The top management of a chemical company, with 400 crores turnover, is extremely happy with its internal audit department specially with the cost saving measures recommended by the department. The company has two plants in Thane (Mumbai) and Vapi (Gujarat), with its corporate headquarters. The company is presently facing problems with high cost of production and is finding that the products manufactured at its Thane and Vapi plants are not competitive vis-à-vis other chemical manufacturers in the organised sector. The company also finds that the shutdown hours for the factories were quite high. The Managing Director holds a meeting with the Chief Internal Auditor (CIA) and requests him to conduct a review of Thane and Vapi plant production units’ operations and suggest improvement measures to ensure that the plant is more efficient and effective to maintain its competitiveness vis-à-vis the threat from competitors. He also informs the CIA how important it is to reduce cost of operations, failing which he is concerned that the units would have to be closed down in the near future.
Timely preparation of manual for all major processes at CFS helped the company to run the operations effectively and efficiently. The manual preparation exercise created a bond between the internal audit team and the operational staff which resulted in a healthy interaction during continuous monthly internal audit. The internal audit issues raised found acceptability and quick implementation of suggestions by auditees which led to strengthening of the business processes. The Managing Director appreciated the efforts of the internal audit team.
The departmental heads who were earlier sceptical of the role of internal audit were appreciative of the internal audit reviews carried out and also started making number of requests for internal auditing of all new processes including new computer applications. They also requested internal auditors for continuous assurance work including reviews of all processes from time to time. This led the Chief Internal Auditor to prioritise internal audit work based on availability of resources and also on the criticality of process.
In a large engineering company operating in Western India having global operation, a new Chief Audit Executive (CAE) was appointed. The CAE had joined this organisation based on the public positioning of the group but felt disappointed within a few months of joining. The organisation had grown organically and was largely family-owned with the senior management being hands on with the operations of the company. The Internal Audit culture had not yet matured and was largely focussed on ‘compliance’. The budget was not sufficient as the management had very low level of expectations from the internal audit function which was mainly compliance-driven.
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The management wants the internal auditors to now assess the procurement activity in terms of process improvements with optimal controls, compliance with laid down systems and procedures and cost rationalisation. The engineering company, whose turnover is 350 crores, is into manufacturing and giving services for cooling appliances like air-conditioners — window, split, cascade etc., refrigerators, water coolers.
Audit Committee Chairperson has indicated to the partner-in-charge of the outsourced firm carrying out internal audit that the coverage of personnel audit would be desirable every six months. Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer agree with the importance given by Audit Committee Chairperson to Personnel area. They have indicated the importance of this area to the partner-in-charge and also cautioned him that this being a sensitive area, needs to be handled with care. This exercise should be done by experienced persons.
It has been decided to enhance the existing limit of USD 100,000 per financial year to USD 200,000 per financial year (April – March) with immediate effect. Accordingly, AD Category – I banks may now allow remittance up to USD 200,000, per financial year, under the Scheme, for any permitted current or capital account transaction or a combination of both.
