RADIO TELEFÍS ÉIREANN Internal Audit Charter 13 July 2004
RADIO TELEFÍS ÉIREANN Internal Audit Charter 13 July 2004 RTÉ Internal Audit Charter 1 Contents Page
IForeword2
IIMission3
IIIRole and objective3 IVAuthorisation3 VScope4 VIIndependence5 VIIIntegrity, competence and confidentiality5 VIIIPlanning6 IXReporting6 XCharter approval 7 RTÉ Internal Audit Charter 2 I Foreword
The RTÉ Authority attaches a high priority to the establishment and maintenance of a strong control environment in all areas of its business, theobjectives of which are to ensure:• the reliability and integrity of information, including financial reporting;• the accomplishment of established objectives and goals for operations or programmes; • compliance with policies, plans, procedures, laws and regulations;• the safeguarding of assets; and• the economical and efficient use of resources.This responsibility is reinforced by: • the requirement for the Chairman to formally report to the Minister on the company’s systems of internal financial control under the requirements ofthe of the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies; and• RTÉ’s commitment to adherence to best practice in corporate governance.
Executive management is responsible for the implementation, operation and monitoring of the control environment on a daily basis.Internal Audit has a key role to play in the control environment in providing independent assurance on the continued appropriateness and effectivenessof the controls, both planned and in place. It is the policy of the RTÉ Authority to support and develop the Internal Audit function, including providing itwith the multidisciplinary resources it requires to adequately discharge its responsibilities.To assist Internal Audit in discharging its role, the RTÉ Authority envisage that all levels of management will:• keep Internal Audit informed of significant strategic and operational changes and developments affecting the business;• advise Internal Audit where internal control has been compromised or broken down; and• contribute fully at all times in the Internal Audit process.The organisation allocates substantial resources to Internal Audit and it is expected to operate to best practice standards. Its performance in this regardwill be independently assessed from time to time. In addition, Internal Audit will have formal debriefs with senior management regarding the quality ofspecific audit work and reporting and have annual debriefs with the Audit Committee regarding the overall service being provided by Internal Audit.RTÉ Internal Audit Charter 3 II Mission Internal Audit’s Mission is to support RTÉ in achieving its strategic objectives by:
•providing independent and objective assurance to the RTÉ Authority and executive management that effective systems and controls are in placeto manage all significant risks identified by management;•providing assurance to the RTÉ Authority and the executive management on the appropriateness and effectiveness of the ‘day to day’ controlsput in place by operational management to ensure that routine transactions are processed and recorded correctly;•supporting operational management by providing best practice advice on risks and controls; and•assisting the organisation in fulfilling its Corporate Governance responsibilities.
III Role and objective Internal Audit is an independent and objective assurance and consulting function. It is charged with bringing a systematic and disciplined approach toevaluating and improving the effectiveness of risk management, control and governance processes within RTÉ as a service to the RTÉ Authority and alllevels of management.It is management’s responsibility to manage risk and maintain effective controls. The objective of Internal Audit is to provide reasonable assurance toboth the RTÉ Authority and to management that the organisation’s significant risks are being appropriately managed. This is achieved by appraising theorganisation’s risk identification and risk management processes, together with the control framework, and by recommending improvements, whereappropriate. This will contribute to an improvement in operations and assist in the achievement of the organisation’s objectives.Executive management has primary responsibility for the prevention of fraud and for detecting and dealing with any fraud that may occur. The Head ofInternal Audit has responsibility for ensuring that audit work takes due account of the possibility of the occurrence of fraud and for investigating fraud,either suspected or uncovered.
IV Authorisation
Internal Audit is provided with the authorisation for its activities from the RTÉ Authority. This authorisation allows Internal Audit full, free andunrestricted access to all functions, records, assets, property and personnel necessary for the proper discharge of its responsibilities. No operational areasor levels within the organisation are precluded from Internal Audit review.The Head of Internal Audit reports to the Director-General and is directly accountable to the Audit Committee. He will also have access to the Chairmanof the RTÉ Authority should matters of a serious nature arise. The Audit Committee will define the function of Internal Audit, in consultation with theHead of Internal Audit, and will approve the work to be undertaken by Internal Audit staff throughout the organisation.RTÉ Internal Audit Charter 4 V Scope In order to achieve its objective, Internal Audit will review every phase of business activity across the organisation. The frequency of review will reflectthe varying levels of potential risk attaching to different activities. The deployment of resources, which will be in accordance with plans agreed with theAudit Committee, will be weighted towards determining the efficiency and effectiveness of the systems of control.
The work of Internal Audit will include (but is not limited to):
• Reviewing and appraising the identification and management of risk, together with the efficiency and effectiveness of the systems of control,recommending improvements, where appropriate;• Reviewing the reliability, timeliness and integrity of financial and operating information, and the processes used to identify, measure and report suchinformation;• Reviewing and evaluating compliance with policies, plans, procedures, laws and regulations;• Reviewing the means of safeguarding assets, value and information, including computer security and business continuity planning, and verifying theexistence of such assets;• Reviewing the adequacy of the control process in place covering significant change projects and, based on an assessment of risk, reviewing theadequacy of the underlying control framework being implemented;• Appraising post completion reviews of capital expenditure projects against the approved expenditure proposal;• Reviewing the adequacy and effectiveness of management action to address issues identified by Internal Audit and the external auditors;• Investigating internal fraud, theft or other occasions where management has reservations concerning staff integrity; and• Liasing with the external auditors and other functions within RTÉ involved with risk and control issues to ensure that assurance from both internaland external resources is complementary and provided in the most cost effective manner;
Internal Audit is not relieved of responsibility to review areas of the organisation which are subject to review by others, but it must assess the extent towhich it can rely on the work of others in planning its audits.
In planning, executing and reporting its work, Internal Audit will consider the extent to which value for money is obtained across all activities.RTÉ Internal Audit Charter 5 VI Independence The Head of Internal Audit reports to the Director-General and is directly accountable to the Audit Committee.Independence is essential in ensuring the effectiveness of the internal auditing programme. Internal Audit’s independence is assured by not exercisingdirect authority over, or having responsibility for persons, procedures or activities subject to audit review. Internal Audit are not authorised to:• perform any operational duties for the organisation;• initiate or approve any accounting transactions external to the Internal Audit department;• develop or install procedures; or• direct the activities of any employee not employed within the Internal Audit department, except to the extent that such employees have beenappropriately assigned to auditing teams or to otherwise assist Internal Audit.Independence will not be compromised where Internal Audit personnel sit on steering committees or other project groups in order to contribute to thedevelopment of systems and procedures by advising on control and security issues.Implementation of operational and control recommendations, whether generated singularly by Internal Audit or jointly by Internal Audit and operatingmanagement, will be the responsibility of the management of the area audited.
VII Integrity, competence and confidentialityInternal Audit personnel will operate to the highest standards of integrity and conduct all work in accordance with the standards issued by appropriateprofessional bodies. Where required, external specialists/consultants will be engaged to assist in the performance of audit assignments.Comprehensive records of activity will be maintained to demonstrate that audit work has been performed to best practice standards.Any data or information obtained or received by Internal Audit personnel during the course of their work or otherwise shall be treated as internal andconfidential to the organisation. Within the organisation, such data or information shall only be discussed with other RTÉ personnel on a “need toknow” basis, respecting individual employees’ privacy.RTÉ Internal Audit Charter 6 VIII Planning Internal Audit’s plans will be developed by prioritising risk in the various businesses, support and control activities throughout the organisation.Management’s goals and objectives, together with its perceptions of risk and exposures, will also form a key input to Internal Audit’s strategic andoperational planning process, as will the scope of the work of the external auditors. The plans will be agreed with the Audit Committee.
IX Reporting Audit reports will be objective, timely, risk focussed and will seek to add value to the management process. They will address control issues, providerecommendations for their improvement, indicate who is responsible for the relevant action and give a timetable for its completion.
Prior to the issue of any final report, meetings will be held with the relevant management in the area under review to obtain agreement on the substanceand tone of the report. The management of the area under review, to whom the report is addressed, will promptly respond in writing, indicating whatactions are being taken in support of the recommendations included in the report.
The final report for each assignment, including the auditee’s response, will be provided to:
• the manager with responsibility for the area subject to audit and a minimum of one line superior;• the executive board member with responsibility for the area subject to audit; and• other relevant parties, as appropriate.
The Director General, other executive board members and the chairman of the RTÉ Authority will be provided with an executive summary of the report.
The Head of Internal Audit will present a summary report to the Audit Committee on a quarterly basis of the more important issues raised in auditreports. Twice a year, the Head of Internal Audit will meet with the Chairman of the Audit Committee on an informal basis.
The Head of Internal Audit should receive detailed and timely feedback of progress on issues raised and recommendations made in audit reports.Internal Audit will follow up and report on the adequacy and effectiveness of management action to implement agreed solutions or auditrecommendations. The Head of Internal Audit will, as part of regular reporting, alert the Audit Committee on major issues that are outstanding. RTÉ Internal Audit Charter 7 X Charter Approval On 13 July 2004, this Internal Audit Charter received the approval of the:Patrick J WrightPatrick MarronChairman of the RTÉ AuthorityChairman of the Audit Committee
Cathal GoanNiall O’SheaDirector-GeneralHead of Internal Audit
refer page:-------http://www.officesoon.com/doc/143596-radio-telef-s-ireann-internal-audit-charter-13-july-2004
Click Here To Download...