The revised Global Internal Audit Standards (GIAS) sharpen expectations around quality, objectivity and demonstrable impact. For audit leaders, the changes require refreshing QA arrangements to evidence end to end quality and continuous improvement.
This article summarises the key lessons from the revision and sets out concrete actions to align your function with the new standards.
Top Lessons And Implications
Quality is end to end: QA must evaluate governance, planning, execution, reporting and follow up — not just working papers. Lifecycle checks are essential.
Independence must be demonstrable: Evidence of reporting lines, conflict registers and role design is needed; assertions alone are insufficient.
Outcome orientation is required: :QA should measure how audits influence decisions, reduce risk or create value, not just activity outputs.
Assurance must be proportionate and risk based:QA should confirm that coverage and resourcing align with the organisation’s top risks and strategy, and that planning rationale is documented.
Continuous monitoring over one off reviews:The emphasis is on routine internal checks, ongoing monitoring and feedback loops rather than infrequent external assessments.
Competence evidence matters:Maintain records of training, competency frameworks and objective evidence of professional development.
Robust issue management is part of quality: Action tracking, validation of remediation and independent confirmation for high risk fixes are required QA elements.
Concrete actions to comply and uplift
1. Expand QA scope to lifecycle reviews: Implement periodic sampling across planning, fieldwork, reporting and follow up. Use a short lifecycle checklist for each engagement to ensure consistent assessment.
2. Document independence safeguards Maintain a conflicts register, decision rights map and clear reporting line documentation. Include independence statements in engagement files.
3. Reframe KPIs to show outcomes: Add outcome metrics to your QA reporting (for example, % of audits leading to material control improvement, average remediation time, measurable risk reductions) alongside delivery metrics.
4. Adopt continuous monitoring : Introduce quarterly internal QA reviews, monthly file spot checks and post implementation reviews for major recommendations. Log findings and remedial actions centrally.
5. Strengthen evidence of competence:Keep a competency matrix, training logs and records of coaching or mentoring. Record certifications and objective assessments where possible.
6. Improve issue validation and closure evidence:Require objective evidence for action closure (screenshots, updated process documents, transaction logs). Use independent validation for high risk or material remediation.
7. Use concise QA reporting for leadership:Produce a single QA dashboard for the audit committee showing maturity trends, recurring deficiencies, remediation status and a clear roadmap with owners and deadlines.
8. Prepare for external assessment where required Conduct a gap analysis against GIAS, prioritise remediation, and plan any external quality assessment with a clear scope and acceptance criteria.
Practical templates & quick wins
Lifecycle checklist: planning → evidence → testing → findings → remediation verification.
Competency matrix template: role, mandatory skills, development plan and training calendar.
Single page QA dashboard: maturity score, top five QA findings, remediation status and competence heat map.
Conclusion
The revised GIAS raises the bar but clarifies what good internal audit looks like: end to end quality, demonstrable objectivity, outcome focus and continuous improvement. By widening QA scope, documenting independence, tracking outcomes and embedding routine monitoring, audit leaders can both meet the new standard and increase their function’s strategic value.
For support aligning your QA framework with the revised GIAS — including a gap analysis, lifecycle checklist and a single page QA dashboard for the audit committee — book a 20 minute discovery call or request our one page service overview.