Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) Part 1: Business Acumen — Question 200

In which of the following scenarios would it be appropriate for the chief audit executive (CAE) to report that the internal audit activity conforms with the Standards?

Answer options

• A. A new internal audit activity was formed four years ago. An external assessment was never performed, but successive internal assessments were performed and support the conclusion that the internal audit activity conforms with the Standards.
• B. An internal self-assessment completed yesterday found that the internal audit activity did not conform with the Standards when carrying out its work. However, the preceding independent external assessment supports the conclusion that the internal audit activity conforms with the Standards.
• C. To reduce costs, the CAE excluded the use of external assessors from the internal audit activity's quality assurance and improvement program for the past seven years. However, the CAE concluded that the internal audit activity conforms with the Standards because all internal assessments over the period have supported this conclusion.
• D. The results of the last external assessment of the internal audit activity, performed a little over five years ago, indicated that the internal audit activity conforms with the Standards. The most recent internal assessment performed within the past year also indicates conformance.

Correct answer: D

Explanation

The correct answer is D because it is supported by both a recent internal and an external assessment confirming compliance with the Standards. Option A lacks an external assessment, option B contradicts itself with a recent self-assessment indicating non-conformance, and option C disregards the necessity of external assessments entirely, which is critical for establishing conformance.