Internal Audit Charter
Internal Audit Charter
Internal Audit Charter
INTRODUCTION
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Through these assurance and consultative activities, Internal audit assists management
accomplish its objectives by bringing a systematic disciplined approach to evaluate
and improve the effectiveness of risk management, control and governance processes.
PURPOSE
Internal Audit examines and evaluates the adequacy and effectiveness of the system
of internal control provided by the Company. The objective is to provide all levels of
management with sufficient, relevant and useful information that will help them
assure:
CHARTER
The Charter serves as a guide to Internal Audit in the performance of its duties. The
Charter does not include, nor is it intended to include, all of the department's duties or
responsibilities, as they may exist from time to time.
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AUTHORITY
Authorization is granted for full and complete access to any of the company’s records
(manual or electronic), physical property and personnel relevant to a review.
Documents and information given to Internal Auditors during a periodic review will
be handled in the same prudent manner as by those employees normally accountable
for them.
Internal Auditors should not have direct responsibility or any authority over any of the
activities or operations that they review. They should not develop and install
procedures, prepare records or engage in activities that would normally be reviewed
by Internal Auditors.
The Senior Internal Audit Manager will issue the final audit report, within a
reasonable time after receiving the written management responses, and will distribute
the report or a summarized version thereof to:
• Copies to: (At the discretion of the Senior Internal Audit Manager)
• Audit Committee
• Vice President
• Chief Financial Officer
• External Auditors.
• Others, as appropriate.
The scope of Internal Audit encompasses the examination and evaluation of the
adequacy and effectiveness of the organization’s system of internal control and the
quality of performance in carrying out assigned responsibilities. It includes:
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• Reviewing and appraising the economy and efficiency with which resources
are employed. In this context, internal auditing evaluates whether operating
standards have been established for measuring economy and efficiency;
whether operating standards are understood and are being met; whether
deviations from operating standards are identified, analyzed and
communicated to those responsible for corrective action; and whether
effective corrective action has been taken.
Management does not place any restrictions on the scope of the audits. However, it is
recognized that Management and the Audit Committee provide general direction as to
the scope of work and the activities to be audited, and may request Internal Audit to
carry-out special reviews or audits.
RESPONSIBILITIES
The Senior Internal Audit Manager is responsible for providing overall direction and
control of the internal audit program to assure that:
• The Internal Audit Department is staffed and operated in accordance with the
Standards for the Professional Practice of Internal Auditing, Code of Ethics,
and Statement of Responsibilities of the Institute of Internal Auditors.
• Audit planning provides for organizations within the organization to be
reviewed at appropriate intervals to determine whether they are carrying out
their functions economically, efficiently, effectively and in accordance with
Company policies and procedures.
• The results of the examinations made by the auditors, the opinions which they
form, and the recommendations which they make are promptly reported to
management personnel who should be informed or who should take
appropriate action. Copies of audit reports are normally distributed to the
audited area's chain of command and could include the Vice President of the
audited Operation. Periodically, the Senior Internal Audit Manager meets
directly with Senior Management and the Audit Committee. Quarterly, the
Internal Audit Department provides written reports on its activities to Senior
Management and the Audit Committee.
• Any plans or actions taken to correct reported conditions are evaluated to
determine the corrective action taken is achieving desired results, or that
management has assumed the risk of not taking corrective action.
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• The Internal Audit Department is a staff department and does not have the
authority or responsibility to implement its recommendations. During each
audit the manager to whom the audit report is directed is asked to respond to
recommendations and outline plans for action. At an appropriate period
following the audit, the manager may be asked to respond in writing regarding
action that has been taken.
• Determination of areas or departments to be audited is made by the Senior
Internal Audit Manager. Any officer or manager may request an audit in their
area of responsibility.
The Internal Audit Department shall report directly to the Chairman of the Audit
Committee or through a designated representative for the purpose of day-to-day
direction needed by the department in the mediation of audit scope and scheduling,
plus budgetary and personnel concerns. The Senior Internal Audit Manager will have
direct access to all members of the Executive Committee and the Audit Committee.
INDEPENDENCE
Programming
The Internal Audit Department shall be free from control or undue influence in
the selection and application of audit techniques, procedures, and programs.
Reporting
The Internal Audit Department shall be free from control or undue influence in
the determination of facts revealed by the examination or in the development
of recommendations or opinions as a result of the examination.
Investigative
The Internal Audit Department shall be free from undue influence in the
selection of areas, activities, personal relationships, and managerial policies to
be examined. No legitimate source of information is to be closed by the
auditor.
General
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The internal auditor participating in such a review should ensure that the extent of
participation does not affect independence, thus suggested audit trails or other
controls will be transmitted through formal correspondence.
The Internal Audit Department shall be notified in all cases where the discovery of
circumstances suggest a reasonable possibility that assets have, or are thought to have,
been lost through defalcation or other security breaches in the financial and operating
systems. The Internal Audit Department will perform sufficient tests to identify the
weaknesses in financial and operating procedures, both automated and manual, which
permitted the loss and evaluate the impact the weaknesses have with respect to other
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PERSONNEL
The ultimate quality of the Internal Audit Department's performance is directly related
to the quality of the people employed. The internal audit function should be directed
by and staffed with qualified and competent individuals.
Minimum qualifications for each position with the audit function have been
established; however, additional experience, training, specialized skills, as well as
intelligence, adaptability, promotability, an inquiring mind, analytical ability, good
business judgment, and an ability to communicate with individuals should be
considered in the employment process.
The Senior Internal Audit Manager should report annually to the Chairman and/or a
designated representative and the Audit Committee as to the effectiveness of the
present staff in fulfilling the stated objective of the Internal Audit Department.
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