(a) an audit of a financial report for a financial year, or an audit of a financial report for a half-year, in accordance with the Corporations Act 2001; and
(b) an audit of a financial report, or a complete set of financial statements, for any other purpose.
Aus 0.2 This Auditing Standard also applies, as appropriate, to an audit of other historical financial information.
Operative Date
Aus 0.3 This Auditing Standard is operative for financial reporting periods commencing on or after 1 January 2010.
Introduction
Scope of this Auditing Standard
This Auditing Standard deals with the auditor’s responsibilities relating to the work of internal auditors when the external auditor has determined, in accordance with ASA 315,[1] that the internal audit function is likely to be relevant to the audit. (Ref: Para. A1-A2)
This Auditing Standard does not deal with instances when individual internal auditors provide direct assistance to the external auditor in carrying out audit procedures.
Relationship between the Internal Audit Function and the External Auditor
The objectives of the internal audit function are determined by management and, where applicable, those charged with governance. While the objectives of the internal audit function and the external auditor are different, some of the ways in which the internal audit function and the external auditor achieve their respective objectives may be similar. (Ref: Para. A3)
Irrespective of the degree of autonomy and objectivity of the internal audit function, such function is not independent of the entity as is required of the external auditor when expressing an opinion on the financial report. The external auditor has sole responsibility for the audit opinion expressed, and that responsibility is not reduced by the external auditor’s use of the work of the internal auditors.
Effective Date
[Deleted by the AUASB. Refer Aus 0.3]
Objectives
The objectives of the external auditor, where the entity has an internal audit function that the external auditor has determined is likely to be relevant to the audit are:
To determine whether, and to what extent, to use specific work of the internal auditors; and
If using the specific work of the internal auditors, to determine whether that work is adequate for the purposes of the audit.
Definitions
For purposes of the Australian Auditing Standards, the following terms have the meanings attributed below:
Internal audit function means an appraisal activity established or provided as a service to the entity. Its functions include, amongst other things, examining, evaluating and monitoring the adequacy and effectiveness of internal control.
Internal auditors means those individuals who perform the activities of the internal audit function. Internal auditors may belong to an internal audit department or equivalent function.
Requirements
Determining Whether and to What Extent to Use the Work of the Internal Auditors
The external auditor shall determine:
Whether the work of the internal auditors is likely to be adequate for purposes of the audit; and
If so, the planned effect of the work of the internal auditors on the nature, timing or extent of the external auditor’s procedures.
In determining whether the work of the internal auditors is likely to be adequate for purposes of the audit, the external auditor shall evaluate:
The objectivity of the internal audit function;
The technical competence of the internal auditors;
Whether the work of the internal auditors is likely to be carried out with due professional care; and
Whether there is likely to be effective communication between the internal auditors and the external auditor.
(Ref: Para. A4)
In determining the planned effect of the work of the internal auditors on the nature, timing or extent of the external auditor’s procedures, the external auditor shall consider:
The nature and scope of specific work performed, or to be performed, by the internal auditors;
The assessed risks of material misstatement at the assertion level for particular classes of transactions, account balances, and disclosures; and
The degree of subjectivity involved in the evaluation of the audit evidence gathered by the internal auditors in support of the relevant assertions. (Ref: Para. A5)
Using Specific Work of the Internal Auditors
In order for the external auditor to use specific work of the internal auditors, the external auditor shall evaluate and perform audit procedures on that work to determine its adequacy for the external auditor’s purposes. (Ref: Para. A6)
To determine the adequacy of specific work performed by the internal auditors for the external auditor’s purposes, the external auditor shall evaluate whether:
The work was performed by internal auditors having adequate technical training and proficiency;
The work was properly supervised, reviewed and documented;
Adequate audit evidence has been obtained to enable the internal auditors to draw reasonable conclusions;
Conclusions reached are appropriate in the circumstances and any reports prepared by the internal auditors are consistent with the results of the work performed; and
Any exceptions or unusual matters disclosed by the internal auditors are properly resolved.
Documentation
If the external auditor uses specific work of the internal auditors, the external auditor shall include in the audit documentation the conclusions reached regarding the evaluation of the adequacy of the work of the internal auditors, and the audit procedures performed by the external auditor on that work, in accordance with paragraph 11 of this Auditing Standard.[2]
* * *
Application and Other Explanatory Material
Scope of this Auditing Standard (Ref: Para. 1)
As described in ASA 315,[3] the entity’s internal audit function is likely to be relevant to the audit if the nature of the internal audit function’s responsibilities and activities are related to the entity’s financial reporting, and the auditor expects to use the work of the internal auditors to modify the nature or timing, or reduce the extent, of audit procedures to be performed.
Carrying out procedures in accordance with this Auditing Standard may cause the external auditor to re-evaluate the external auditor’s assessment of the risks of material misstatement. Consequently, this may affect the external auditor’s determination of the relevance of the internal audit function to the audit. Similarly, the external auditor may decide not to otherwise use the work of the internal auditors to affect the nature, timing or extent of the external auditor’s procedures. In such circumstances, the external auditor’s further application of this Auditing Standard may not be necessary.
Objectives of the Internal Audit Function (Ref: Para. 3)
The objectives of internal audit functions vary widely and depend on the size and structure of the entity and the requirements of management and, where applicable, those charged with governance. The activities of the internal audit function may include one or more of the following:
Monitoring of internal control. The internal audit function may be assigned specific responsibility for reviewing controls, monitoring their operation and recommending improvements thereto.
Examination of financial and operating information. The internal audit function may be assigned to review the means used to identify, measure, classify and report financial and operating information, and to make specific enquiry into individual items, including detailed testing of transactions, balances and procedures.
Review of operating activities. The internal audit function may be assigned to review the economy, efficiency and effectiveness of operating activities, including non-financial activities of an entity.
Review of compliance with laws and regulations. The internal audit function may be assigned to review compliance with laws, regulations and other external requirements, and with management policies and directives and other internal requirements.
Risk management. The internal audit function may assist the organisation by identifying and evaluating significant exposures to risk and contributing to the improvement of risk management and control systems.
Governance. The internal audit function may assess the governance process in its accomplishment of objectives on ethics and values, performance management and accountability, communicating risk and control information to appropriate areas of the organisation and effectiveness of communication among those charged with governance, external and internal auditors, and management.
Determining Whether and to What Extent to Use the Work of the Internal Auditors
Whether the Work of the Internal Auditors Is Likely to Be Adequate for Purposes of the Audit (Ref: Para. 9)
Factors that may affect the external auditor’s determination of whether the work of the internal auditors is likely to be adequate for the purposes of the audit include:
Objectivity
The status of the internal audit function within the entity and the effect such status has on the ability of the internal auditors to be objective.
Whether the internal audit function reports to those charged with governance or an officer with appropriate authority, and whether the internal auditors have direct access to those charged with governance.
Whether the internal auditors are free of any conflicting responsibilities.
Whether those charged with governance oversee employment decisions related to the internal audit function.
Whether there are any constraints or restrictions placed on the internal audit function by management or those charged with governance.
Whether, and to what extent, management acts on the recommendations of the internal audit function, and how such action is evidenced.
Technical competence
Whether the internal auditors are members of relevant professional bodies.
Whether the internal auditors have adequate technical training and proficiency as internal auditors.
Whether there are established policies for hiring and training internal auditors.
Due professional care
Whether activities of the internal audit function are properly planned, supervised, reviewed and documented.
The existence and adequacy of audit manuals or other similar documents, work programs and internal audit documentation.
Communication
Communication between the external auditor and the internal auditors may be most effective when the internal auditors are free to communicate openly with the external auditors, and:
Meetings are held at appropriate intervals throughout the period;
The external auditor is advised of, and has access to, relevant internal audit reports and is informed of any significant matters that come to the attention of the internal auditors when such matters may affect the work of the external auditor; and
The external auditor informs the internal auditors of any significant matters that may affect the internal audit function.
Aus A4.1 An illustrative example questionnaire is included in [Aus] Appendix 1, to assist the external auditor in obtaining an understanding and making a preliminary assessment of the internal audit function.
Planned Effect of the Work of the Internal Auditors on the Nature, Timing or Extent of the External Auditor’s Procedures (Ref: Para. 10)
Where the work of the internal auditors is to be a factor in determining the nature, timing or extent of the external auditor’s procedures, it may be useful to agree in advance the following matters with the internal auditors:
The timing of such work;
The extent of audit coverage;
Materiality for the financial report as a whole (and, if applicable, materiality level or levels for particular classes of transactions, account balances or disclosures), and performance materiality;
Proposed methods of item selection;
Documentation of the work performed; and
Review and reporting procedures.
Using Specific Work of the Internal Auditors (Ref: Para. 11)
The nature, timing and extent of the audit procedures performed on specific work of the internal auditors will depend on the external auditor’s assessment of the risk of material misstatement, the evaluation of the internal audit function, and the evaluation of the specific work of the internal auditors. Such audit procedures may include:
Examination of items already examined by the internal auditors;
Examination of other similar items; and
Observation of procedures performed by the internal auditors.
Conformity with International Standards on Auditing
This Auditing Standard conforms with International Standard on Auditing ISA 610 Using the Work of Internal Auditors, issued by the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB), an independent
standard-setting board of the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC).
Paragraphs that have been added to this Auditing Standard (and do not appear in the text of the equivalent ISA) are identified with the prefix “Aus”.
Compliance with this Auditing Standard enables compliance with ISA 610.