IIA-CIA-Part2 Exam Dumps - IIA CIA Questions and Answers

Workpapers from prior engagements provide context and background, especially regarding management’s corrective actions and follow-up of past issues. They should inform planning, not dictate tests, scope, or risk assessment. Thus, the best benefit is understanding how prior issues were addressed, as stated in Option A.

 Conditions for Risk Management Consulting by Internal Audit:

Strategy and Timeline for Migration: The internal audit activity can provide risk management consulting if there is a clear strategy and timeline to transfer risk management responsibilities back to management. This ensures a temporary arrangement with a defined end goal.

Documentation in Internal Audit Charter: The nature of services provided, including risk management consulting, must be documented in the internal audit charter. This formalizes the internal audit activity's role and ensures transparency and alignment with organizational governance.

 IIA Standards:

Standard 1130 – Impairment to Independence or Objectivity: When internal auditors perform risk management roles, it must not impair their objectivity. Clear documentation and a transition strategy mitigate potential conflicts of interest.

Standard 2050 – Coordination and Reliance: Internal auditors must coordinate with other assurance providers, ensuring roles are clear and documented.

 Inappropriate Conditions:

Final Approval on Risk Management Decisions: The internal audit activity should not have final approval on risk management decisions, as this impairs independence and objectivity.

Objective Assurance on Own Work: Providing objective assurance on parts of the risk management framework for which the internal audit activity is responsible creates a conflict of interest.

 References:

The conditions under which internal audit can provide risk management consulting must include a clear strategy for migrating responsibilities back to management and documentation in the internal audit charter to ensure transparency and avoid conflicts of interest​​​​.

External benchmarking using trend analysis involves comparing a company's performance metrics with industry standards or averages over a certain period to identify trends and areas for improvement. Comparing common-size financial statements of the subsidiary with the averages of the industry for the last two periods allows for a normalized comparison by expressing financial statement items as a percentage of a common base figure (e.g., total assets or sales). This method highlights the subsidiary's financial structure and performance trends in relation to industry norms, facilitating a comprehensive analysis. References:

"Internal Auditing: Assurance & Advisory Services" (The Institute of Internal Auditors)

"Benchmarking: An Essential Tool for Assessment, Improvement, and Market Leadership" (Michael J. Spendolini)

Per Standard 2240 – Engagement Work Program, changes to the audit program must be reviewed and approved by the engagement supervisor to ensure they remain consistent with objectives. Therefore, the correct next step is to refer suggested changes to the supervisor for approval (Option A).

When estimating the impact of an inherent risk, internal auditors should consider both financial and nonfinancial factors. Financial factors include direct monetary impacts, while nonfinancial factors may include reputational damage, operational disruptions, and compliance issues. Considering a broad range of factors provides a comprehensive understanding of the potential impact of the risk, which is essential for effective risk assessment and management.

Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) Standards: Performance Standards 2120: Risk Management

COSO Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) Framework: Risk Assessment and Risk Response Components

An internal auditor would consider the need to outsource competencies and skills during the inspection of a wind turbine if they notice discrepancies that require specialized knowledge. For example, if an auditor observes that replaced parts are used despite purchase documents indicating a longer lifespan, this situation may necessitate expertise in wind turbine technology and maintenance to assess the issue accurately. Outsourcing ensures that the audit is conducted with the necessary technical proficiency.

IIA Standards: 1210 - Proficiency

IIA Practice Guide: Outsourcing Internal Audit Activities

Introduction:

In a vertically centralized organization, decision-making is concentrated among a small management team, potentially leading to various risks.

Risk Analysis:

Option A: Lack of coordination among business units is less likely in a centralized structure as decisions are made by a central authority.

Option B: Inconsistent operational decisions are less common as central management typically ensures alignment with organizational goals.

Option C: Centralized decision-making can lead to suboptimal decisions due to a lack of diverse perspectives and delayed responses to local issues.

Option D: Duplication of business activities is less relevant in a tightly controlled central structure.

Conclusion:

The primary risk in a vertically centralized organization is suboptimal decision-making, as the concentration of authority can result in a lack of responsiveness and consideration of all relevant factors.

Organizational Structure and Internal Control Theory.

The primary reasons for outsourcing internal audit activities typically include accessing a wider range of skills and competencies, complementing existing expertise for specific engagements, and strengthening core audit functions. Contingency planning, while beneficial, is not a primary reason for outsourcing internal audit activities as it pertains more to risk management strategies rather than the core objectives of outsourcing. References: = IIA’s Practice Advisory 1210.A1-1: Obtaining External Service Providers to Support or Complement the Internal Audit Activity.

According to IIA guidance, curiosity is a key attribute that indicates a candidate’s ability to probe further when reviewing incidents that have the appearance of misbehavior. Curiosity drives the auditor to ask deeper questions, seek out underlying causes, and thoroughly investigate anomalies. While integrity (Option A), flexibility (Option B), and initiative (Option C) are important qualities for an internal auditor, curiosity specifically relates to the propensity to investigate and uncover the truth behind incidents.

IIA Standard 1200: Proficiency and Due Professional Care.

IIA Practice Guide on Competency Framework for Internal Auditing.

A drawback of using Internal Control Questionnaires (ICQs) is that they can be less efficient than conducting observations and inspections when many control procedures need to be covered. ICQs can be time-consuming to complete and may not provide the depth of understanding that direct observation and inspection can achieve. They often require follow-up to clarify responses, which can further increase the time and resources needed to obtain the necessary assurance.

The Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) Practice Guide on "Audit Evidence Collection"

IIA Standard 2310 – Identifying Information: "Internal auditors must identify sufficient, reliable, relevant, and useful information to achieve the engagement’s objectives."

 Competitive Strategies: Recognized competitive strategies include cost leadership, differentiation, focus, and innovation. Each strategy emphasizes different aspects of competitive advantage.

 Cost Leadership Strategy:

Efficiency Focus: Cost leadership focuses on gaining efficiencies and reducing costs to offer products or services at a lower price than competitors. This strategy aims to achieve the lowest operational costs and prices in the industry.

Economies of Scale: It involves optimizing production processes, achieving economies of scale, and minimizing expenses to maintain competitive pricing.

 Comparison with Other Strategies:

Focus Strategy: Concentrates on serving a particular market niche with specialized products or services.

Innovation Strategy: Emphasizes creating unique products or services through innovation and technological advancement.

Differentiation Strategy: Focuses on offering unique and superior products or services that stand out from competitors.

 IIA Guidance and References:

Cost leadership as a competitive strategy centers on achieving cost efficiencies to gain a competitive edge in pricing, making it a strategic choice for organizations looking to compete on price rather than product differentiation​​​​.

According to the International Standards for the Professional Practice of Internal Auditing, the CAE must be kept informed of significant issues and deficiencies that are not addressed by management. Standard 2600 - Communicating the Acceptance of Risks requires the CAE to report any situation where management has accepted a level of risk that may be unacceptable to the organization. If the engagement supervisor learns that agreed-upon remedial actions have not been implemented, the CAE needs to be notified to determine further steps, ensuring that risks are managed appropriately and in alignment with the organization's risk tolerance. This response aligns with the internal audit function's responsibility to follow up on management's corrective actions.

The IIA's International Standards for the Professional Practice of Internal Auditing, Standard 2600 - Communicating the Acceptance of Risks.

A compliance assurance engagement focuses on evaluating whether an organization is adhering to applicable laws, regulations, policies, and procedures. Assessing the design adequacy of controls related to consumer privacy and confidentiality is a prime example of such an engagement, as it ensures that the organization’s controls are designed to comply with relevant privacy laws and regulations, thereby protecting consumer data and maintaining compliance.

The Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) - Standards for the Professional Practice of Internal Auditing, Standard 2410 - Criteria for Communicating

According to IIA guidance on due professional care, internal auditors should perform thorough and adequate steps to verify the accuracy and legitimacy of transactions. When reviewing cash disbursements, it is essential to check the three-way match among the invoice, purchase order, and receiving report. This ensures that the payment is valid, authorized, and that the goods or services were actually received as ordered. This step is crucial in preventing and detecting errors and fraud, thereby ensuring that the audit findings are reliable and accurate.

IIA Standard 1220: Due Professional Care

IIA Practice Guide: Auditing Accounts Payable and Disbursements

The current ratio = Current Assets ÷ Current Liabilities. This is a key liquidity measure, showing an organization’s ability to pay short-term obligations with short-term assets.

Debt-to-equity (A) measures leverage.

Profit margin (B) measures profitability.

Times interest earned (D) measures ability to cover interest expense.Thus, the correct ratio for short-term debt-paying ability is the current ratio.