Internal Audit Mission Statement
(Revised March 2004)

The mission of internal audit is to assess and monitor the university community in the discharge of their oversight, management, and operating responsibilities in relation to governance processes, the systems of internal controls, and compliance with laws, regulations and University policies including those related to ethical conduct by providing relevant, timely, independent, and objective assurance, advisory and investigative services using a systematic, disciplined approach to evaluate risk and improve the effectiveness of control and governance processes.

Internal Audit Management Charter
(Revised March 2004)

Authority

Internal Audit functions under the policies established by The Regents of the University of California and by University management under delegated authority.

Independence

To permit the rendering of impartial and unbiased judgment essential to the proper conduct of audits, internal auditors will be independent of the activities they audit.

Independence is essential to the effectiveness of the Internal Audit Program.  This independence is based primarily upon organizational status and objectivity:

The University Auditor reports functionally to The Regents through its Committee on Audit and administratively to the Senior Vice President-Business and Finance.  The University Auditor also has direct access to the President of the University.

The locally based Internal Audit Departments report functionally to The Regents through the Office of the University Auditor and administratively to the campus Chancellor or Laboratory Director directly or through designated channels. (For reporting purposes, the Chancellor's designee shall be at the level of Vice Chancellor or above, and the Laboratory Director's designee shall be at the level of Associate Director or above.)

Internal Auditors may take directly to the respective Chancellor or Laboratory Director, the University Auditor, the President, or The Regents matters that they believe to be of sufficient magnitude and importance.  Internal Auditors shall take directly to the University Auditor who shall report to the Senior Vice President-Business and Finance and The Regents' Committee on Audit Chair any credible allegations of significant wrongdoing (including any wrongdoing for personal financial gain) by or about a Chancellor, Executive Vice Chancellor or Vice President, or any other credible allegations that if true could cause significant harm or damage to the reputation of the University.  Internal Auditors shall take directly to the University Auditor who shall report to The Regents' Committee on Audit Chair any allegations by or about the Senior Vice President-Business and Finance or the President.  Any such matters will be reported to The Regents' Board Chair at the discretion of the University Auditor or Committee on Audit Chair.

In performing the audit function, the Internal Audit Office has no direct responsibility for, nor authority over, any of the activities reviewed. Therefore, the internal audit review and appraisal process does not in any way relieve other persons in the organization of the responsibilities assigned to them.

Scope

Internal Audit is authorized to have full, free and unrestricted access to information including records, computer files, property, and personnel of the University in accordance with the authority granted by the Board's approvals of this charter and applicable federal and state statues.

Except where limited by law, the work of Internal Audit is unrestricted.  Internal Audit is free to review and evaluate all policies, procedures, and practices of any University activity, program, or function.

Standards

The responsibility of the Internal Audit Program is to serve the University in a manner that is consistent with the standards established by the University Auditor. At a minimum it shall comply with the relevant professional standards such as the Standards For The Professional Practice of Internal Auditing, and with professional standards of conduct such as the Code of Ethics of the Institute of Internal Auditors, Inc.