Authority:
The authority for the Internal Audit function originates from the City Charter, Section 5.01 (c), which states:
Internal Audit Department, which shall have cognizance of all internal auditing for the city. The internal auditor shall be the head of the department, and it shall be the duty of the internal auditor to audit for each fiscal year all books, records and accounts of the city and all accounts in which the city has an interest. The internal auditor shall perform such other audits as may be required by the mayor. In addition, the city council shall have the right to request the internal auditor to perform additional internal audits with a super-majority vote of the city council as provided for pursuant to ordinance.
Mission:
To provide an independent appraisal function within the City and to assist members of the management team in the effective discharge of their responsibilities by furnishing them appraisals, recommendations and pertinent, relevant information concerning the activities and/or areas under review.
Standards:
To provide assurance that the City of Tampa’s Internal Audit Department operates at a high professional level, the Department adheres to the Government Auditing Standards, 2011 Revision (the “Yellow Book”) promulgated by the Comptroller General of the United States. These standards, referred to as generally accepted government auditing standards, “pertain to auditors’ professional qualifications, the quality of audit effort, and the characteristics of professional and meaningful audit reports.”
Code of Ethics:
Government Auditing Standards (GAS 1.12) states "Conducting audit work in accordance with ethical principles is a matter of personal and organizational responsibility. Ethical principles apply in preserving auditor independence, taking on only work that the auditor is competent to perform, performing high-quality work, and following the applicable standards cited in the audit report. Integrity and objectivity are maintained when auditors perform their work and make decisions that are consistent with the broader interest of those relying on the auditors' report, including the public." The ethical principles that guide the work of auditors who conduct audits in accordance with Government Audit Standards are: a) the public interest; b) integrity; c) objectivity; d) proper use of government information, resources, and position; and e) professional behavior.
The City of Tampa's Internal Audit Department also subscribes to the Code of Ethics of the Institute of Internal Auditors. The purpose of the IIA's Code of Ethics is to promote an ethical culture in the profession of internal auditing. A code of ethics is necessary and appropriate for the profession of internal auditing, founded as it is on the trust placed in objective assurance about risk management, control, and governance. The Code of Ethics extends beyond the definition of internal auditing to include two essential components:
- Principles that are relevant to the profession and practice of internal auditing; and
- Rules of Conduct that describe behavior norms expected of internal auditors. These rules are an aid to interpreting the Principles into practical applications and are intended to guide ethical conduct of internal auditors.
Annual Risk Assessment & Audit Plan, Policies & Procedures, and Performance Report:
The Annual Risk Assessment is the result of a methodical, quantitative approach to audit scheduling. Seven key risks are assessed for each audit, which are then weighted to derive a total risk score. The purpose of the assessment is to provide assurance that a minimum level of audit coverage is occurring in major risk areas of the City. Risk in this context is defined as the element of uncertainty that gives rise to the loss of control over City assets or processes, thereby exposing the City to undesired results. Based on the results of the risk assessment and input from the City's Administrators and Department Directors, an Annual Audit Plan is proposed to the Mayor, who provides the final approval of the audit plan.
Our Policy and Procedures Manual and FY2024 Performance Report are available in .pdf format. If your browser does not support the .pdf format, Adobe Acrobat Reader can be downloaded from the Internet. It is available free of charge. After you have configured your browser, click on the applicable link above.
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