Auditul intern, mai mult o necesitate decat un lux

Abstract

Internal auditing is a profession and activity involved in advising organizations regarding how to better achieve their objectives. Internal auditing involves the utilization of a systematic methodology for analyzing business processes or organizational problems and recommending solutions. Professionals called internal auditors are employed by organizations to perform the internal auditing activity. The scope of internal auditing within an organization is broad and may involve internal control topics such as the efficacy of operations, the reliability of financial reporting, deterring and investigating fraud, safeguarding assets, and compliance with laws and regulations. Internal auditors are not responsible for the execution of company activities; they advise management and the Board of Directors (or similar oversight body) regarding how to better execute their responsibilities. Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) defines internal control as having five components: Control Environment-sets the tone for the organization, influencing the control consciousness of its people. It is the foundation for all other components of internal control: Risk Assessment-the identification and analysis of relevant risks to the achievement of objectives, forming a basis for how the risks should be managed ;Information and Communication-systems or processes that support the identification, capture, and exchange of information in a form and time frame that enable people to carry out their responsibilities; Control Activities-the policies and procedures that help ensure management directives are carried out; Monitoring-processes used to assess the quality of internal control performance over time. The Internal Auditing profession evolved steadily with the progress of management science after World War II. It is conceptually similar in many ways to financial auditing by public accounting firms, quality assurance and banking compliance activities. Much of the theory underlying internal auditing is derived from management consulting and public accounting professions. The connection between the audit committee and the internal auditors has grown more important in light of recent accounting reform. Audit committees should have an understanding of internal controls around financial reporting and a basis for evaluating the work of the internal audit team. An organizations internal control structure is at the heart of its processes and controls. The audit committee, with responsibility for the organizations internal controls over financial reporting, needs to understand the concepts of internal control in order to be effective with this charge. This 143 Universitatea de Ştiinţe Agricole şi Medicină Veterinară Iaşi section provides basic information about internal control, including what it is and is not, how it can be used most effectively in an organization and management's responsibilities. It includes a list of possible questions for audit committees to consider based on the five interrelated components of an internal control structure.