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> Goals of Internal Audit Activities

> Audit Process

> Contact the Internal Auditor

The Internal Auditor reports directly to the City Manager.

Mission:
The mission of the Office of Internal Audit is to support and complement the City of Titusville's Leadership Team as they implement the Management Team Strategic Plan 2000-2004. This includes assuring financial resources are managed and controlled in a cost effective manner, that Team functions operate with optimum efficiency, and are in compliance with applicable policies, laws and regulations. This is accomplished through comprehensive professional reviews and evaluations performed in accordance with generally accepted government auditing standards.

The internal audit function has the support of the City Council and the City Manager. Under their authority, access to records, personnel, and physical properties, relevant to the performance of audits, is freely available to the Internal Auditor.

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Professional standards for conducting audits in government have been issued by the Comptroller General of the United States in Government Auditing Standards. These standards relate to the scope and quality of audit work and the characteristics of professional and meaningful audit reports.

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Internal audit activities are designed to provide reasonable assurance that the goals, objectives and strategies of the City of Titusville's Management Team Strategic Plan 2000-2004 are met economically and efficiently. To that end, the following goals are established:

1. To issue audit reports, conducted in accordance with generally accepted government auditing standards, that:

• Determine the reliability and integrity of financial and operational information and the means used to identify, measure, classify and report such information.
• Determine if a program's internal control structure is adequately designed and implemented to achieve control objectives.
• Determine the efficiency and effectiveness of City programs and services.
• Determine if operations are in compliance with applicable policies, procedures, laws and regulations.
• Determine if City resources are adequately safeguarded against loss, waste, and abuse.
• Determine if results of operations and programs are consistent with established objectives and goals, and whether the operations or programs are being carried out as planned.
• Recommend cost effective improvements in each of the above areas.

2. To issue objective studies of critical issues that aid in the decision-making process by the City Council and Leadership Team.

3. To promote efficiency, effectiveness, and accountability with the City Council, Leadership Team, the general population of City employees, and the Public.

4. To develop and maintain a risk assessment matrix to be used by the Internal Auditor and the Leadership Team in the identification of areas of risk to the City's ability to meet its mission.

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Regardless of the topic, the process followed in conducting audits and reporting to the Leadership Team consists of the following phases:

• Audit Selection - Audit topics will be selected by the Internal Auditor and City Manager based upon a risk assessment matrix. Allegations of waste, mismanagement or fraud in a program receive immediate attention.
• Audit Planning - Includes steps to initiate the audit, hold an entrance conference, conduct an audit survey, prepare the audit plan and implement the audit program. The plan states the purpose and scope of the audit, contacts and work schedules. The audit program states audit objectives and specific work to be completed during fieldwork.
• Audit Fieldwork - Fieldwork consists of data collection, analysis and other activities designed to meet audit objectives. During fieldwork, more specific information to support and document audit findings is obtained.
• Reporting - Reporting is the preparation of the written report, which communicates auditor findings, conclusions and recommendations.
• Quality Assurance Review - The written report undergoes an internal quality control process to ensure that it is complete, accurate, objective and convincing.
• Follow Up - Several follow up procedures are in place to help ensure that management has taken appropriate action to resolve problems identified in audits.

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For more information about the Office of Internal Audit contact the Internal Auditor:

Christine McGraw
E-Mail: chris.mcgraw@titusville.com
Telephone: (321) 383-5854
Fax: (321) 383-5705
Mail: P.O. Box 2806
Titusville, FL 32781

Web Links:

• National Association of Local Government Auditors, http://www.nalga.org

• Institute of Internal Auditors, http://www.theiia.org

• U.S. Government Accounting Office, http://www.gao.gov

• SANS Institute, http://www.sans.org

• AuditNet, http://www.auditnet.org

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