ISO 9001 Internal Checklist Template for Quality Management System

An Internal Audit Checklist is a list of procedures performed on an organization’s assets to identify any vulnerabilities or weaknesses. It includes the date, time, and location for each item on the list. Internal checklist Template can be used by anyone who wants to review their work or follow the procedure correctly. The goal of this article is to provide an explanation in detail about what an internal audit checklist entails so you can use it effectively within your organization!

It may also be used to verify compliance with standards, regulations, and other requirements. An Internal Audit Checklist can help you stay compliant with all of the rules imposed by your industry, government entities, company policies, etc. This will help prevent fines or sanctions for noncompliance.

An Internal Audit Checklist is generally organized into the following sections:

The categories included in your list will depend on what industry you’re in, but these are some of the most common. You can also have security control assessments (risk assessment), IT audits (information technology), and physical inspections. The purpose here is to ensure nothing gets overlooked when performing an internal audit check.

Why Perform an Internal Audit?

Internal audits have many benefits, including increased revenue and improved compliance. Here are a few reasons to consider:

• They help reduce the risk of noncompliance with regulations and laws.
• They can uncover risks in your organization that could lead to losses or legal action from customers or other stakeholders.
• They are also an excellent way to identify operational inefficiencies that can be improved upon
• Internal audits increase organizational learning, allowing for sharing best practices across employees.

Types of Internal Audit Checklist:

An internal audit reviews an organization’s business processes, operations, and systems to assess the adequacy of risk management, control activities, and organizational governance. Internal audits are generally classified into two types:

1.A supplier audit checklist :
A supplier audit checklist is a document that lists all the things you need to check when performing a supplier audit. It is essential to have one of these documents on hand before starting an audit, as this will help ensure that every detail is covered, and nothing gets overlooked.

We have created an example of what a typical supply audit checklist might look like below:

• Check for compliance with company policy
• Document any noncompliance or discrepancies found during the inspection
• Verify all documentation submitted by the supplier (i.e., certificates, licenses, insurance coverage)
• Check the supplier’s quality management system
• Inspect the supplier’s facility and equipment
• Review the supplier’s safety program
• Conduct a product inspection
• Ensure that the supplier has an adequate security plan in place
• Evaluate the supplier’s business continuity plan

2.Process Audit Checklist
Process Audit Checklist is a great way to evaluate your current business processes and determine areas for improvement. It will help you identify the strengths and weaknesses of your company’s operations, which can be used as a guide for future improvements. An outsider typically performs process audits with no vested interest in the company’s success or failure.

A checklist that includes all of the steps necessary to perform this type of Audit, including:

• Define process objectives
• Identify outputs and inputs
• Map inputs to outputs
• Determine process times
• Validate the process flow
• Identify opportunities for improvement.

The first step is defining your objectives and mapping out what you are trying to accomplish with this Audit. For example, what types of problems do you think exist within your business? Are there any obstacles that stand in the way between an input and its corresponding output, such as a lack of resources or software issues? Next, do some high-level planning before diving into mapping each step involved in performing your processes (Steps #’s: “Identify outputs and inputs; Map inputs to outputs; Determine process times; Validate the Process Flow). Finally, make a note of where improvements can be made.

Internal Audit Checklist Process:

1.Scheduling the Audit :
Internal auditors are responsible for identifying and assessing risks that may directly impact the achievement of objectives. We’ll cover the different types of audit processes that you may encounter.

The Audit is one of the most critical tasks in the Internal Audit Plan. However, scheduling the Audit can be a complicated process without an established system or set procedure. Therefore, the first step of preparing an audit is determining what needs to be audited and when it should happen. Once these are identified, you will need to find out if any obstacles prevent the Audit from being conducted at this time.

You’ll then have to figure out how much time is needed for each part of the Audit and what resources (staff and equipment) will be required for each task, as well as their costs. Finally, you’ll want to consider factors like cost-effectiveness and convenience before making your final decision on which date works best for all parties.

2.Planning of Internal Audit - Step by Step
Internal Audit Planning is an essential step in the audit cycle. It assists the auditor in reviewing all aspects of the work to be done and planning their schedule accordingly.

The Planning Should Include:

• Reviewing Audit Objective
• Reviewing Responsibility for Internal Auditing Activities.
• Defining Scope of Work (Audit Objectives) .
• Establishing Audit Program
• Defining Testing Procedures to be Used in the Audit.

The life cycle of Internal Audit includes preparation, completion, and follow upstage, which is described below:

Preparation Stage
Planning of internal audits is done during this stage, i.e., when an organization develops its plan for the control system, risk management, or other activities related to the organization’s objectives. This period may include the development of controls over new systems introduced within an organization etc.

The following steps are involved in the planning process:
a) Objective Setting
b) Responsibility Analysis & Assignment
c) Scope Identification/Definition
d) Calendar Preparation / Schedule Development (Timeline with milestones). Com

3.Choosing Auditors :

• Internal auditors are tasked with verifying the correctness and reliability of financial reporting, identifying fraud or illegal acts within an organization. They also serve as a consultant to management in developing policies and procedures that promote good governance and compliance with regulatory requirements.
• Internal auditors should be well-versed in accounting principles, laws, and regulations related to their area of responsibility, including governmental accounting standards, federal taxes; international finance; pension plans; insurance regulation; food safety inspection guidelines for restaurants, etc.
• The audit plan is a document that specifies the objectives, scope, risks identified by the auditor, audit methodology used (internal or external), and other aspects such as timings for each audit activity.
• Auditors should understand the organization’s business risks, industry practices, and other factors to ensure that they perform their job.
• Audit firms may also provide different types of services and auditing, such as advisory or consulting services for management-related problems.

4.Reports :

Reports in Internal Audit Plan play a vital role in the audit process. They are used to provide information about an organization’s financial and non-financial performance, risk exposures, and internal control weaknesses. Reports include following key financial statements:

Key Financial Statements

• Management Discussion and Analysis (MD&A)
• Audit Committee Report
• Comprehensive Financial Statement (CFS)

The Key Financial Statements are the Income Statement, Balance Sheet, and Cash Flow Statement. They provide an overview of an organization’s financial performance for a specific period. The Income Statement shows how much money was earned during the period and the incurred expenses. The Balance Sheet shows the organization’s assets, liabilities, and equity.