This month of May is the "International Internal Audit Awareness Month”. On this occasion, Jose Mendez Hernandez, the Pacific Community (SPC)’s Head of Internal Audit and Risk explains why this celebration is important, and why the wider concept of internal audit is relevant to the efficiency of an organisation like SPC.
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What is Internal Audit and Risk?
Internal auditing is an independent and objective consulting activity designed to add value and improve an organization’s operations. Internal auditing involves identifying the risks that could keep an organization from achieving its goals, making sure the organization’s leaders know about these risks, and proactively recommending improvements to help reduce the risks.
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What is internal audit for?
The vision of Internal Audit and Risk is to add value to SPC operations, the Member Countries and Territories and the donors, through effective, timely and proactive assurance and advisory work, by being a forward-looking function that prompts awareness of what could go wrong, and what to do about it, before risks materialize.
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Why there is an International Internal Audit Awareness month?
The International Internal Audit Awareness month is organised by the Institute of Internal Auditors to promote the Internal Audit profession to their audit customers, executive management, and boards of director. During the month, auditors have the role to explain the importance of internal auditing in their organisation and how it can benefit it. It is important for SPC to create awareness that there is an Internal Audit department within the Secretariat, so that staff, Member Countries and Territories and development partners can be confident that SPC has sound internal control and risk management frameworks.
