Archived - Department of Finance Canada’s Internal Audit Directorate: Key Compliance Attributes of Internal Audit

Report – June 30, 2024

Directive on Internal Audit

Appendix A: Mandatory Procedures for Internal Auditing in the Government of Canada

  • A.2.2.3 Departments must meet public reporting requirements as prescribed by the Comptroller General of Canada and using Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat prescribed platforms, including:
    • A.2.2.3.1 Performance results for the internal audit function
    • The objective of publishing departmental internal audit performance results, in the form of key compliance attributes, is to provide pertinent information to stakeholders (Canadians, parliamentarians) regarding the professionalism, performance and impact of the function in departments.

The key compliance attributes detailed below have been selected to show an external audience that an internal audit function is in place within the Department and is operating as intended.

Departments with internal audit functions are required to publish key attributes of compliance as per section A.2.2.3.1 of the Treasury Board Directive on Internal Audit. It is important that the public is aware that the heads of government organizations are receiving assurance and that activities are managed in a way that demonstrates responsible stewardship.

More information regarding the rationale behind publishing these attributes can be found under the OCG web page.  

Performance Results

Compliance attributes will answer questions that stakeholders may have about the oversight of public resources

Key compliance attributes

Results – April 1, 2023, to March 31, 2024

Do internal auditors in departments have the training to do the job effectively? Are multidisciplinary teams in place to address diverse risks?

1(a) % of staff with an internal audit or accounting designation (Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA))

1(b) % of staff with an internal audit or accounting designation (CIA, CPA) in progress

1(c) % of staff holding other designations (CGAP, CISA, etc.)

1(a) 57% of staff with an internal audit or accounting designation (Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA)).

1(b) 28% of staff with an internal audit or accounting designation (CIA, CPA) in progress.

1(c) 0% of staff holding other designations (CGAP, CISA, etc.).

Is internal audit work performed in conformance with the international standards for the profession of internal audit as required by Treasury Board policy?

2(a) Date of last comprehensive briefing to the Departmental Audit Committee (DAC) on the internal processes, tools, and information considered necessary to evaluate conformance with the IIA Code of Ethics and the Standards and the results of the quality assurance and improvement program (QAIP)

2(b) Date of last external assessment

2(a) November 30, 2023, was the date of last comprehensive briefing to the Departmental Audit Committee (DAC) on the internal processes, tools, and information considered necessary to evaluate conformance with the IIA Code of Ethics and the Standards and the results of the quality assurance and improvement program (QAIP).

2(b) July 2022 was the date of last external assessment.

Are the RBAPs submitted to audit committees and approved by deputy heads implemented as planned with resulting reports published? Is management acting on audit recommendations for improvements to departmental processes?

3 RBAPs and related information

  1. name / status of audit for the current fiscal year of the RBAP
  2. date the audit report was approved
  3. date the audit report was published
  4. original planned date for completion of all management action plan (MAP) items
  5. status of MAP items

The 2023-2025 RBAP was presented to the DAC on June 14, 2023, and was approved by the Deputy Minister on June 29, 2023.

See table 1 for more information on individual audit engagements.

Is internal audit credible and adding value in support of the mandate and strategic objectives of the organization?

4 Average overall usefulness rating from senior management (ADM-level or equivalent) of areas audited.

75% of responses rated "overall usefulness" as excellent (level 4) and 25% of responses rated "overall usefulness" as fair (level 2), giving an average overall usefulness rating of 3.5.

Table 1 – Audit plan and related information1
  Internal audit Audit status Report approved date Report published date Original planned MAP completion date Implementation status
1 Audit of Information Management of the Federal Budget Process Published: MAPs not fully implemented 2018/10/24 2019/01/25 March 2019 (revised to July 2024) 83%
2 Joint Audit and Evaluation of the Department's Information and Records Management System (SharePoint) Published: MAPs fully implemented 2020/09/03 2020/10/30 December 2022 100%
3 Audit of G&S Expenditures Related to COVID-19 Published: MAPs fully implemented 2021/06/01 2021/08/30 May 2022 (revised to April 2023) 100%
4 Consulting Engagement – Departmental Information and IT Security Practices Completed 2022/09/01 N/A N/A N/A
5 Internal Audit of Federal Government Consulting Contracts Awarded to McKinsey & Company Published: no MAPs 2023/03/22 2023/03/29 N/A N/A
6 Audit of the Personnel Security Screening Process Published: MAPs not fully implemented 2023/06/28 2023/09/26 March 2025 0%
7 Audit of Canada Pension Plan Cost Recoveries Published: MAPs not fully implemented 2023/12/18 2024/03/14 0%
1 As of March 31, 2024.

Page details

Date modified: