Quality Assessors Program

The Government of Kenya through Gazette Notice No 5440 of 8 July 2014 adopted the International Professional Practice Framework (IPPF) for Internal Auditing Standards by IIA. This requires all internal audit functions in state organs and public sector entities to adhere to IPPF. With the newly issued Global Internal Audit Standards (GIS), Internal Audit Practitioners now need to understand quality implications of the new standards on their work.

Internal Audit Guidelines for National government entities provide that compliance can only be ascertained through a Quality Assessment Review and where none has been conducted then there is no basis for confirming compliance. The private sector is also required by the Institute of Internal Auditors to adopt IPPF for Internal Auditing Standards and therefore expected to comply with the standards by undertaking Quality Assessment Review. Internal Auditing Standard 1300, requires the head of Internal Audit to develop and maintain a quality assurance and improvement program that includes internal and external assessments.

Internal assessments involve ongoing monitoring of the performance of the internal audit activity and periodic self-assessment by persons within the organization with sufficient knowledge of internal audit practices. External assessments on the other hand are to be conducted by a qualified, independent assessor/s from outside the organization at least once every 5 years. The regulations and the Internal Audit guidelines provide for the external quality assessment to be undertaken at least once every 3 years but not later than 5 years by a professionally recognized body or institution.

Internal Quality Assessment enables the organization to:

i) assess the effectiveness of the internal audit function in providing assurance and

consulting services to the Board, Management, and other interested parties.

ii) assess conformance to the Internal Auditing Standards; and

iii) identify opportunities to offer recommendations for improvement on the performance, image, and credibility of the internal audit function.

The course is for all Heads of Internal Audit and Internal Audit Managers in public sectors, private sectors, and not-for-profit making entities who have at least 3 years of experience in internal audit. Those attending should ensure payments are made prior to the event so as to access online material 2 weeks before the date of the workshop.

The course is examinable and for one to be certified he/she has to get 80% pass. The assessment will be done on the last day of the workshop.

Participants who attend this course will get a FREE copy of the Quality Assessment Manual.

Participants who have undertaken the Internal Audit Quality Assessors Program more than 5 years ago are required to do a refresher course.