Professional Documents
Culture Documents
“Operations Auditing”
ASSIGNMENT TO BE SUBMITTED
EXPECTATIONS
Learning outcomes
1. Define operations auditing
2. Recite the scope of operations auditing
3. Identify the different audit approaches to
operational audits.
4. Give examples of performance measures
5. Explain value for money auditing
6. Define and identify the importance of
benchmarking in performing operation audit
Learning
Module 1
Understandin
g Operations
Auditing
Definition
and Scope of
Operations
Audit
CONCEPTS of OPERATIONS AUDIT
What is operations in the context of
management?
AUDIT
book for the detailed
functions, systems and
activities that may be
UNIVERSE
form part of the
specific operations
audit review!
COVERAGE OF OPERATIONS AUDIT
Is there a guide on how the
operations audit review will be
Please refer to the
undertaken?
Appendix 1 of our
For each of thereference textbook
specific eactivities,
fordetailed
there is available the SPAG on
Standard
certain functions,
Audit Programme Guide (SAPG)
systems and
which readers can adapt to be more
activities of each
closely applicable
typetoofspecific business
industry
industries and sector
their corresponding
in the
activities. business!
“doing things
quality
Input ofvs.well”
raw – smoothly,
materials
Output
What is for instance with good
quality
Relates
The ratio of labor
toofthe (human
usable
affects
efficiency? systems which
resource) avoid waste and
conversion
outputs to the
processes
rework. actual
efficiency? the design of processes
resources
that
the turn
quality the
input
of actual
into the
technology
Efficiency is theprocess.
ratiointo
of actual
conversion
inputs
othersavailable
inputs to actual outputs.
actual outputs.
Effectiveness is measured
by the ratio of actual outputs
against planned outputs (i.e.
planned objectives).
PLANNED
INPUTS PLANNED OUTPUTS
ACTUAL
Inimportant
It is strategic
ECONOMY, EFFICIENCY AND
EFFECTIVENESS
management,
therefore tothis
setisyour
ARE MEASURED
called
targets at your
reasonable
AGAINST
“SCORE CARD”
levels i.e. “SMART”
TARGET/PLANNED
ECONOMY, EFFICIENCY AND
EFFECTIVENESS
What if there
OPTIONS
isindependence
still an inadequate
When
Applicable
declineExamplesOPTIONS
such
to include
for include:the or
long-term/future
balance between technical
Outsourcing
Even
objectivity
ISO
audit forif
planningtheis
of internal
impaired,
internal
management audit
such
audit
operation
engagement
systems
limitation
within
complexity
and is the
of future
outsourced,
its audited
impact andon the
engagement
adjust
thethe
operation the
toservices
becompetencies the of
audit
IT
scope
buy-in plan,
overall
audit
of the for responsibility
computing
internal technical
temporarily
available, relevant audit
the to be
technical
the internal
however still audit
remains function
with so
competence
systems
toexpertise
approach
undertaken must
tothe
of the
work engagement
be disclosed
alongside
in-house internalby
in-
the that
Taxthe all
Chief the
compliance
CAE Audit
to principal
the Executive
audit for
Senior
with
housea
auditors, limited
technical
tax
internal
what scope
auditors
other
(CAE)!!! options
disciplines
risk management so as
soare
as
which
toto
Management
available
buildround toand
their competence the the
CAE? BOD.to perform
skirtare core the challenging
to the operations of
audits in particular technical
technical
the
areas.
aspects
business are of the
represented
operation
within the audit team
So what is the
responsibilities
Responsibilitiesofofthe
thethe
CAE
Chief Audit Executive
2. The CAE also adopts suitable
(CAE)!!!
means to ensure this
responsibility is met.
OPTIONS
Programme of Control Self
Assessment (CSA) Seminar
Another approach to obtaining
assurance about highly
technical activities is to rely, to
a greater or lesser extent, on
workshops facilitated by
internal audit together with the
in-house experts on the specific
technical operations.
Ferdie Ventura, CPA, MBA
PRODUCTIVI
TY AND
PERFORMAN
CE
MEASUREME
Productivity and Performance Measurement
Systems
Why is there a
In general,
Therekey is aperformance
Specifically, need
Key for the
Performance
need for
measures
Organizations
business are bound
are
entity used
are established
Measures toto:
by their
to establish
measurement of
identify
assesswhether
strategic the
plans there
achievement
that is any
originate offrom
productivity and realistic
initial potential
thetheir
corporate
measurement
forand
goals
objectives and objectives.
goals,
performance? standards and methods
improvement,
assess their and then andthat
progress,
arealso
This responsive
subsequently
compare goes down
used
relative tothe
to theunit
toperformance
monitor
levels
the within the organization
organization’s
that strategy and to
ensure that
required across
levels ofthe organization,
performance
all units andposition.
employees are steered
are maintained.
and directed toward achievement of
common goals and objectives.
What measurement
methods should the Initially, the auditor should use
auditor use in whatever is already established
measuring as measurement standards and
performance? methods currently adopted by
the business entity so that there
is a commonality and
compatibility with the
management especially when
communicating results and
findings.
Does should
What this meanbe
thatbasis
the auditor
for
cannot introduce
introducing a new
any method
improvement?
of If there
The useare
of compelling
the methodreasons
must
performance betofounded
change oron introduce a new
both accurate
assessment? standard or a more acceptable
and reliable data and a
(scientific) and objective method
proven method,assessment,
of performance otherwisethe
the credibility
auditor of internalthis
may communicate
audit will suffer.
with the CAE.
What is the
1.
3.
4.
5.
2. ItIt poses
can
can be
beaused
used
challenge
to
to remove
investigate
establish
frameto the
and
any
implications of
where
clear
ambiguity
auditor
support understanding
management’s
toaudit
identify
associatedtheand
with
lack
mostof
using the
response
common
the
appropriate
recommendations
requiredinterpretation
to an
and
level
adverse
meaningful
of
and of
measurement
measurement.
data
performance
corrective
and how action(s).
and
measures
to use
expected
suchto
methods to results
“Un”achieved
data.
level
utilize,
Noofmonitoring
whether
associated ortargets
and
not suchhave
of audit?
achievement.
criteria
not
evaluation
been
are already
acted
of performance
upon
applied
so
withinthat
against
the
improvement
organisation.
targets. may be
introduced.
1. Workload/
Examplesthe volume of output,
Indicate
Demand
whether
Numberservices,
of users
products or
Performance
other,
Number
and when
of units
linked
produced
to
Measures
measures
Numberofofinput
booksof in
resources,
a library
give
Percentage
useful information
of first class
on
quality
degrees
or quantity
in a university
Matters.
2. Economy
Performance
These may highlight waste in the
Measures provision of resources indicating
that the same resources may be
provided more cheaply or that
Examples
more
Costenterprise may inbecomparison
of actual input
conducted at the
with planned same cost.
input
Cleaning costs per hour worked
Maintenance costs per unit area
Cost of the finance function per
100 staff
Cost of the chief executive’s
department per 1000 clients.
3. Efficiency
Examples
Performance Theseof may highlight
Ratio actual inputpotential
to actual
Measures opportunities to convert given
output
resources to end product with less
Breakdown per production day
waste.
Accidents at work per 1,000
personnel
Many performance measures will
Degree
point tosuccess in comparison
either uneconomic or
toinefficient
school examination
practices, or grades
both.
4. Effectiveness
Examples
Performance
Actual output in comparison to
Measures
planned output
These performance measures
Degree
focus onsuccess (in a college
how objectives are or
university)
being achieved regardless of
economy,
Research output per or
efficiency 100equity
research staff the objectives
(except where
relate
Ratio specifically
of customertocomplaints
economy,
to sales
efficiency and equity).
When does
operational audit “add
value”?
The internal audit activity
adds value when the
organisation and its
stakeholders benefit
from the results of internal
audit work.
What is benefit in
this context?
Benefit arises when the internal
audit activity provides objective
and relevant assurance, and
contributes to the effectiveness
and efficiency of governance,
risk management and control
processes.
What is another
context of VFM?
While VFM takes into account
the E’s of internal auditing,
quality and performance
achievement factors are also
important considerations.
“VFM here means that you must
get your money’s worth for the
price you pay.”
How is VFM?
achieved?
3. In a formal environment, a
2. 1.The
detailedThis
usual
involves
approach
feasibility studythe is
as part
ofto
anmake
assessment
overallcomparisons
projectof an
appraisal
withappropriate
a range
process. Theof range
options
financial of
projection
or possiblewill solutions
show the value
performance to
of the money to be spent and its
the
measurement
principal
return.
problem.
criteria.
What is benchmarking?
Benchmarking is a
comparison of one’s own
performance in a specific
area with that applied by
others in compatible
circumstances.
As a technique it is
founded on the premise
that there may be viable
performing a process and
fulfilling a requirement.
What is required to
make benchmarking
meaningful? It is necessary to
understand fully the
existing processes,
systems and activities
as a firm basis for
subsequent comparison
with external points of
reference (such as
industry or professional
standards).
In summary……
Benchmarking is one of
the many platforms that
can be used to identify
and subsequently
launch the required or
necessary processes of
change within a
department, function,
activity, process or
organization.