In the rapidly evolving landscape of finance and accounting, the potential of Audit Analytics (AA) stands out, promising to transform the Internal Audit Function (IAF). However, despite its potential, its adoption remains limited. A recent study in the „Journal of Emerging Technologies in Accounting“ delved deep, identifying both driving and inhibiting factors affecting AA’s integration. […]
The internal Audit Foundation in collaboration with Grant Thornton recently released a report in which over 200 chief audit executives (CAEs) and directors shared their perspectives on leveraging data analytics to generate and elevate value. The majority of internal auditing teams are already prioritizing data analytics and automation as a tool to add value to […]
A new article in the IIA’s publication “Internal Auditor” discusses a report released by the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) regarding the consumer account and cross-selling failures at Wells Fargo Bank. The report recommends fines for three former internal audit and risk management executives at the bank. While it is rare […]
The world of financial reporting has seen significant transformations in the past few decades, with evolving regulatory standards and changing business environments. Amid these changes, one area that has continually held significance is the internal audit function (IAF). Despite its importance, the IAF has remained an area with limited data availability, constraining further research and […]
Recent developments in the accounting industry have led to increased collaboration between professionals from different accounting firms. This collaboration involves firms providing various services, such as audit and tax, to client organizations. While this trend offers many benefits, it also raises questions about how information is shared among these professionals and its potential impact on […]
In 2022, several risk areas put organizations in a state of permanent crisis: the ongoing pandemic, supply chain issues, climate change along with natural disasters, persistent inflation and rising energy prices driven by the war in Ukraine. For this reason, 14 Institutes of Internal Auditors across 15 European countries have conducted a study on key […]
A new research article in Accounting Horizons shows the efficacy of Center for Internal Auditing Excellence (CIAE) programs in raising the quality of Internal Audit Functions (IAFs) of nearby companies. A lack of domain knowledge in internal auditing could lead to lower-quality and less effective IAFs. The CIAE program produces new practitioners with greater internal […]
The global economy has consistently been subject to a variety of financial risks and the COVID-19 pandemic has brought new challenges that require careful consideration. In a recent article, The Wall Street Journal highlighted twelve areas of financial risk in the current economic landscape. The charts presented in the article show the increasing levels of […]
Sustainability reporting is becoming an increasingly important topic in the business world, and for good reason. It is a way for companies to communicate to stakeholders how they are addressing sustainability issues, such as climate change, social responsibility, and environmental impact. By providing transparency and accountability, sustainability reporting helps build trust with stakeholders and demonstrates […]
The Pulse of Internal Audit report is a primary data source for leaders in internal audit. It offers valuable information on various topics such as internal audit budgets, staff, audit plans, risks, and more important topics. The 2023 edition includes timely data on audit frequency for critical risk areas. The report serves as a benchmarking […]
It has now been almost three years since the IIASB acknowledged the need for re-organizing and -presenting the Standards, and thus began to update the internal audit profession’s governing documents. After a throughout revision phase that took into account the input of a broad range of stakeholders, a draft of the new standards is now […]
The Institute of Internal Auditors’ (IIA) position paper Relationship of Trust – Building Better Connections Between the Audit Committee and Internal Audit stresses the importance of a trusting and dynamic partnership between internal audit and the audit committee. The IIA calls the relationship between both parties “critical” to good governance and suggests that the “CAE […]
With the onset of and hype around ChatGPT, companies increasingly start experimenting with tools that involve artificial intelligence (AI). However, guidance and frameworks on how internal auditing can deal with AI remain scarce. Back in 2017, the IIA outlined in their white paper Artificial Intelligence – Considerations for the Profession of Internal Auditing that internal […]
Disclosing Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) information is crucial in today’s business environment because it allows investors, stakeholders, and consumers to make informed decisions about a company’s impact on the environment, society, and governance practices. Furthermore, ESG information has been linked to better long-term financial performance and it is increasingly used by investors as a […]
The Public Sector differs significantly from profit organizations in terms of its objectives and purpose. Thus, the work and structure of internal audit functions (IAFs) differ fundamentally between these types of organizations as well. To address the special needs of IAFs within the public sector a practice guide by the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) […]
In the last report “Redefining the Resilient Organization” of a three-part series on “Internal Audit in a Post-COVID World” by the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA), the authors give internal auditors guidance on how to prepare organizations for potentially arising business transformations and disruptions. Part of this guidance is putting the internal auditor’s focus, especially […]
The collection on „Global Perspectives & Insights: Cybersecurity in 2022, Parts 1-3”, published by the Institute of Internal Auditors, discusses different issues within the contemporary evolving cybersecurity landscape. While part 1 focuses on the implications of regulatory changes on cyber reporting by the SEC, part 2 deals with the benefits of symbiotic relationships between Heads […]
The report „Embedding ESG and sustainability considerations into the Three Lines Model“, co-written by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA), provides suggestions and guidance, on how environmental, social, and governance (ESG)-related matter can be integrated into the key roles of the revised Three Lines Model – […]
In its second report on “Internal Audit in a Post-COVID World”, the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) deals with global supply chains, which were severely hit by pandemic challenges and uncertainties, being only 2% of global supply chains prepared for such an event according to surveys of the US branch of the consulting firm Ernst […]
In its first report on “Internal Audit in a Post-COVID World”, the Institute of Internal Auditors investigates talent management within a post-pandemic setting. In the light of the pandemic-driven demand for flexibility and human-centricity of employees, the findings suggest difficulties of employers to offer the required individual employee’s flexibility while retaining internal audit functions with […]
In its reaction to the European Financial Reporting Advisory Group (EFRAG) consultation on the Draft of European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS), the European Confederation of Institutes of Internal Auditing (ECIIA) is strongly advocating that the EFRAG provides necessary clarity on the role of Internal Audit has in light of ESG matters. To be precise, since […]
In their joint global survey „Internal Audit: A Global View“ by the Internal Audit Foundation and the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA), in which more than 3,600 internal audit professionals from a range of different entities, industries and regions in 159 locations were asked, trends within the development of internal audit functions (IAFs) were examined. […]
In their joint survey „Internal Control and the Transformation of Entities“ by the Institute of Management Accountants, the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants and the Internal Audit Foundation, in which more than 1,950 professionals from the areas of finance, accounting and internal audit from a range of different entities worldwide were asked, it was examined […]
In its guidelines, the European Banking Authority (EBA) provides further clarity regarding Directive (EU) 2015/849 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 May 2015 on the prevention of the use of the financial system for the purposes of money laundering or terrorist financing (AML/CFT efforts). Specifying the mandatory introduction of an AML/CFT […]
In their joint report „Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) 101: Internal Audit’s Invaluable Role in Creating a Sense of Belonging at Work,“ the Institute of Internal Auditors, Deloitte and the Internal Audit Foundation discuss how internal audit functions (IAFs), based on their role as an assurance providers, trusted advisors and agents of change, could have […]
The current crisis is posing difficult challenges to the Banking System, which is requested to rapidly adapt and cope and market developments with fast-moving regulations. A Banking risk profile can potentially be impacted by a wide range of drivers: business, credit, country, regulatory, liquidity and financial risk, operational/continuity (among which IT and cybersecurity, physical safety), […]
The IIA’s Global Knowledge Brief series on cybersecurity presents an overview of the new SEC proposals, including the implications they have for cybersecurity reporting regulation in the U.S. as well as abroad. It also explores how internal auditors can play an essentiel role in helping their organizations manage an altered compliance plan that new regulations […]
One of the biggest challenges CAEs face is having enough personell obtaining the right abilities to complete their audit plans. To meet this challenge, many CAEs engage third parties for some of their internal audit activities. This report will help internal audit practitioners, managers and audit committees to more effectively manage these chalenges.
The world may have gone digital, but it comes to a standstill when people are missing. We saw that last year, for example, when it caused international delivery delays and rising prices occurred. With the easing of Covid restrictions, companies around the world are realising that people are necessary for the growth and development of […]
Der Bericht „Interne Revision und Compliance: Klarheit und Zusammenarbeit für eine bessere Governance“ in der Reihe Global Perspectives & Insights des IIA erläutert, wieso ein einheitliches Rollenverständnis für eine wirksame Compliance und eine unabhängige Prüfung bedeutend sind. Die Publikation enthält Analysen zur Anwendung der sechs Grundsätze des Drei-Linien-Modells und Beispiele aus der Praxis. Hier können […]
The IIA Netherlands presented the Internal Audit Ambition Model in October 2018. The approach has convinced the representatives of internal audit. With the help of the model, they can define the audit functions, check whether they comply with the standards of the IPPF. In addition, the model supports communication with the audit committee by providing […]
Environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues are a hotly debated topic globally and across all industries and organizations. The pressure on organizations to address ESG issues continues to grow, making it paramount. Internal audit functions are invaluable to companies and should be more involved in their organization’s ESG efforts. The new report „Prioritizing ESG: Exploring […]
The current crisis has shown that we live in a digital environment, and this trend will intensify in the future. Working in a digital environment will be a normal state in the future. IIA Netherlands, in cooperation with EY, conducted a study on how Internal Audit (IAF) is using digitalization technologies such as Robotic Process […]
To remain relevant in the current business environment, internal audit must maintain an innovative mindset, challenge and update existing audit methodologies, and leverage emerging technologies such as governance, risk, and control (GRC) to improve business collaboration. The report „Using Evolving Technologies to Improve Collaboration: How GRC Software Can Support Risk Management and Internal Audit“ by […]
Internal audit is an activity, so go swimming! This Internal Audit 360° article identifies different types of internal audit leaders. How effective they are in the current era of COVID-19 and volatility, uncertainty, and complexity depend on whether they are on the sidelines or surfing the waves of the organization’s problems. Author Dr. Rainer Lenz […]
Internal audit is well positioned to assess resilience risk and embed resilience in organizations. This is demonstrated in the new white paper „Are We Ready? It’s Time for Internal Audit to Focus on Resilience Amid Extreme Change“ from the IIA in collaboration with Protiviti. The paper helps chief audit executives better understand the importance of […]
What will internal auditing look like in the future? As a result of the pandemic, the definition of „normal operations“ for internal auditing has been redefined in almost all companies around the world. Within internal audit, audit plans were changed, site visits became impossible, and new ways of performing daily tasks were found. Many processes […]
To date, the field of research related to internal auditing is still relatively small. In the new paper „New Frontiers for Internal Audit Research“ by Margaret H. Christ, Marc Eulerich, Ronja Krane and David A. Wood, concrete recommendations for future research are given. This was accomplished through surveys, interviews, and discussions with practitioners. Overall, three […]
How long should an audit report be? Does are most internal audit reports the right length? For many stakeholders of audit reports in the executive suite and boardroom, the answer is probably that they are “too long!” So, is the answer ten or twenty pages? Is it two or three? This article from Internal Audit […]
The Covid-19 pandemic resulted in many changes, including for the internal audit profession. However, these changes have not been exclusively negative; topics such as flexible working models, automation through data analytics and audit technology are increasingly the focus of internal audit. This new normal brings with it multifaceted challenges, for example, the basic competencies for […]
The Institute of Internal Auditors‘ new Chairman of the Board, Charlie T. Wright, and the Internal Audit Foundation jointly present their white paper „Future Ready: Upskilling Today for the Profession of Tomorrow“. This paper combines findings from research and the Internal Audit Foundation’s global study „Assessing Internal Audit Competency.“ In particular, the white paper addresses […]
In times of the COVID-19 pandemic, the risk of workplace fraud has increased significantly in many companies and industries. For example, lost revenue has caused companies to reduce their operating expenses. The risk of accounting fraud is increasing. One type of accounting fraud is real earnings management (REM). In this process, managers intentionally create an […]
The Internal Audit Foundation and Deloitte released a joint Premier Global Research Study, “Assessing Internal Audit Competency: Minding the Gaps to Maximize Insights.” The two organizations collaborated to complement the launch of The IIA’s Internal Audit Competency Framework. The resulting comprehensive report outlines five key findings that help identify areas where there are gaps in […]
At the latest since the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) came into force in May 2018, data protection compliance has been on the risk map for internal auditing. The significant liability/sanction risks as well as the increased accountability requirements have led to the implementation of data protection management systems in companies and in the […]
A new article from Internal Auditor, „Emerging Leaders: Where Are They Now? Internal Auditor follows up with past Emerging Leaders to learn how their careers have progressed – from rising through the ranks to springboarding into other professions“ addresses the career paths of former Emerging Leaders. Many use internal auditing as a springboard for further career […]
Supported by ECIIA, Specialists from the Internal Audit Service at the European Commission have described the way to implement remote auditing by using the new Guide on Remote Auditing for the use of Internal Auditors. This guide describes, what a remote audit is, how to assess whether an audit can be conducted remotely, what tools […]
Register now for the new newsletter of the Chair of Internal Auditing at the University of Duisburg-Essen and stay up to date! From now on, the chair will regularly provide you with the latest news of the chair, interesting facts from research and teaching as well as internship and job offers for students and alumni. […]
Technologies offer enormous potential to change and improve working methods. The topic of automating tasks and processes, for example, is also playing an increasingly important role in auditing. Among other things, the use of Robotic Process Automation (RPA), Predictive Analysis (PA) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) in internal auditing is being discussed. A new study by […]
Auditing evolves like technology. Audits can now be carried out remotely using information communication technology. Due to travel restrictions and the obligation to work from home in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, remote auditing was no longer an option, but a necessity. Attend this ECIIA webinar on remote auditing, where experts will talk about: […]
A new article from „Internal Auditor“ addresses the various facets of procurement fraud. Internal auditors who are aware of these signs can help identify vulnerabilities. Procurement is a significant function of business, and internal auditors are responsible for immediately identifying and reporting fraud and ultimately making recommendations to strengthen internal controls. To do this, auditors […]
The world has changed. Internal audit must change too. Organisations and their internal audit functions face a dizzying pace of change and unprecedented uncertainty. The pandemic has destabilised operations and labour, disrupted supply and demand, and undermined previously sound business models to an extent few would have thought possible. Internal audit must understand this change […]
It’s not hard work that determines your promotion. It’s making your hard work and yourself visible that determines your promotion. Visibility means connecting the dots from the work you do with the advertisement you are looking for, which means that you are working on getting your hard work and yourself visible to get noticed, recognized […]
Why is root cause analysis so important? When you go to a doctor, do you want him to tell you what is wrong with you so that you can begin treating the disease? Or are you satisfied that the doctor only treats the symptoms and does not diagnose the actual disease? Of course not. Well, […]
Increasingly popular in accounting are bots for automating tasks and processes using robotic process automation (RPA). Bots can also be used by auditors to automate repetitive tasks. However, they often don’t know which tasks to automate. The new study, „A Framework for Using Robotic Process Automation for Audit Tasks,“ by Marc Eulerich, Justin Pawlowski, Nathan […]
The corona pandemic turned the standard model of office work on its head. Companies were put into crisis management mode and employees were increasingly working from home. The rapid outbreak of the pandemic accelerated the trend towards teleworking in internal auditing as well. This is the subject of the latest report of the IIA’s Global […]
The COVID 19 pandemic also confronted internal auditors with major challenges. For example, auditors had to completely abandon or quickly revise well-thought-out plans and familiar checklists and procedures. To ensure the effectiveness of their organization’s risk management, governance, and internal control processes, internal auditors had to reorient themselves. The importance of agility and flexibility increased. […]
As various technologies converge and mature over the next few years, internal auditors must ask themselves how disruptive innovations can transform their organizations, stakeholder expectations, and the profession itself. If the work of internal auditing is to really enrich and protect, the function must be ready to adapt to new risks and the new requirements […]
During the COVID-period, financial resilience and stability are paramount for businesses. Because of the pandemic, many companies have faced difficult decisions about cost savings through budget cuts and layoffs. There were also a number of challenges that internal audit teams faced, such as competing priorities and lack of resources. A report by the Chartered Institute […]
The high speed of economic change, digitalization and automation have an impact on the internal audit function. The internal audit function must plan ahead and at the same time react promptly. There is a shift from static, timeframe-based risk assessment and audit planning to a direct situationally reactive analysis of risks. Continuous auditing plays a […]
An essential topic for companies is cyber security. In this context, companies must take into account that cyber risks are constantly evolving and that the extent of damage can pose an existential threat. This is also of special importance for internal auditors. In the new article „Reining in Cyber Risk: An understanding of technology, third parties, […]
Internal audit, like all other departments in a company, is seen as an investment that is expected to generate meaningful returns. But unlike departments where the return on investment (ROI) can easily be calculated and traced back to the bottom line, internal auditing is faced with the challenge of assessing the inherent qualitative benefits of […]
The new study named „Audit committee chair overlap, chair expertise, and internal auditing practices: Evidence from Malaysia“ by Wan-Hussin, Fitri, and Salim (2021) adds to the sparse literature on audit committee leadership. It examines internal audit outcomes when AC chairs overlap. They use annual reports from 2014 for a sample of the top 100 nonfinancial […]
An independent audit committee is essential for good corporate governance. However, there is no one-size-fits-all solution of what the perfect audit committee should look like. This is because the exact structure and objectives of audit committees worldwide are influenced by the type of business, the regulatory environment, the ownership structure and legal requirements. In addition, […]
On July 1, 2021, the Financial Market Integrity Strengthening Act, or FISG for short, came into force in Germany. Extensive changes were made with a total of 27 articles. The aim of the Act is to permanently strengthen investor confidence in the German capital market. The amendments relate, for example, to Supervisory structures in companies. The […]
Audits in the usual form are currently not possible or only possible to a limited extent. Since it is not an option to forego revision audits, remote audits are the alternative: audits of internal processes that are not carried out in the company on site. Finally, the supervisory and management bodies‘ monitoring obligations remain unchanged. […]
The Covid 19 crisis has changed the risks associated with payments. Deloitte’s article „The shifting landscape of risk: Perspectives on payments companies, internal audit, and the pandemic“ addresses these risks and outlines how the risks have evolved and how payments companies‘ IA departments can improve their understanding of these changing risks. As customers continue to […]
Internal Audit Offices are reopening, but things may never be the same. As the vaccination rate increases and the rate of COVID-19 cases steadily decreases, more and more companies are planning to return their employees to the office. Even so, the work promises to look different than it used to be, before many started working […]
Environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues are becoming increasingly important in organizations. Companies are more and more under pressure to publicly commit to sustainability and to report on their activities. To date, however, there are not many defined rules for ESG reporting or what ESG reporting should retain. As part of effective governance, Internal Audit […]
The KPMG article formulates various questions that internal auditors should ask themselves in view of the Covid 19 pandemic. From this, it is deduced that immediate action and realignment by those responsible for internal auditing is required. For example, a key question internal audit should ask is „How can an internal audit team better leverage […]
According to a new study by the Chartered Institute of Internal Auditors, Hybrid working creates a “cultural crisis” for companies by undermining employee loyalty, making it more difficult to retain talented employees and detecting fraud. Nearly half of lead auditors believe the move to remote working during the pandemic damaged corporate culture. The steep rise […]
Companies need to face and address environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues. For example, climate change and the reduction of greenhouse gases in business is a major issue in today’s world. Companies have to deal with various risks in this context. Consequently, this also has an impact on the internal audit function. For example, the […]
Regardless of whether it is an audit team of five, thirty or more people, the biggest challenge for any modern audit leader is to stay relevant and add value to the company. In addition to complying with regulations and reducing costs wherever possible, audit leaders also need to stay abreast of current industry topics and […]
What is the use of technology in the internal audit function in times of pandemic? This is one of the questions answered in the new report „Internal Audit’s Digital Transformation Imperative: Advances Amid Crisis – Analysing the Impact of 2020 on Internal Audit Functions‘ Implementation of Technology“. The Internal Audit Foundation and the AuditBoard jointly […]
The discussion is constantly being stimulated as to whether the internal auditing department should change its name. The idea is usually suggested to avoid what some see as a negative stigma related to internal audit. Richard Chambers, president and CEO of The IIA, discusses the question of changing the name of the internal audit in […]
The Corona pandemic is contributing to various disruptive changes. Internal auditing is also affected. A recent report by ECIIA, „The impact of recent global trends on internal auditing in the insurance industry“, deals with trends in internal auditing. The focus is on the insurance industry. The report addresses the impact of macro trends, reaffirming the […]
Getting informed of consent or some other enforcement action can be an uncomfortable experience for a company, especially if it has never been dealt with anything like this before. Fines and penalties aside, the process of canceling the order often takes years and the resources required for that process only add to the total cost. […]
The ongoing digital transformation could accelerate in internal audit in 2021. That’s according to a new survey called “ Internal Audit’s Digital Transformation Imperative: Advances Amid Crisis“ from AuditBoard and the Institute of Internal Auditors‘ Internal Audit Foundation (IAF). Twenty-two percent of respondents in a survey say they will implement cloud-based technology this year. Overall, […]
„Agents of Change: Internal Auditors in an Era of Disruption“, the new book by Richard Chambers, president and CEO of the Institute of Internal Auditors, is calling for a faster and deeper transformation of the internal audit profession. The book claims that internal audit must not only accept change, but also become a catalyst for […]
The third part of the three-part report series, „Moving Internal Audit Deeper into the Digital Age: Part 3, Beyond Theory – Scaling Automation Capabilities in Internal Auditing“ from the Internal Audit Foundation and Deloitte answers the question, „How can internal audit help set up governance architecture around new technologies?“ For effective scaling of analytics and […]
To gain an insight into where various internal audit organizations stand in relation to audit automation and cognitive technologies, the Internal Audit Foundation and Deloitte conducted a survey of IIA members. Based on responses from internal audit leaders across a wide range of organizations, key findings reveal where many organizations are making progress and where […]
The first part of a three-part report series, „Moving Internal Audit Deeper into the Digital Age: Part 1 – A Structured Methodology for Leveraging Automation,“ from the Internal Audit Foundation and Deloitte, explores the impact of robotic process automation (RPA) on internal audit. Part 1 examines how the three types of RPA – probots, knowbots […]
According to a survey by AuditBoard and the Internal Audit Foundation (IAF), the ongoing digital transformation of internal auditing will accelerate rapidly in 2021. 22 % of the 134 surveyed heads of internal audit stated that they will implement cloud-based technologies this year. The report Internal Audit’s Digital Transformation Imperative: Advances amid Crisis highlights how […]
Starting from traditional waterfall development, agility has been writ large in recent years. The latest trend is called Development Security Operations (DevSecOps). More and more companies are adopting DevSecOps. They are seen as an evolutionary extension of agile principles. For example, percentage a Gartner publication („Hype Cycle for Agile and DevOps“) shows that the percentage of […]
Do more with less? Which Internal Auditor hasn’t heard the chorus? Most forward-thinking businesses realize the value of internal audit and are increasing responsibilities of internal audit. Rather than immediately asking for more employees, intelligent teams first address these resource constraints by identifying areas where productivity and efficiency can be improved. Implementing new technology is […]
Most internal audit functions spend between 80 and 100 percent of their time doing traditional internal audits, commonly referred to as „assurance work“. Yet, many also do a certain amount of counseling and strive for more. A lot of senior auditors are concerned about how the limited internal audit resources should be allocated across these […]
There are many areas of internal audit where automation using robotic process automation (RPA) and process mining can be used. In Jean-Marie Bequevort, Expert Practice Leader Internal Audit at TriFinance, opinion, two areas are ripe for automation: (1) data download and analysis to identify red flags, and (2) data visualization to support audit interviews. Why […]
Oft wird künstliche Intelligenz als der nächste gewaltige Schritt in der Technologie-Entwicklung angesehen, vergleichbar mit einst der Industrialisierung. Zugleich macht der Gedanke an KI vielen Menschen auch Angst: Sie schlägt uns heute schon im Online-Shop Produkte vor, die unseren Wünschen entsprechen. Künftig soll sie zudem Autos steuern oder bei der ärztlichen Diagnose unterstützen. Doch, wie […]
Das Ziel der Internen Revision ist es, die interne Transparenz, Integrität, Compliance und Stabilität zu verbessern und zugleich auch eine effektive Korruptionsabwehr sicherstellen. Um diese Ziele zu erreichen, bedarf es einer hohen Wirksamkeit der Internen Revision, welche jedoch durch verschiedene Faktoren beeinflusst wird. Beispielsweise haben Interessenkonflikte, Korruption als auch interne Pressionen einen starken Einfluss auf […]
Dynamische Märkte verlangen heute zeitnahe Informationen und kürzere Abstand zwischen Bilanzstichtag und Jahresabschlusserstellung. Um den dadurch entstehenden Zeitdruck aufzulösen und eine zeitnahe Beurteilung von Risiken zu ermöglichen, ist eine kontinuierliche Überwachung aller relevanten Prozesse notwendig. In Zeiten der Digitalisierung ermöglichen immer mehr Technologien auf Unternehmens- und Wirtschaftsprüfer-Seite Continuous Auditing. So kann der wachsende Bedarf nach systemorientierten und kontinuierlichen […]
Eine Vielzahl von Funktionen in Unternehmen, wie z. B. das Risikomanagement, die Compliance-Abteilung oder die interne Revision, beschäftigen sich mit Risiken. Es zeigt sich, dass einerseits die einzelnen Funktionen zumeist methodisch und personell gut aufgestellt sind, jedoch andererseits eine mangelnde Abstimmung zwischen den Funktionen besteht. Aufgrund von z. B. Überschneidungen oder häufigen Wiederholungen stellt sich […]
„Cyberbedrohungen schnell zu erkennen und auf Vorfälle effektiv zu reagieren, hat bei vielen Unternehmen inzwischen oberste Priorität.“ Jedoch ist es heutzutage kaum möglich, sich vollständig vor solchen zu schützen. Die Angriffe nehmen, auch bedingt durch die COVID-19-Pandemie, weltweit zu und treffen vor allem kleine und mittelständige Unternehmen. 60 Prozent aller Unternehmen waren im vergangenen Jahr, […]
Immer mehr Unternehmen setzen Künstliche Intelligenz und maschinelles Lernen (KI/ML) ein. Der Einsatz von KI/ML wird unseren Berufsalltag stark verändern, sodass Tätigkeiten, die heute noch als mühsam und zeitintensiv gelten, in Zukunft automatisiert ablaufen. Während folglich repetitive Tätigkeiten an Bedeutung verlieren, werden wiederum andere Tätigkeiten relativ an Bedeutung gewinnen. Betroffen ist auch die Interne Revision als […]
„Sind Sie sich der Risiken bewusst, denen die Interne Revision heute und in der nahen Zukunft ausgesetzt ist?“ Interne Revisionsfunktionen bauen innerhalb von Organisationen weltweit ihre Wirkung und ihren Einfluss aus, indem sie Beratungsdienste anbieten und Assurance-Dienste rund um die wichtigsten Risiken für die Organisation übernehmen. Hohe Relevanz für die Interne Revisionsfunktion haben die Risiken, denen die […]
Unternehmensskandale, die fortschreitende Globalisierung und die zunehmende Komplexität der Umwelt erfordern neue Kontrollansätze für weltweit agierende Unternehmen. Dementsprechend müssen die Akteure den Aufbau ihrer Internen Revision hinterfragen und gegeben falls neu aufstellen. Um die unternehmensweite Sicherheit in Zukunft aufrechtzuerhalten, muss die Interne Revision die für sie am besten geeignete Organisationsform finden. Doch welche Faktoren sind […]
Die Covid-Pandemie bringt neue Herausforderungen für Unternehmen mit sich und beeinflusst auch die Arbeit der Revisionsfunktion. Das deutsche Institut für Interne Revision (DIIR) zeigt in seinem Beitrag „Prüfen in Covid-19 Zeiten – Ein Erfahrungsbericht aus der Prüfungspraxis der DAX 30 Unternehmen„, inwieweit die Prüfungspraxis durch die Pandemie beeinflusst wird bzw. wurde. Es wird deutlich, dass […]
Zukunftsorientierte Organisationen nutzen Chancen und setzen sich mit Technologien auseinander wie zum Beispiel robotergestützte Prozessautomatisierung (RPA) oder künstliche Intelligenz. Ihr Ziel ist nicht ausschließlich die Steigerung ihrer Gesamteffizienz und Produktivität, sondern auch die Innovation. Die Profile von internen Revisionsfunktionen, die in „Protiviti’s 16. Ausgabe von Internal Auditing Around the World“ aufgeführt sind, zeigen, dass sich Revisionen weltweit […]
Eine Schlüsselkomponente, die das Betrugsrisiko-Management-Programm einer Organisation stärken kann, ist Skepsis. Wesentlich ist dabei, dass Skepsis konsequent berücksichtigt und angewendet wird. Dies ist besonders im Zusammenhang mit der Finanzberichterstattung wichtig, da die beteiligten Personen eine Verantwortung für die Förderung der Integrität tragen. Das fehlen von Skepsis kann schwerwiegende Auswirkungen haben, zum Beispiel wenn Abweichungen bei […]
Das im August erschienene Buch „Ready & Relevant: Prepare to Audit What Matters Most“ von Tim Berichon beinhaltet Strategien, Taktiken und Beispiele, um eine flexiblere, reaktionsschnellere und agilere interne Revision aufzubauen und aufrechtzuerhalten. Dabei geht es um Agilität und Relevanz auf Abteilungsebene. Das Buch ist an Interne Revisionsleiter, Abteilungsleiter und Manager gerichtet, die ihre Teams auf […]
Ein Großteil der Aktivitäten in Unternehmen erfolgen aufgrund der COVID-19-Pandemie derzeit remote bzw. aus dem Home Office. Dies betrifft auch die Tätigkeiten der Internen Revisionsfunktion, da immer mehr Audits remote durchgeführt werden. Ein Fachbeitrag des DIIR befasst sich mit den Chancen und Herausforderungen in der Durchführung von Remote-Audits. Hierzu werden zunächst die Voraussetzungen für Remote-Auditing […]
Das neuartige Coronavirus hat als das größte globale Risikoereignis der jüngsten Vergangenheit die Aussichten für 2021 geprägt und bestehende Risiken verschärft. Unter anderem hat z.B. das zunehmende Home-Office dazu geführt, dass die Bedeutung von Cybersicherheit weiter zunimmt. In der Studie „Risk in Focus 2021“ hat das DIIR gemeinsam mit neun anderen nationalen Revisionsinstituten in Europa verschiedene […]