Over the coming months, employees may be contacted by internal audit as part of a range of activities, including reviews of compliance with key corporate policies and procedures, continuous auditing work, and other reviews which are included in our internal audit plan.
We appreciate that colleagues are balancing significant workloads and competing priorities so wherever possible, we try to minimise disruption by making use of information already held in council systems and by keeping any requests for information, clarification or feedback proportionate and concise.
Where we do involve employees or managers directly, our objective is to better understand the practical application of processes, policies and controls. These conversations provide important context that can't always be found through data analysis alone.
We're not about catching people out or attributing blame. Our role is to provide independent assurance, identify opportunities for improvement and help the council learn from both good practice and also areas where processes may not be operating as intended – so honest and constructive feedback is one of the most valuable contributions colleagues can make to the audit process. Being open helps us develop a more accurate understanding of how services operate, the challenges teams face and where support, guidance or changes to processes may be beneficial. This leads to better informed findings, more practical recommendations and stronger organisational learning.
This approach reflects the council's commitment to transparency, accountability and continuous improvement. By working collaboratively with services, internal audit can provide assurance that is balanced, evidence-based and focused on helping the organisation succeed.
We would like to thank colleagues in advance for their cooperation and support. The time taken to respond to audit enquiries is genuinely appreciated and plays an important part in helping us provide meaningful assurance and insight to senior management, members and the wider organisation.
If you have any queries or concerns please email internal audit.