Outsourcing the internal audit function

ACCA考试： outsourcing the internal audit function

本篇文章重点介绍将内审工作外包所带来的优缺点以及如何降低外包内审工作所带来的风险。

In common with other areas of a company’s operations, the directors may consider that outsourcing the internal audit function represents better value than an in-house provision.

Advantages

• Greater focus on cost and efficiency of the internal;

• Staff may be drawn from a boarder range of expertise;

• Risk of staff turnover is passed to the outsourcing firm;

• Specialist skills may be more readily available;

• Costs of employing permanent staff are avoided;

• May improve independence;

• Access to new market place technologies, e.g. audit methodology software without associated costs;

•Reduced management time in administering an in-house department.

Disadvantages

• Possible conflict of interest if provided by the external auditors;

• Pressure on the independence of the outsourced function due to e.g. threat by management not to renew contract;

• Risk of lack of knowledge and understanding of the organization’s objectives, culture pr business;

• The decision may be based on cost with the effectiveness of the function being reduced;

• Flexibility and availability may not be as high as with an in-house function;

• Lack of control over standard of service;

• Risk of blurring of roles between internal and external audit, losing credibility for both.

Minimizing these risks

• Controls over acceptance of internal audit contracts to ensure no impact on independence or ethical issues;

• Regular reviews of the quality of audit work performed.