Auditing is characterized by reliance on a number of principles. These make the audit an effective and reliable tool in support of management policies and controls, providing information on which an organization can act to improve its performance. Adherence to these principles is a prerequisite for providing audit conclusions that are relevant and sufficient and for enabling auditors working independently from one another to reach similar conclusions in similar circumstances.

The following principles relate to auditors:

  • Ethical conduct: the foundation of professionalismTrust, integrity, confidentiality and discretion are essential to auditing.

  • Fair presentation: the obligation to report truthfully and accurately Audit findings, audit conclusions and audit reports reflect truthfully and accurately the audit activities.

  • Significant obstacles encountered during the audit and unresolved diverging opinions between the audit team and the auditee are reported.

  • Due professional care: the application of diligence and judgement in auditing Auditors exercise care in accordance with the importance of the task they perform and the confidence placed in them by audit clients and other interested parties. Having the necessary competence is an important factor.

  • Independence: the basis for the impartiality of the audit and objectivity of the audit conclusions Auditors are independent of the activity being audited and are free from bias and conflict of interest. Auditors maintain an objective state of mind throughout the audit process to ensure that the audit findings and conclusions will be based only on the audit evidence.

  • Evidence-based approach: the rational method for reaching reliable and reproducible audit conclusions in a systematic audit process.Audit evidence is verifiable. It is based on samples of the information available, since an audit is conducted during a finite period of time and with finite resources. The appropriate use of sampling is closely related to the confidence that can be placed in the audit conclusions.

An audit programme may include one or more audits, depending upon the size, nature and complexity of the organization to be audited. These audits may have a variety of objectives and may also include joint or combined audits. An audit programme also includes all activities necessary for planning and organizing the types and number of audits, and for providing resources to conduct them effectively and efficiently within the specified time frames. An organization may establish more than one audit programme. The organization’s top management should grant the authority for managing the audit programme. Those assigned the responsibility for managing the audit programme should establish, implement, monitor, review and improve the audit programme, and identify the necessary resources and ensure they are provided.



Audit programme procedures should address the following:

  • planning and scheduling audits;

  • assuring the competence of auditors and audit team leaders;

  • selecting appropriate audit teams and assigning their roles and responsibilities;

  • conducting audits;

  • conducting audit follow-up, if applicable;

  • maintaining audit programme records;

  • monitoring the performance and effectiveness of the audit programme;

  • reporting to top management on the overall achievements of the audit programme.