Internal Audit Department celebrates International Internal Audit month

GEORGE NEWS - The month of May is International Internal Audit Awareness Month, during which internal audit professionals raise awareness and elevate the internal audit (IA) profession.

The municipality’s internal audit section has taken up the challenge to launch an awareness campaign as part of the celebrations.

According to the chief audit executive, JP Rossouw, the municipal IA has been engaging its stakeholders and has also collaborated with the municipal communication and media office to create content that will be published on the municipal social media platforms throughout May.

“The George IA team is truly proud to be associated with such an amazing profession. Being able to add value and improve processes of the municipality is one of the key drivers for young South Africans to choose a career in internal audit,” Rossouw said.

Rossouw opens up the profession of internal auditing for the uninitiated and introduces the municipality’s internal audit team:

Purpose of an internal audit

The George Municipality’s internal audit activity aims to provide independent, objective assurance and consulting services designed to add value and improve the municipality’s operations.

The internal audit activity helps the municipality accomplish its objectives by bringing a systematic, disciplined approach to evaluate and improve the effectiveness of governance, risk management and control processes.

We use this opportunity to elaborate on the functions and importance of internal auditing by answering some frequently asked questions.

Why should young South Africans choose a career in internal auditing?

Internal auditing is a very exciting career; one where you can change any organisation’s direction by improving efficiency and effectiveness based on internal audit observations and recommendations. You get exposure to all aspects and levels of a business, making internal audit a perfect development environment for other strategic management positions.

Internal auditors assist management to address the business’ high strategic risks and assist the organisation to achieve their goals and objectives. We act as change catalysts to initiate and manage strategic and procedural change by providing assurance, advice, and insight at board and organisational levels.

How would you define internal audit to someone who has never studied internal audit?

All organisations have goals and objectives. However, there are risks and events that could hamper the organisation in achieving those goals and objectives. That is why the organisation institutes various controls to govern and manage those risks and processes. Now internal audit assists organisations to achieve those goals and objectives.

We do this by providing a comprehensive service (what we call assurance and advisory services) to add value and improve the organisation’s processes. This is done by assessing and reviewing the organisation’s risks, controls and governance processes. We are independent and impartial in providing these services. (Independence is maintained by a dual reporting line: administratively to the accounting officer and functionally to the council / audit cCommittee).

The internal audit activity strives to provide value-added service to an organisation by providing workable and sustainable solutions.

The George municipal internal audit team are:

Jean-Pierre Rossouw (chief audit executive)
Heybré Ellis (manager: internal audit)
Zimasa Bulo (senior internal auditor)
Kloper Mabunda (internal auditor)
Natacha Martins (intern)
Xolisile Sotushe (intern)
La-Chuney Jansen (admin intern)
Sinovuyo Robile (admin intern)

The George internal audit team are, from left: Zimasa Bulo (senior internal auditor), Natacha Martins (AI intern), La-Chuney Jansen (admin intern), Sinovuyo Robile (admin intern), Jean-Pierre Rossouw (chief audit executive), Heybré Ellis (manager: internal audit), Xolisile Sotushe (AI intern) and Kloper Mabunda (internal auditor).