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Is internal audit compulsory???

Ruchika Gupta (Chartered Accountant) (247 Points)

16 January 2010

Hi All!

Is Internal audit compulsory for a listed company??? If yes...then what is the requisite provision?

Pls reply...

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8 Replies

Vivek (Finally passed CA Final...!!!!!) (1097 Points)
Replied 16 January 2010

No.... It is not compulsory... But u must have some control over the operations of your organisation... So, internal audit...

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Bhavik Davda (Proprietor) (238 Points)
Replied 27 January 2010

Dear Ruchika,

The question seems to be very easy... The internal audit is extension of the management only but the law provide specific internal audit in the listed compnay. Furhter the Companies Auditor's Report order (CARO) 2004 also demands the same. For more details refer CARO and its points.

With regards,

Bhavik

Sumiti Jain (FP) (1364 Points)
Replied 29 January 2010

its not compulsary but u must read out CARO rules with this

Chintan Shah (-) (534 Points)
Replied 07 February 2010

Dear Ruchika,

In essence internal audit is a form of management audit only. It may be conducted by an employee of the company or may be conducted by a third party such as a CA firm. In case it is performed by a third pary than independence of the internal auditor is ensured. A number of companies have internal audit teams consisted of the employees of the same company. Over and above that those companies hire the services of CA firms for third party internal audit.

Even under CARO internal audit is not compulsory. What CARO requires is that the Statutory auditor must give an opinion on the internal controls within the organisation whether the same are commensurate to the size of the organisation and whether adequate internal audit is being conducted.. It does not compel any company to go for internal audit.

However for large companies it is better to go for it. Because all the companies doing large businesses do have certain internal controls in the form of procedures, principles, etc. Someone needs to verify whether the same are adequate and whether in actual practice the same are being followed or not. If there is no internal audit, management is its own judge as regards internal controls being instituted by itself. Looks absurd. Again as regards the employees who r required to follow the controls, they are their own watch dogs!!!! Again absurd and risky.... So internal audit even though not compulsory, its advisable.

Even Venture capital/ PE firms while providing private equity verify whether the company has adequate internal controls and does it has an internal audit done or not... In case of M & A also the same is verified by the purchaser... Hence before we loose a deal due to adequacy of internal controls it is better to go for internal audit and to get an opinion from experienced auditors regarding adequacy of the internal controls and whether they are actually followed in practice or not...

1 Like

Anbukannan (Executive accounts & Finance) (22 Points)
Replied 29 August 2012

Dear sir

This is Anbukannan i have one doubt ( India private company internal Auditor must or not ) must means where can i see roul plese give to information

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CA Suraj Lakhotia (IndigoLearn) (4898 Points)
Replied 31 August 2012

Refer Para vii of CARO -

"in the case of listed companies and/or other companies having a paid-up capital and reserves exceeding Rs. 50 lakhs as at the commencement of the financial year concerned, or having an average annual turnover exceeding five crores rupees for a period of three consecutive financial years immediately preceding the financial year concerned, whether the company has an internal audit system commensurate with its size and nature of its business;"

Though it does not make it mandatory, to avoid qualifications, the companies have internal audit system.

Further Clause 49 of listing agreement also makes references to audit committee reviewing adequacy of internal audit function, discussion with internal auditors etc.