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Internal audit for the board

Practical information and guidance on internal audit for board members and corporate governance professionals.

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Articles & features

Exclusive INTERNAL AUDIT COMMUNITY How IA should approach providing assurance over AI
  • Feb 2026
  • Paul Haley and Donna Littlechild - Littlechild & Haley
Artificial Intelligence is no longer a future consideration for internal audit. Across the UK, AI is already embedded in everyday processes, from data analysis and forecasting to customer interaction and decision support.
Exclusive Gaining confidence in your supply chain and third-party management
  • Feb 2026
  • Maxi Glas
For internal auditors, confidence in supply chains and third-party arrangements is no longer secondary. It is central to financial resilience, and organisational integrity.
Exclusive INTERNAL AUDIT COMMUNITY Navigating a complex world: Reflecting on ICAEW’s annual conference for the Internal Audit Community
  • Jan 2026
  • Carolyn Clarke - Internal Audit Community
In November we held our second annual conference.
EDUCATION AND TRAINING Ellen's story
  • Dec 2025
  • ICAEW
Ellen started out in the Royal Bank of Scotland’s call centre after leaving school. During that time, she spotted an ACA apprenticeship opportunity with the NatWest Group. She now works in NatWest’s internal audit team acting as the “police of the bank”.
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Guidance

Governance of occupational pension schemes: assurance on internal controls
  • Helpsheets and support
  • Jul 2025
This guidance aims to help trustees understand how different sources of assurance can contribute to the assessment of controls designed to mitigate risk. In particular, it looks at how internal audit and the audit of financial statements can play a part in the governance of UK pension arrangements.
BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT FACULTY How to audit operational resilience
  • Helpsheets and support
  • Feb 2021
In this second paper on operational resilience, we will look at how to develop the audit approach.
Exclusive The Modern Slavery Act: Actions for internal audit
  • Helpsheets and support
  • Nov 2020
  • PDF (117kb)
Under the Modern Slavery Act 2015 some organisations are required to prepare a section 54 Transparency in Supply Chains Statement. This guide explains the role of the organisation’s internal audit function, and where there is no such function, best practice for management to ensure all risks to the business have been assessed and the relevant controls are in place.
AUDIT AND ASSURANCE FACULTY Improve your organisation's level of assurance
  • Helpsheets and support
  • Sep 2019
ICAEW’s Internal Audit Panel has identified eight risk areas where boards and audit committees should be asking themselves whether they are receiving the objective assurance they need amid increased public scrutiny.
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CPD Training courses

Stay on top of the rapidly evolving corporate governance landscape and discover how to be a high-performing board director.
Corporate governance courses All CPD courses
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Webinars and other recordings

Exclusive The role of internal audit in uncertain times
  • Webinar
  • 21 Feb 2023
Join this webinar to hear about common red flags and risks that can be associated with uncertain times and learn how your organisation could use an internal audit function to address them.
BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT FACULTY Future proof your organisation - an internal audit approach to operational resilience
  • Webinar
  • 09 Mar 2021
This webinar explores how to develop an audit approach to deliver effective assurance as organisations progress their resilience journeys.
Exclusive BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT FACULTY Climate change and TCFD – The role of internal audit
  • Webinar
  • 02 Jul 2021
This webinar explores what TCFD means to organisations and how internal auditors must develop their skills to help their organisations adapt.
Exclusive INTERNAL AUDIT COMMUNITY Climate assurance: The role of internal audit
  • Webinar
  • 21 Apr 2023
This webinar will consider the range of options available to directors to obtain assurance, exploiting the existing mechanisms available through the first, second and third line of defence internally.
Exclusive INTERNAL AUDIT COMMUNITY Corporate failure and internal assurance: what does it mean and what lessons should we be learning?
  • Webinar
  • 24 Apr 2025
In this webinar recording we will delve into the causes and warning signs of corporate failure, the role of internal audit, monitoring and assurance over reputational risk, and the influence of corporate culture.
Exclusive INTERNAL AUDIT COMMUNITY Introduction to data analytics for internal auditors: leveraging technology for better insights
  • Webinar
  • 20 Jun 2023
This webinar from the Internal Audit Community will give members an overview of the fundamental principles around the use of analytics in internal audit.
Exclusive INTERNAL AUDIT COMMUNITY Lessons from internal audit how charity trustees can gain assurance
  • Webinar
  • 21 Nov 2023
Internal audit for charities and how to apply internal audit concepts with limited resources.
Exclusive INTERNAL AUDIT COMMUNITY The role of internal audit in uncertain times
  • Webinar
  • 21 Feb 2023
Listen to our webinar recording and hear from a Group Risk and Internal Audit Director about the role of internal audit in uncertain times.

Join the Internal Audit Community

Supporting professionals with the latest technical and regulatory changes impacting the internal audit function. Membership is free and open to everyone, including non-ICAEW members.
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eBooks

The Library & Information Service provides a collection of eBooks as a benefit of membership. Please note that ICSA publications are only available to ICAEW members and ACA students.  Please log in to access these titles. If you are unable to access an eBook, please see our Help and support or contact library@icaew.com
Exclusive Auditing for managers: the ultimate risk management tool
  • eBook
  • 2005
  • K. H. Spencer Pickett | Jennifer M. Pickett
  • Wiley
Guide to help managers and their teams set standards for self-auditing, risk management, compliance review, and formal disclosure reporting.
Exclusive Auditing the risk management process
  • eBook
  • 2005
  • K.H. Spencer Pickett
  • Wiley
Guide to auditing the risk management process, including developments in risk management which are relevant to auditors.
Exclusive Board audit committee communications
  • eBook chapter
  • 2016
  • Robert R. Moeller
  • Wiley
  • Brinks Modern Internal Auditing
A complete guide to the process and profession of internal auditing. Chapter 25 looks at the Audit Committee's interactions and responsibilities regarding internal audit.
Exclusive Board overview of internal audit: how to maximise internal audit value
  • eBook chapter
  • 2016
  • John R.S. Fraser
  • John Wiley & Son
  • Handbook of Board Governance
This title provides comprehensive, expert-led coverage of all aspects of corporate governance for public, nonprofit, and private boards. This chapter looks at best practice in the oversight of internal audit and how to maximise the value of internal audit within an organisation.
Terms of use:

You are permitted to access, download, copy, or print out content from eBooks for your own research or study only, subject to the terms of use set by our suppliers and any restrictions imposed by individual publishers. Please see individual supplier pages for full terms of use.

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Useful links

Harnessing the power of internal audit
  • Feb 2019
  • Chartered Institute of Internal Auditors
This IIA guidance is designed to help the audit committee and other stakeholders to harness the power of internal audit for the good of their organisations.
Audit, risk and internal control
  • Jul 2018
  • Financial Reporting Council
The FRC published the revised Guidance for board effectiveness in July 2018. Section 4 Audit, risk and internal control looks at the audit committee's (or risk committee's if separate) responsibility in this area.
Chartered Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA)
  • May 2018
  • Chartered Institute of Internal Auditors
Professional body representing, promoting and developing the practice of internal auditing in the UK and Ireland. The website includes a large number of resources for members, such as practice guides and access to international standards.
The role of internal audit in non financial and integrated reporting
  • Jul 2015
  • Chartered Institute of Internal Auditors
This report explains integrated reporting and gives benefits and challenges as well as looking at internal audit's role in this area with emerging practice demonstrated in case studies.
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