Internal audit performance results, 2019-2020

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) has an independent and objective assurance and consulting internal audit function designed to add value and improve the Department's operations. It supports AAFC in accomplishing the departmental objectives by bringing a systematic, disciplined approach to assess and improve the effectiveness of risk management, control, and governance processes.

As prescribed by the office of the Comptroller General of Canada, the following Key Compliance Attributes demonstrate that the fundamental elements necessary for oversight are in place, and that the internal audit function is operating as intended.

Internal auditors are trained to effectively perform the work

• 50% of staff involved in the conduct of internal audits hold an internal audit or accounting designation — Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA)
• 19% of staff involved in the conduct of internal audits are in the process^{Footnote 1} of obtaining their internal audit or accounting designation (CIA, CPA)
• 19% of staff involved in the conduct of internal audits hold other designations such as Certified Government Auditing Professional (CGAP) Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)

Notes

Staff included 16 Indeterminate employees involved in the internal audit function from the Internal Audit Division, the Practice Management Unit, and the Chief Audit Executive’s office. Some employees may hold more than one designation.

Internal audit work is performed in conformance with the international standards for the profession of Internal Audit as required by the Treasury Board Policy on Internal Audit

• The 2019-20 external assessment concluded that internal audit work was performed in conformance with the international standards for the profession of internal audit.
• Date of last comprehensive briefing to the Departmental Audit Committee on the internal processes, tools and information considered necessary to evaluate conformance with the IIA Code of Ethics and the Standards and the results of the quality assurance improvement program (QAIP) was March 10, 2020.

Internal audit work is perceived by stakeholders as adding value

• The Office of Audit and Evaluation (OAE) provided recommendations through its 2019-20 audit work that supported decision-making and improved the functioning of AAFC, such as a new approach to senior executive committees and changes to the control structure for the revenue control framework.
• In 2019-20, the OAE adjusted its audit and evaluation plan to enable targeted and timely engagements that are aligned with departmental priorities, thereby providing faster and more targeted results to support senior departmental management.

Internal audit work is performed according to the approved risk-based audit plan and management is implementing management action plans approved to address audit recommendations.