recommendations for improvement
CAE reports to…
…the Board
What is the board?
Governing body that determines the strat and direction of the org
Role of internal auditing in supporting the AC
-Annually review the mandate and charter of AC
-Draft the AC’s meeting agenda for chairmans review and assist w/ distribution
-Enquire fromAC if any training of new members or risk and control is needed
Comm btwn AC and Internal auditing
-Ac should meet privately w/ CAE on regular basis to discuss sensitive matters
-CAE should review info submitted to AC for completeness and accuracy
-Ac should be kept informed n emerging trends and successful practices in internal auditing by CAE
What factors contribute to the need of governance
-Corporate failures and mismanagement
-Consideration for all stakeholders
-Consideration for the investors
-Need to restore investor confidence
What is the origin and meaning of governance
-Origin: Derived from Greek word “gubernare” meaning to steer
Therefore governance means to steer/direct
Governance definition according to Sir Cadbury
-Governance is the way in which orgs are directed and controlled
What does the Institute of Directors in SA in King IV report state about governance
Corporate governance is the exercise of ethical and effective leadership by the governing body towards the achievement of the following governance outcomes
-ethical culture
-good performance
-effective control
-legitimatacy
Define stakeholders
ppl/groups that are either involved in the org, impacted by the others it or have an interest in the org
Types of stakeholders
-Shareholders
-Board of directors
-Management
-Assurance providers
-Employees
-Lendors
-Suppliers
-Gov’t
-Society and the local community
What are shareholders
-Owners of the org and their interest is represented by the shares they hold in the org
-Many investors know get little about the internal operations and management of the org
What is management
Group of ppl employed by the org and tasked w/ executing the decisions of the governing body
-Senior management = executives (CEO, CFO, COO etc)
-Some members of management may also be members if the governing body making them executive directors
What are assurance providers
-They provide assurance (verification) as a service to an individual stakeholder group/org
-Assurance provers are usually independent and objective
Eg: Internal or External auditors
What does principle 7 of King IV state
The governing body (BoD) should comprise of the appropriate balance of knowledge, skills, XP, diversity and independence for it to discharge its governance roles and responsibilities objectively and effectively
Board of Directors should comprise of…
…majority non-executive directors
And majority of this majority should be independent non-executive directors
How many executives should be in the BoD
2 (CEO and another (preferably CFO)) as it provides BoD w/ a point of interaction w/ management
What are executive directors
-They form part of the day-to-day running of the org and receive a salary from the org
Eg: CEO, CFO, COO
What are non-executive directors
Don’t form part of day-to-day running of the org
Eg: resigned director
What’s an independent non-executive director
-someone w/ no interest or prior involvement in the org
-they aren’t a representative of a shareholder
-have no direct/indirect interest in the org
-in the past 3 financial years they have no been employed by the org or appointed as an external auditor
-they are not a family meme BER if an employee of the org
-free from business relationship
Can the CEO be the chairperson of the BoD
NO!!!
Even a retired CEO cannot chair UNLESS 3 full years have passed since they left the org
How should the audit committee be compromised of
- 3-5members
-All independent non-executive directors
-have at least 1 financial expert
-Should meet at least 3-4times a year
-AC performance should be evaluated regularly
Functions of AC
-Oversee various reporting initiatives
-Responsible for oversight function
-Report to BoD on activities
Function of AC w/ regard to External Auditor
-Assist w/ selection and discharge of EA
-Approve each professional service provided by EA
-Review preliminary and final and annual financial statements
Function of AC w/ regard to Internal Auditor
-Approve internal audit charter
-Review scope of internal audit work
-Assess level of coordination btwn IAF and EAF
When internal and external assurance providers work together it’s called…
Combined assurance
What does the IAF have to consider when performing governance assessment
-Relationship btwn governance, risk and control
-Result of other assurance providers work
-Results of the other governance related engagements
Roles of IAF in terms of governance
They have a dual role
1. IAF forms part of governance structure
2. IAF is responsible for performing assurance and advisory services regarding governance
When performing governance assessments what do EA have to consider
- Their focus is on information provided by management and less on auditing or assessing governance
- Governance issues considered in certain phases
- Consider governance structures if the integrity of the client is in question