Albuquerque Chapter Audit Tales

Transcription

1 Albuquerque Chapter Audit Tales BOARD OF GOVERNORS President: Timothy Sanchez-Brown, CIA VP-Membership: Lisa Contreras, CIA VP-Programs: Sabrina Greinel, CIA JULY 2011 IIA International Internet Address: IIA Albuquerque Chapter Internet Address: Secretary: Cindy Frost Treasurer: Leonard Lopez, CPA Richard Brody, CPA, CFE, CFF, FCPA Karen DeVita Matt Doxtator Megan Dudley Halie Garcia, CPA, CIA Chad Glines, MPA, CPA Alan Gutowski, CPA, CISA, CITP, CFE, CIA Carmen Kavelman CPA, CGAP, CISA Allen Leatherwood Renee Martinez Michael Tenorio Thomas Torres, CPA, ARM-P Marisa Vargas Heather Zundel, CPA NEWSLETTER FEATURES: THE PRESIDENT S MONTHLY MESSAGE UPCOMING PROGRAMS CALENDAR OF EVENTS ANNOUNCEMENTS CERTIFICATIONS MEMBERSHIP NEWS EDITOR S CORNER

2 The President s Monthly Message Auditing Sheep to Fall Asleep What keeps you up at night when your audit head hits your audit pillow? I ll tell you what keeps me up at night my audit blind-spots. The blind-spot of my risk-based, well thought out, three-year, management reviewed, audit committee approved audit plan. The blind-spot of my risk-based, well thought out, team reviewed, management input, and used it five times before audit program. The audit blind-spot is what we as auditors may be missing: a risk, a control, a process (in whole or in part). This audit blind-spot can be at a macro or micro level. It is not sampling or audit risk and it is not missing the hole in the boat an audit blind-spot is missing the boat. As part of risk-based auditing, and as part of planning, we survey the organization and attempt to identify every auditable entity. As a CAE, do you ever worry you are missing something in your universe identification and planning efforts? What you miss may be in your blind-spot. Continuing down to engagement level audit execution, as part of risk-based auditing, we work to identify all the risks to objectives, categorize them, rank them, and then identify internal controls to test. As an auditor, do you ever worry you are missing a risk or not testing a key control? What you miss may be in your blind-spot. Whether you are a CAE or a staff auditor, new to the profession or have years of experience, CIA certified or not, we can all be at risk of audit blind-spots. While the Standards touch on this and discuss reasonable assurance, due diligence, proficiency and due professional care, which are all common terms to us, they address what the auditor knows he or she knows and what the auditor knows he or she does not know. When a CAE or staff auditor identifies what they don t know, it is called a knowledge gap and can be addressed through teamwork, mentoring, or education. There is another situation that contributes to our audit blind-spot and that is an unconscious incompetence; being unaware of what we do not know. It has nothing to do with intelligence, ability, performance, due diligence, or past learning. Just as all vehicles have blind-spots and their size increases with the size of the vehicle, so is the relationship analogous to an audit blind-spot and an audit universe blind-spot. It is present in everyone, everywhere but it is addressed by people in different ways. So many accidents occur because of hazards or other vehicles not seen in one s blind-spot. Not being conscious or aware of them, drivers did not know of the risks they could not see. Blindspots around vehicles are overcome by paying closer attention to detail, adjusting mirrors, looking around, and listening to the observations of passengers. A CAE or staff auditor, just as a driver, can minimize blind-spots in similar ways. Beyond the traditional I know what to expect in this CPE, adjust your course and speed by engaging in a slightly different CPE (maybe one you think you don t need). You can also listen to the observations of those in the car by looking at what a neighboring or sister industry is doing in their internal audit. CAEs can adjust an audit shop s mirrors and clean them with a little Standard 1300 by implementing a Quality Assurance and Improvement Program. Eliminating audit blind-spots may not be possible but you, regardless of position, can take steps to reduce them. That journey alone will add value to your internal audit shop and your organization. Hopefully you ll rest better at night too. Rest well, Timothy Sanchez-Brown, President, IIA Albuquerque Chapter 2

3 Upcoming Programs July Chapter Program Getting Better Results Today: Creating a Culture of Collaboration The IIA Albuquerque Chapter Presents: Patricia Heyman of Bridging Associates Learn about: Using collaboration to enhance internal audit teams. The scenarios that can interfere with collaboration and how to change them. Using better communication, accountability, and solution-focus to align working teams. CPE: Cost: 4 hours $70 members, $85 nonmembers $35 students When: Wednesday, July 20, 2011 Event Schedule: 11:30 - Registration 12:00 - Box Lunch / Chapter Business 12:30 4:30 - Presentation Location: CNM Workforce Training Center 5600 Eagle Rock Avenue NE, Albuquerque, NM RSVP: To Abq.IIA@gmail.com by close of business on Thursday, July 14 Please visit for more details. August Networking Event The IIA Albuquerque Chapter Presents A 2-hour Networking Event for IIA Members SPONSORED BY REDW Please join us for appetizers as you network with your peers in an informal setting. 3

4 Benefits: Meet area internal audit practitioners, chief audit executives and audit professional service providers Share best practices and successful audit techniques Discuss ways to promote internal audit in your organization Enjoy complimentary appetizers and a beautiful view of the Sandia Mountains When: Wednesday, August 10, 2011 Time: 5:30 7:30 pm Location: Sandia Resort & Casino Golf Club 30 Rainbow Road NE, Albuquerque Cost: Free for IIA members RSVP: To Abq.IIA@gmail.com by close of business on Monday, August 1 Calendar of Events The Albuquerque Chapter is excited to present the Calendar of Events for the Chapter fiscal year. Please make note of events that interest you and look for more details to come July August September October November December Quarterly Meeting: Building Collaboration Networking Event: Sponsored by REDW Audit Executive Roundtable Quarterly Meeting: Ethics Fall Seminar End of Year Event July 20 August 10 October 19 January February March April May 2012 Quarterly Meeting: CAATS Networking Event Spring Seminar Quarterly Meeting: Topic TBD Audit Executive Roundtable January 18 April 18 4

5 Announcements Regional Conference Something exciting is brewing this fall as an anticipated 350 internal audit professionals convene in Milwaukee for the most exciting and affordable training opportunity of the year the 2011 Midwestern Regional Conference, September 25 28, at the Hilton Milwaukee City Center. An early registration discount of $50 is available when you register for the conference before July 31. Group discounts are also available. For additional conference and registration information, click on Chapter of Excellence Winner The Board of Governors is happy to announce that the IIA Albuquerque Chapter is a recipient of The IIA s 2011 Chapter of Excellence award. The Chapter of Excellence award program was introduced in 2009 to recognize chapters for providing high quality education and support of the CIA designation, specifically through The IIA s CIA Learning System. Congratulations! Certifications Please join the Albuquerque Chapter of the IIA in hearty congratulations to our newest certification recipients: CGAP: Lake B. Begay Lake is an Auditor with DOI-OST, Office of Trust Review and Audit. She has been an IIA member since January 2010 CIA: Alan R. Gutowski Alan is a Senior Information Systems Auditor with CABQ. He has over 12 years of auditing experience working in the governmental and private sectors as well as public accounting. He also has over 6 years of financial accounting experience in both the banking and healthcare industries. Alan is a CPA, CISA, CITP, and CFE. He currently is a member of the Board of Governors for the IIA Albuquerque Chapter and was the FY03/04 and FY04/05 Chapter President. Membership News Welcome New Members The Albuquerque Chapter Board of Governors would like to welcome the following new members to our Chapter: Joined in June: Jessica Bundy, REDW LLC Lori Sanchez, Air Force Audit Agency We look forward to meeting you at a future Chapter event! 5

6 The Editor s Corner Please submit newsletter articles for August by Sunday, August 7th. Please submissions to Marisa Vargas at mvargas@sandia.gov. Thank you. 6