Many people confuse internal audit and internal control. The confusion probably comes from. The qualifier “Internal” common to the two names andof the concept of control attached to them. We offer four basic differences to make it easy for you to distinguish them. Now Bashar Ibrahim offers you the best ideas for the same now.

Purpose

The objective of internal control is to “guarantee”:

• tea compliance with laws and regulations,
• achievement of operational and reporting objectives .

The purpose of internal audit is to provide management with:

• An assurance on the effectiveness of governance processes, risk management and control and proposals for their improvement.
• Internal control is therefore one of the elements to be assessed by the internal audit.

Methods of implementation

Difference between audit and internal control – Mechanisms of implementation

Mechanisms for implementation

Internal control is a set of mechanisms implemented on an ongoing basis in all the activities of the organization.It is therefore neither a separate activity nor a service within the organization. Internal audit constitutes a full-fledged activityof the organization, whose interventions are carried out a posteriori and on an ad hoc basis.

For example, competition between suppliers as part of the purchasing process is part of the internal control mechanism. This procedure will therefore be implemented by the procurement department for each purchase. The procurement audit will take place after the procurement has been completed (therefore a posteriori). It will allow the internal auditor to ensure that the competitive process is working properly.

Players

Internal control is not just about a few people. Its implementation is the responsibility of all of the organization’s stakeholders. These stakeholders include the board, senior management, employees at all levels, third parties.

Internal audit is the business of a few employees (internal auditors) who are SOLELY responsible for its implementation.

The repositories

Internal control can be implemented in accordance with different standards (COSO, COCO, CADBURY, etc.).The practice of internal auditing is framed by the international standards for the professional practice of internal auditing , enacted by the IIA.

In summary:

Internal control = Mechanisms implemented so continuously by the stakeholders within all business monitored and coordinated on a daily basis by an internal controller, to facilitate the achievement of the organization’s objectives .

Internal audit = Activity implemented by independent professionals (employees) whose purpose is to provide assurance and advice on the organization’s processes including internal control with the aim of helping to maintain and create value.

It does not therefore exempt you from research that you could carry out by yourself. In addition, it only includes technical questions purely related to internal audit.

Here is the link to the recruitment preparation questionnaire

Additional points to consider

Technical questions are only part of the interview or recruitment test. I therefore suggest that you take the following additional points into account during your preparation:

Acquire a good knowledge of the entity , its leaders , its values and how they apply to your business .

Prepare your personalized answers to questions common to all job interviews in the world (introduce yourself, why you are the ideal candidate, what do you know about the entity, etc.).