Global Internal Audit Standards™
The gold standard for delivering effective, ethical and independent assurance.
An updated framework for 2025
The IIA's Global Internal Audit Standards™ are a framework for delivering effective, ethical and independent assurance services. The Standards are designed to promote the quality and consistency of internal audit work across different industries and locations. As of January 2025, an updated framework will be applied. This brings the Standards in line with the changing risk environment.
- Promote quality and consistency
- Improve ethical oversight
- Support good governance
The benefits of following the Global Internal Audit Standards™
Following the Standards gives internal auditors a ‘gold standard’ of best practice. Externally, it shows auditors, your investors and the people who use your company’s services that you have a robust approach to internal controls and ethics. Internally, it helps to clarify the importance of internal audit and a commitment to high standards.
- Demonstrate high standards
- Boost internal audit’s reputation
- Align to the company’s strategic goals
Create a culture of good governance
Internal audit plays a crucial role in good governance. This involves taking an objective approach to their work, and being able to highlight any unethical behaviors within the company. The IIA Standards support this with a framework for reporting information in a transparent way and keeping adequate audit trails.
Meeting the requirements of Global Internal Audit Standards™
Global Internal Audit Standards™ requirements |
Ideagen solutions |
|---|---|
| Develop and maintain a comprehensive audit plan | Internal teams get a purpose-built, expert system for managing the entire audit lifecycle. This includes the ability to deliver plans in a step-by-step and consistent way, as well as the flexibility to be agile. |
| Align with organizational objectives and risks | For total alignment of risk priorities, internal audit and risk management teams can access a shared library of Objectives, Risks, Controls and Tests in one native environment. |
| Ensure objectivity and independence | Ideagen provides solutions for functional audit and risk experts in one software environment – so that the objectivity and independence of internal audit is never compromised. |
| Improve efficiency though technology | Work in a more efficient and consistent way, with automated processes, instant alerts and real-time dashboards that make it easy to keep on top of all your projects. |
| Provide actionable insights | Provide insights that improve control coverage, support operational resilience and reveal strategic opportunities in risk. |
| Communicate in a more transparent way | No matter how complex the situation, Ideagen gives you more options to communicate data clearly and effectively to all of your stakeholder groups. |
Global Internal Audit Standards ™ FAQs
Who do the standards apply to?
The Standards are designed to apply to any industry and location. promote the quality and consistency of internal audit work across different industries and locations.
Are companies legally mandated to apply the Standards?
No - but it is widely recognized as best practice. Compliance with these standards demonstrates a commitment to high-quality and reliable audit practices, which can significantly enhance the credibility and reputation of an internal audit function – and the company as a whole.
What’s changing in 2025?
The Global Internal Audit Standards ™ are being updated to reflect how the risk landscape has changed, and the challenges this presents to internal audit teams. It gives internal audit teams more guidance on how to be aligned to risk, so that they can have more influence as strategic advisors.
Is there a deadline for applying the new standards?
As it's not a legal requirement to apply the 2025 Internal Audit Standards, there is no formal deadline to implement them. The IIA does recommend that you consider when your next quality assessment is due. The Standards will be effective for quality assessments from January 9th 2025
How can I prepare for the new Standards?
Familiarize yourself with the details of the new Standards; assess your current audit processes and how aligned they are to the company’s risk priorities; consider how the new Standards might impact any other processes or workflows; assess the effectiveness of existing reporting and communication channels.
