Technical bulletin 2023: Internal audit key compliance attributes

Why publish key compliance attributes of internal audit

The objective of the Treasury Board Policy on Internal Audit is “to ensure that the oversight of public resources throughout the federal public administration is informed by a professional and objective internal audit function that is independent of departmental management.” It is important that the public know that heads of government organizations are receiving assurance and that activities are managed in a way that demonstrates responsible stewardship.

Departments with internal audit functions are required to meet public reporting requirements as prescribed by the Comptroller General of Canada (section A.2.2.3 of the Treasury Board Directive on Internal Audit) including:

The attributes in this report have been selected because they demonstrate to an external audience that, at a minimum, the fundamental elements necessary for oversight are in place, are operating as intended and are achieving results. The key attributes of compliance with the policy and standards are:

Publishing departmental key compliance attributes provides information to Canadians and parliamentarians about the professionalism, performance, and impact of the internal audit function in departments. The attributes are not performance measures, and no targets are attached to them. Under the policy, the Comptroller General has the authority to amend these attributes in response to changes in the internal audit environment and/or due to the evolving maturity of the internal audit function.

Results of key compliance attributes

Performance indicator Key compliance attribute Fiscal year
2023 to 2024 (First quarter)
Definition or comments

Do internal auditors in departments have the training required to do the job effectively?

Are multidisciplinary teams in place to address diverse risks?

Number of internal audit employees

20

The number of current full-time equivalent positions

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

55%

Not applicable

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

30%

In progress: The staff members (indeterminate employees) who have formally registered with and have been accepted by the certifying body to complete the requirements of the professional designation in a prescribed time frame and has registered for at least one component of the certification process.

Percentage of staff holding other designations (for example, Certified Government Auditing Professional, Certified Information Systems Auditor)

15%

Several staff also held other designations, for example:

  • Certified Government Auditing Professional
  • Certified Information Systems Auditor
  • Certified Fraud Examiner
  • Certification in Risk Management Assurance
  • Certification in Control Self-Assessment

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

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

August 2022

Last comprehensive briefing: A comprehensive briefing includes updates on all pertinent elements of the QAIP. In accordance with IIA Standard 1320, this comprehensive briefing would include:

  • the scope and frequency of both the internal and external assessments
  • the qualifications and independence of the assessor(s) or the assessment team, including potential conflicts of interest
  • conclusions of assessors
  • corrective action plans

Date of last external assessment

March 2019

External assessments (practice inspections) must be conducted at least once every five years by a qualified, independent assessor or assessment team from outside the organization.

Are the risk-based audit plans 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?

Refer to table below for internal audit status and related information for fiscal year 2023 to 2024.

Not applicable

Not applicable

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

Average overall usefulness rating from senior management (assistant deputy minister-level or equivalent) of areas audited

82.6%

Average “overall usefulness” rating: Post-audit surveys to senior management of the area audited should include a question on the overall usefulness of the audit and should be done for all audits approved in the applicable fiscal year.

Internal audit engagement status and related information for fiscal year 2023 to 2024

Additions and adjustments to planned internal audit engagements may occur in order to address emerging risks and priorities of the organization.

Internal audit engagements Audit status Report approved date Report published date Original planned management action plan (MAP) completion date MAP implementation statusFootnote 1
Horizontal Internal Audit Engagements

Blended Horizontal Engagement of Information Technology (IT) Security

Part 1: Review of the IT Security Risk Management process supporting the Government of Canada (GC) Digital Direction (Advisory)

Complete November 9, 2020 Not applicableFootnote 2 March 31, 2021Footnote 3 67% Footnote 4

Blended Horizontal Engagement of IT Security

Part 2: Small Departments IT Security Self-Assessment and Audit

Complete

April 7, 2022

October 3, 2022

March 31, 2024

Not applicableFootnote 5

Support for Departmental Internal Audits of Federal Government Consulting Contracts Awarded to McKinsey & Company and Summary of Results (Advisory)

Complete

May 2, 2023

Not applicableFootnote 6

Not applicableFootnote 7

Not applicable

Departmental Adoption of Digital Standards

Planned

Not applicable

Not applicable

Not applicable

Not applicable

Small Departments Internal Audit Engagements
Core Control Audit: Veterans Review and Appeal Board Complete December 21, 2020 February 12, 2021 September 30, 2021 38%Footnote 8
Core Control Audit: Immigration and Refugee Board

Complete

May 3, 2023

Not applicableFootnote 9

March 31, 2024

Not applicableFootnote 10

Core Control Self-Assessment Consolidated Results Report - Delegation & Transfer Payments (Advisory)

In Progress

Not applicable

Not applicableFootnote 11

Not applicableFootnote 12

Not applicable

Targeted Annual Core Control Self-Assessment Audit - Delegation & Transfer Payments

In progress

Not applicable

Not applicable

Not applicable

Not applicable

Core Control Self-Assessment Consolidated Results Report – Contracting, PAYE, Receivables (Advisory)

Planned

Not applicable

Not applicableFootnote 13

Not applicableFootnote 14

Not applicable

Horizontal Engagement in Small Departments of Contracting

Planned

Not applicable

Not applicable

Not applicable

Not applicable

Regional Development Agencies Internal Audit Engagements
Regional Relief and Recovery Fund (RRRF) Fraud Risk Assessment (Advisory) Complete October 24, 2022 Not applicableFootnote 15 Not applicableFootnote 16 Not applicable

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