ACCA Advanced Audit and Assurance (AAA) Practice Exam

What does the internal audit function aim to improve?

1. The effectiveness of external financial audits

2. The governance, risk management, and internal control processes

3. The compliance with legal regulations only

4. The transparency of financial reporting

The correct answer is: The governance, risk management, and internal control processes

The internal audit function is primarily focused on enhancing governance, risk management, and internal control processes within an organization. By conducting systematic evaluations of these areas, internal auditors provide insights and recommendations that help the organization achieve its objectives more effectively and efficiently. Improvement in governance ensures that the organization adheres to best practices in leadership and management, while effective risk management helps identify, assess, and mitigate risks that could impede the organization's success. Furthermore, strengthening internal control processes contributes to reliable financial reporting and compliance with laws and regulations, thus overall enhancing the organization's operational resilience. While external financial audits, legal compliance, and transparency in financial reporting are important aspects of an organization’s overall audit and governance strategy, they are not the primary focus of the internal audit function. Those aspects may be impacted indirectly through the improvement of governance, risk management, and internal controls, but they do not encapsulate the core aim of internal auditing.