About the UK Public Sector Internal Audit Standards Advisory Board (IASAB)

The agreed terms of reference set out:

• The requirements for UK Public Sector Internal Audit Standards (PSIAS)
• The Relevant Internal Audit Standard Setters (RIASS)
• The overriding and wider objectives of the board (objectives)
• Those sectors and organisations eligible to be represented on the board (membership) 
• Secretariat resources to be provided (secretariat)

The main work of the board is the development of standards and associated guidance, but the board does address some wider issues.  The board has therefore developed principles for wider IASAB work which it uses to determine whether it should carry out work which is not directly framed as either standards or guidance on standards.

---

PSIAS

The requirement for UK Public Sector Internal Audit Standards is that they are based on the mandatory elements of the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) International Professional Practices Framework (IPPF), while remaining applicable to all areas of the public sector.

---

RIASS

The Relevant Internal Audit Standard Setters (RIASS) are:

• HM Treasury in respect of central government
• the Scottish Government, the Department of Finance and Personnel Northern Ireland and the Welsh Government in respect of central government and the health sector in their territories
• the Department of Health in respect of the health sector in England (excluding Foundation Trusts)
• the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy in respect of local government across the UK

---

Objectives

The overriding objective of the board is to advise the RIASSs on the development and maintenance of a set of internal audit standards applicable to all areas of the UK public sector based on the mandatory elements of the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) International Professional Practices Framework (IPPF), the Public Sector Internal Audit Standards (PSIAS).

In order to fulfil this function the board will advise the RIASSs on whether additional requirements or interpretations of the mandatory elements of the IPPF are appropriate for the public sector, taking into account any jurisdictional or sectoral differences.

The board's other objectives are to:

• advise the RIASSs on any jurisdictional or sector-specific requirements
• advise the RIASSs on sector neutral / pan public sector guidance developed to supplement the PSIAS
• advise the RIASSs on any supplementary jurisdictional or sector-specific guidance (if requested)
• provide coordinated responses representing the UK public sector perspective to consultations on proposed changes to the mandatory elements of the IPPF
• provide a focal point for discussion of other professional issues affecting internal auditors across the UK public sector

The final objective may encompass matters which do not directly relate to standards or related guidance. While not set out in the terms of reference, the board has determined principles for wider IASAB work which it uses to determine whether it should carry out work which is not directly framed as standards or guidance on the application of standards.

---

Membership

The board members will be chosen so as to reflect sufficient experience of the various public sector internal audit environments, or to provide other relevant perspectives, and will be appointed by the RIASSs. The members will generally include the following:

Independent Chair: an appropriately qualified person who is independent of the RIASSs or other sectoral or professional interest

RIASS representatives: Each of the Relevant Internal Audit Standards Setters may provide a representative:

• HM Treasury
• the Scottish government
• the Department of Finance and Personnel Northern Ireland
• the Welsh government
• Department of Health
• the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA)

Chartered Institute of Internal Auditors: a representative will be appointed by the institute

Government Practitioner representatives: these will be invited from central government, local government and health sectors

Representatives with other relevant perspectives: these will be invited from:

• Private sector internal audit
• Current audit committee chairs
• External audit

Observers: the board will welcome observers from the following bodies:

• Monitor (operating as NHS Improvement)
• the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (Republic of Ireland)
• the European Union Internal Audit Service

Current members of the IASAB

Secretariat

Secretariat resources will be provided by CIPFA and HM Treasury.

---

Principles for Wider IASAB Work

The board has considered how it may fulfil its objective to provide a focal point for discussion of other professional issues affecting internal auditors across the UK public sector. This may involve commenting or issuing guidance on topics affecting internal auditing which range more widely than standards or related guidance, in order to ensure that topics that impact internal audit in the UK public sector are adequately addressed.

The board has drawn up a set of principles which it will use to determine whether particular topics fall into this scope, and to decide what the outputs of any commentary should be. The topics should be:

• public sector based/specific
• related/linked to the board's core purpose
• areas where the board has the resource to address well and to keep updated periodically where appropriate

Any outputs should:

• add value for auditors in the field
• be complementary to IIA/CIPFA work programmes
• raise the profile of internal audit