Tools for the Job: Quality assured

QUALITYASSURED

There’s rarely been a better time to think about developing your career. As we emerge (we hope) from the Covid crisis and return to normality, businesses are crying out for experienced well-qualified people in every sector and type of job. Many internal audit teams have transformed the way they work during lockdowns, winning important friends across the business on the way. Internal auditors have learned new skills and demonstrated their versatility and the value of their role. Now, we keep being told, is the time to build on this momentum to develop the people internal audit will need in the future.

Chartered membership of the institute is an important indicator of professionalism and experience, and will always be valuable on a senior internal auditor’s CV. This is why the institute has been working over the past year to develop a new syllabus to help aspiring internal audit leaders develop the advanced managerial and strategic skills they need to demonstrate to gain the Chartered designation – the right to call themselves CMIIA.

The new syllabus and course will focus on helping candidates to develop crucial higher level skills, as well on assessing them. It is intended to build on the foundation CIA qualification to help more experienced internal auditors develop skills in areas such as leadership, planning, talent management, strategic assurance and risk assurance that they will need to lead an internal audit team at a time of rapid change and many new challenges.

While the maximum period of study to gain accreditation will be capped at three years, the programme is intended to be flexible, so candidates can choose to do the sixmonth modules concurrently and finish in 18 months, or spread them over the longer period. Each element will be fully supported with a blended programme of online training sessions taught by experienced tutors, and via forums, videos and packages of training materials. Candidates will be able to access all the content online, so can complete it from anywhere in the world and, in the

The institute is introducing a new route to Chartered status (CMIIA) designed to provide internal audit leaders with

the skills they need to develop

the internal audit teams of the future.

“Candidates will be able to access all the content online, so they can complete it from anywhere in the world.”

“Chartered membership of the institute is an important indicator of

professionalism

and experience.”

case of private study, at times that suit them best.

Importantly, the new syllabus will be a level seven apprenticeship, equivalent to a Masters degree, so the relevant parts of the apprenticeship will be updated accordingly. The new syllabus will form the backbone of the Birmingham City University MSC in internal audit management and consultancy and the Internal Audit Professional apprenticeship, all of which will lead to Chartered status.

Candidates who are already studying for IIA Global’s Qualification in Internal Audit Leadership (QIAL) via the Chartered IIA will be able to transition to the new Chartered syllabus, or they can choose to continue studying for QIAL.

Not everyone aspires to be a head of internal audit or a chief audit executive, however for those that do, the new programme is intended to offer a structured, supported route to gaining crucial senior level skills. The new elements have a strategic and an operational element and they will continue to be developed to ensure the programme meets changing needs.

The world has changed rapidly in the past couple of years. Internal audit needs to change just as quickly to keep up – and even faster to get ahead. Businesses need highly skilled, experienced internal audit leaders who have the connections and relevant knowledge to build and lead the teams they need now and in future. Anyone who gains the Chartered designation should be equipped to do just that. n

The new route to Chartered internal auditor status is now open for enrolment and courses will start in March 2022.