About the UK Public Sector Internal Audit Standards Advisory Board (IASAB)
The board was established in 2012 by the bodies responsible for setting internal audit standards in the UK public sector. Its purpose is to develop and maintain 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 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.
The Relevant Internal Audit Standard Setters (RIASS) are:
- HM Treasury in respect of central government
- the Scottish Government, the Department of Finance Northern Ireland, and the Welsh Government in respect of central government and the health sector in their administrations
- the Department of Health and Social Care in respect of the health sector in England
- the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy in respect of local government across the UK
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.
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 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.
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
