Welcome to the internal audit page.
The internal audit section provides an assurance and consulting service to all services within the Council.
It does this by evaluating internal controls, risk management and governance processes.
The Accounts and Audit Regulations (Wales) 2014 - Regulation 7 places a statutory obligation on the Council to 'maintain an adequate and effective system of internal audit of its accounting records and of its system of internal control.'
Definition of Internal Audit
The Public Sector Internal Audit Standards (PSIAS) were introduced in April 2013, and have since been updated. Internal audit is defined in the PSIAS as:
“Internal Audit is an independent, objective assurance and consulting activity designed to add value and improve an organisation’s operations. It helps an organisation accomplish its objectives by bringing a systematic, disciplined approach to evaluate and improve the effectiveness of risk management, control and governance processes. The Internal Audit activity evaluates and contributes to the improvement of governance, risk, management and control processes using a systematic and disciplined approach.”
Internal audit is therefore an aid to managers – it can add value by working with a service to improve the effectiveness of its internal controls, risk management and governance processes .This can be particularly useful when setting up a new system, or introducing changes to an existing one.
Internal audit may also be called upon to undertake investigative work in respect of any suspected fraud / irregularity arising, in accordance with the Council’s Strategy on Countering Fraud, Corruption and Bribery (to include Anti-Money Laundering).
Internal Audit Work
Internal audit undertakes its work in accordance with its IA Charter.
The annual core work of the section is outlined in the Internal Audit Plan that covers the entire control environment of the Council. This consists of a mix of assurance and consultancy work, with a contingency for unplanned work. The outcomes of all reviews undertaken contribute to the Chief Internal Auditor’s Annual Report which concludes with an opinion on assurance of the Council’s overall internal control, risk management and governance environment.
The internal audit service can be provided in Welsh or English.