Details of forthcoming events will be added here as soon as they become available.

CIPFA Statement on the role of the Head of Internal Audit in public service organisations
The draft was launched for consultation by CIPFA’s President at the Audit Conference on 19th May.

View the letter from Steve Freer – CIPFA Chief Executive
Download the report

CIPFA sees this work as a demonstration of its commitment to effective internal audit and believes that the Statement will help clarify the role of the HIA and raise its profile.

We are keen that the draft is widely discussed, especially with stakeholders such as Audit Committees and look forward to receiving responses. Please send these by 10 September to hia.responses@cipfa.org.uk. Please contact Clive Darracott, Technical Manager if you have any queries: clive.darracott@cipfa.org.uk 020 7543 5670.

If you would like to be kept up to date with developments in this area, please click here.

CIPFA Audit Panel Meeting 17 March 2010
The CIPFA Audit Panel met on 17 March 2010. Please click here to download a note of the proceedings.

(Posted 26 March 2010)

Audit Viewpoint is now online
CIPFA’s magazine for the audit practitioner, Audit Viewpoint, communicates expert, practical advice on a wide range of audit issues. Each edition discusses topical issues, introducing new concepts and disseminating good practice. It is also used to update readers on the activities of CIPFA's Audit Panel. 

In response to your feedback seeking a more user friendly, accessible, and environmentally sustainable format, Audit Viewpoint is now an online resource, visit www.cipfa.org.uk/auditviewpoint to find out more.

(Posted 9 February 2010)

CIPFA's Role in Audit
CIPFA has completed its review of its role in audit. A report was recently endorsed by CIPFA's Public Finance Management Board. The report stressed the importance of CIPFA consolidating its role in internal audit and providing better support to practitioners. One key recommendation was for CIPFA to raise and clarify the role of internal audit and to produce a statement on the role of the Chief Internal Auditor in public service organisations. This will be along the lines of CIPFA's statement on the role of the Chief Finance Officer.  We are starting work on this and want to have the views of practitioners and stakeholders.  A summary of the review report and the proposed CIA statement are available to download below. Please contact clive.darracott@cipfa.org.uk tel 020 7543 5670 if you have any queries or comments.

CIPFA Statement on the role of the Chief Internal Auditor in public services organisations
CIPFA strategic review of its role in audit

(Posted 9 November 2009)

New chair for audit panel
Following some recent interviews CIPFA has appointed Anthony Barrett as the new Chair of the Audit Panel. Anthony was already a member of the panel and is a Partner of the Wales Audit Office and Appointed Auditor for a number of public sector bodies in Wales.

Update to AAF 01/06 released
The ICAEW has today released an update to AAF 01/06 - Assurance reports on internal controls of service organisations made available to third parties.

Working together with stakeholders including CIPFA and third party service providers, the ICAEW has issued an expanded version in July 2009 of its guidance AAF 01/06.

The key changes have been made in response to requests from stakeholders and the appendix on control objectives for use by the service providers now covers additional areas on which assurance reports can usefully be provided. These areas are notably investment administration, private equity and hedge funds.
There is no change to the main body of the guidance. Organizations are urged to adopt the updated version as soon as practicable.

AAF 01/06, first issued in March 2006, is designed to help reporting accountants to issue assurance conclusions in their reports on the control procedures of financial service organisations. The guidance also helps service organisations identify gaps in their control environment by highlighting the importance of considering operational, as well as reporting, risks. The assurance reports, prepared by independent reporting accountants, provide comfort that the controls established by the service organisations have been subject to rigorous external examination. Activities originally covered in the guidance include custody; investment management; pension administration; property management; fund accounting and transfer agency. It is now expanded to include investment administration, private equity and hedge funds.

The updated guidance can be downloaded here

(Posted 6 July 2009)

Guidance on Reviewing the System of Internal Audit
As part of its programme of work to support audit professionals, CIPFA's Audit Panel is publishing Guidance on Reviewing the System of Internal Audit. We are well aware that this has taken a long time to publish but we have been concerned to consult widely on this key issue. Our consultations have led to significant debate on the issue and CIPFA is grateful to all consultees and other contributors for the thoughtful input. There will, no doubt, continue to be debate around what should be included in the System and the Audit Panel would be pleased to receive any further views that practitioners have on the subject. In the first instance, these should be addressed to the secretary to the Audit Panel matthew.allen@cipfa.org