What is the Compliance Audit?
Compliance Audit is detailed review of organization’s loyalty towards uphold of the rules and regulations which includes statutory and internal rules, regulations, policies and procedures framed by Government, local authorities and organization’s management by evaluating compliance procedure, security policies, user access control, risk management procedure and entity’s policy, procedure and processes. This is a type of audit service that focuses on whether the entity complying with statutory laws, local laws, internal rules and decisions of the organization as applicable on it or not.
Purpose
The purpose behind conducting a Compliance Audit is to assess the organization’s compliance program is effective or not and bringing out the non-compliance in front of management and Government/Tax authorities.
Objectives
- To ensure a company meets the guidelines from Government regulatory agencies and it’s own internal policies.
- To improve the organization’s efficiency in the business environment.
- To uphold the faith of stakeholders.
- To comply with the various other laws like Environmental laws, Consumer safety laws, etc.
- To ensure standard operating procedure has been followed throughout the organization.
Compliance Audit Process
The process from the perspective of each of them are:
#1 – For Organization
- Identify the need and extent of audit.
- Select the Auditor/ team to perform, verify the Auditor/Team meet the qualification criteria for conducting an audit.
- Co-ordinate with the auditor with all requirements and information asked for.
#2 – For Auditor
- List out the Statutory Laws applicable to the entity.
- Obtain a list of the company’s internal policies, procedures, and decisions for compliance.
- Engage the experienced team members for the CA assignment.
- Segregate the different areas of the organization to audit. Prioritize the areas of examination.
- Obtain a list of laws applicable to entity and their compliance status.
- Plan the audit, nature, extent, timing, and procedures to be performed. Prepare Checklist.
- Review the procedure of organization on compliance with laws and internal policies and communication processes regarding the same.
- Review the Internal Auditor Report, Tax/Statutory Audit reports and previous year’s report of a compliance audit.
- Conduct the audit to discuss the non-compliance with the management of the organization.
- Suggest ways to improve.
- American Institute of Certified Public Accountants that apply to service providers that hold or process Prepare audit reports and submit to the appointing authority/ Management. Ensure that all information is arranged in an easily understood manner.
Types
- SOC 2: This defined by the data in the cloud.
- ISO 27001 (27000 Series): It applies to companies/ Organizations that manage the security of assets, such as an employee or third-party data, financial information, and intellectual property.
- General Data Protection Regulation: It is applicable to companies/ organizations that process the data of European citizens.
- Sarbanes- Oxley: It is applicable to public companies which issue IPO is required to get compliance audit of financial and IT related laws.
- PCI Compliance Standards: It is applicable to credit card and payment industry like merchants, financial institutions and payment solution providers.
- HIPAA Compliance Regulation: It is applicable to the health care industry like hospitals and medical service providers.
- FINRA: It is applicable to the investment industry specifically those who register as a stockbroker or broker-dealer firms, protecting investors against potential fraud on U.S Securities and Exchange Commission.
- FISMA: It is applicable to US Governmental organizations.
- Obligatory Compliance Audit: Any Organization wants to conduct a audit it can do so by appointing any person who might be an internal auditor or any other person who meets the qualification criteria.
Who does the Compliance Audit Perform?
- It may be conducted by the company’s internal auditor.
- Sometimes it could be performed by external auditors depends upon the choice of management.
- For companies who require a compulsory compliance audit – this is conducted by the person mentioned in that law.
- For companies who perform obligatorily the person who meets the qualification criteria can perform the audit.
Importance
- Identify weaknesses in the regulatory compliance process.
- Help to reduce risk.
- Keep the faith of stakeholders.
- Ensures that all laws have been followed.
- Non-compliance can be identified and corrected.
Difference Between Compliance Audit and Financial Audit
- The financial audit is an examination of financial statement and compliance audit is the examination of laws and procedures complied.
- Financial Audit is done by Chartered Accountant and Compliance audit may or may not done by CA.
- Financial audit deals with financial data while compliance audit deals with statutory and regulatory compliance.
- A financial audit is done by an Independent auditor while a compliance audit is done by any person who meets qualification criteria may or may not independent.
Benefits
- It ensures proper compliance with statutory regulations and laws.
- It reduces the legal risk of the company.
- With this position, the trust of the general public on the company increases.
- Ensures Transparent Reporting.
- It helps in avoiding the future cost of the company that may be applicable to it.
- It ensures proper management.
Conclusion
An independent evaluation is being done in order to ensure that the organization is abiding with all of the compliance that includes rules, and regulations, laws or internal guidelines that are applicable to it. There are different types of the compliance audit which are applicable to the companies falling under the specified criteria. Such compliance is important as non-compliance would attract the penalty and sanctions.
Recommended Articles
This has been a guide to What is Compliance Audit & its Meaning. Here we discuss the process of compliance audit, objectives, and purpose along with types and what does this perform. Also, discuss its importance and benefits. You can learn more about from the following articles –
- Meaning of Management Audit
- What is Audit Materiality?
- Meaning of Inventory Audit
- Meaning of Statutory Audit
The post Compliance Audit appeared first on WallStreetMojo.
This post first appeared on Free Investment Banking Tutorials |WallStreetMojo, please read the originial post: here
