Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) Part 3: Business Knowledge for Internal Auditing — Question 204

While conducting an audit of the accounts payable department, an internal auditor found that 3% of payments made during the period under review did not agree with the submitted invoices. Which of the following key performance indicators (KPIs) for the department would best assist the auditor in determining the significance of the test results?

Answer options

• A. A KPI that defines the process owner’s tolerance for performance deviations.
• B. A KPI that defines the importance of performance levels and disbursement statistics being measured.
• C. A KPI that defines timeliness with regard to reporting disbursement data errors to authorized personnel.
• D. A KPI that defines operating ratio objectives of the disbursement process.

Correct answer: A

Explanation

The correct answer is A, as it directly relates to the process owner's acceptance of deviations, helping to contextualize the significance of the 3% discrepancy found. Options B, C, and D do not specifically address the tolerance for performance deviations, making them less relevant for determining the impact of the audit findings.