06 September 2010
Following are the main points of difference between internal audit and statutory audit:
1. Appointment – The management of the organization makes the appointment of an internal auditor. The statutory auditor is appointed by different authorities. First statutory auditors are appointed by the shareholders in the annual general meeting.
2. Qualification – Qualifications of the statutory auditor are prescribed in the companies act, 1956. Essentially a person should be a practicing chartered accountant to be appointed as a statutory auditor. There are no fixed qualification for the position of an internal auditor.
3. Objects – The main object of the statutory audit is to form an opinion on the financial statement of the organization auditor has to state that whether the financial statements are showing the true and fair view of the affairs of the organization or not. The main object of the internal audit is to detect and prevent the errors and frauds.
4. Scope – The scope of the statutory audit is fixed by the company’s act 1956. it can not be changed by mutual consent between the auditor and the management of the audited business unit. The scope of the internal audit is fixed by the mutual consent of the auditor and the management of the unit under audit.
5. Remuneration – Remuneration of the statutory auditor is fixed by the appinting authority, I e in case of first auditors, the auditors the directors fix the Remuneration in case of the subsequent auditors the company in its general meeting fixes the remunration. In case of internal auditor the management who appoints him fixes his Remuneration.
6. Report – The statutory auditor submits his report to the shareholder of the company in its general meeting. The internal auditor submits his report to the management of the company who is also his appointing authority.
7. Removal – The procedure of removal of the statutory auditor is very complex. Only the company in the general meeting can remove the auditor. It also has to take the permission of the central government. The management of the entity can remove internal auditor.
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