Key Compliance Attributes of Internal Audit

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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.

Heads of organizations are responsible for ensuring that internal audit in the department is carried out in accordance with the Institute of Internal Auditors International Professional Practices Framework unless the framework is in conflict with the Treasury Board Policy or its related directive; if there is a conflict, the policy or directive will prevail.

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 heads of government organizations are receiving assurance and that activities are managed in a way that demonstrates responsible stewardship.

These attributes 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 pertinent information to Canadians and parliamentarians regarding the professionalism, performance and impact of the internal audit function in departments. These are not performance measures and no targets are attached. Under the Policy, the Comptroller General has the authority to amend these attributes, should there be changes in the internal audit environment and/or due to the evolving maturity of the internal audit function.

Table 1: Key Compliance attributes results

Key Compliance attributes results

Key Compliance Attributes

Results as of June 30, 2024

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

55%

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

0%

% of staff holding other designations (Certified Government Auditing Professional [CGAP], Certification in Risk Management Assurance [CRMA], etc.)

9%

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)

March 2024

Date of last external assessment

March 2024

Risk-Based Audit Plan (RBAP) and related InformationFootnote *

  • name/status of audit for the current fiscal year of the RBAP
  • date the audit report was approved
  • date the audit report was published
  • original planned date for completion of all management action plan (MAP) items
  • status of MAP items

Refer to Table 2 – Audit plan and related information.Footnote *

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

Average overall usefulness rating from senior management:

33.3%: Excellent
33.3 %: Good
33.3%: Fair
0%: Poor

Table 2: Audit plan and related informationFootnote *

Audit plan and related information

Internal audit engagements

Audit status

Report approved date

Report published date

Original planned MAP completion date

MAP implementation status

Internal Audit of Information Technology Security

Approved / MAP fully implemented

April 2020

July 2020

March 2023

100%

Joint Audit and Evaluation of the Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangements Program

Approved / MAP not fully implemented

June 2022

November 2022

March 2024

0%

Internal Audit of COVID-19 Response Fund Management

Approved / MAP not fully implemented

June 2023

October 2023

June 2025

33.3%

Internal Audit of Integrated Risk Management

Approved / MAP not fully implemented

September 2023

January 2024

March 2025

33.3%

Independent Nimble Advisory Engagement of the Firearms Buyback Program (Design)

In progress

no data

no data

no data

no data

Independent Nimble Advisory Engagement of the Firearms Buyback Program – IT enabled Project (Design)

In progress

no data

no data

no data

no data

Internal Audit of Procurement (Phase 1)

In progress

no data

no data

no data

no data

Internal Audit of Information Technology Security

In progress

no data

no data

no data

no data

Internal Audit of the National Risk Profile

In progress

no data

no data

no data

no data

Independent Nimble Advisory Engagement of the Firearms Buyback Program (Implementation)

not started

no data

no data

no data

no data

Independent Nimble Advisory Engagement of the Firearms Buyback Program – IT enabled Project (Implementation)

not started

no data

no data

no data

no data

Advisory Engagement of Grants and Contributions (Process Review)

In progress

no data

no data

no data

no data

Internal Audit of Values and Ethics

In progress

no data

no data

no data

no data

Advisory Engagement of Human Resources Recruitment and Retention Practices

not started

no data

no data

no data

no data

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