The Internal Audit Office, embarked on a 4-day end of year retreat at the Nyansapo Eco Resort at Moree, from 12th December, 2023 to 16th December, 2023 

The theme for the retreat was ‘Empowering and Sharpening the Skill Set of the Internal Auditor for Value Addition to the University.”

The chosen theme was to sharpen and upgrade staff skillset and knowledge in performing auditing activities.

 

In his welcome address, the Internal Auditor thanked all staff for availing themselves for the retreat. He admonished staff to take all deliberations at the retreat very serious so that, they can sharpen their skills to assist the University achieve its objectives

The Internal Auditor also took staff through the rudiments of good report writing. He stressed the need for Internal Auditors to present good reports since a good report is the evidence of a good work done by the Auditor.

The main Speaker for the retreat was Dr. Nicholas Tetteh, the Internal Auditor of Ghana National Petroleum Corporation. He took staff through various topics that would help in empowering and sharpening their skills in undertaking their duties as Internal Auditors.

The topics that were touched on were:

1. Empowering the Internal Auditor

• What it meant to empower the Internal Auditor?
• How to empower the Auditor?
• Who is responsible for empowering the Auditor?

2. Sharpening the Skillset (Competencies) of the Internal Auditor

• What competencies (skills / Knowledge) should the Auditor have?
• How to sharpen these Skills?

3. Providing Value Addition

• What is the mandate of internal audit?
• Value protection as against value enhancement (addition)?
• How can the Auditor add value to the University?

In his view, for the Internal Auditor to be empowered or add value to the University, there is the need to put in place the appropriate legal framework or policies that protect the independence of the internal audit function or the Auditor.

Secondly, the responsibility of empowering the Internal Auditor rested on the State through its relevant oversight institutions like the Internal Audit Agency, the reporting oversight committee like Audit Committee, the University through its Chief Spending Officer, the Head of Internal Audit and the Internal Audit staff.

On sharpening the skillset of the Internal Auditor, the Speaker highlighted the kind of skills needed. These are:

• Professional ethics: Promotes and applies professional ethics.
• Internal audit management: Develops and manages the internal audit function.
• IPPF: Applies the International Professional Practices Framework (IPPF).
• Governance, risk and control: Applies a thorough understanding of governance, risk and control appropriate to the Organisation.
• Business acumen: Maintains expertise of the business environment, industry practices and specific organisational factors.
• Communication skills: Must communicate to achieve an impact.
• Persuasion and collaboration: Persuade and motivates others through collaboration and cooperation.
• Critical thinking: Applies process analysis, business intelligence and problem-solving techniques.
• Internal audit delivery: Delivers internal audit engagements.
• Improvement and innovation: Embraces change and drives improvement and innovation.

For the Internal Auditor to sharpen his/her skillset, the Speaker pointed out that, there should be:

• Regular Classroom training
• On the job training
• Coaching
• Mentorship

 

He ended his delivery by pointing out that for the Internal Auditor to be seen as adding value to the organization, he/she must be someone who is able to;

• Identify problems in the organisation.
• Provide assurance.
• Help in solving the problems identified.
• Provide deeper insight into improvement and new opportunities.
• Provide trusted advise to management.

At the end of the delivery, staff were satisfied with answers to their questions. They were all of the view that, such retreats should be held annually to help upgrade and sharpen their knowledge and skillset.