CORAA
Resources · Internal Audit Methodology

Internal audit methodology map.

Internal audit quality improves when the file follows one connected operating model: applicability, SOW, plan, kickoff, walkthrough, RCM, sampling, fieldwork, monitoring, report, ATR and follow-up. This map shows which public CORAA resource belongs at each stage.

Open IA resource hubStart with SOW
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Methodology map workbook workbook

Download the lifecycle map as an editable Excel workbook or PDF. The Excel version includes stage outputs, public resource links, product-reuse shape, cycle workbook map and evidence rules.

Lifecycle

Ten stages that keep the file defensible stages

1. Mandate and applicability

Question: Is internal audit required, who approves it, and what is the reporting line?

Output: Applicability note, charter reference, audit universe and governance owner.

Applicability checker ->

2. Scope and SOW

Question: Which cycles, locations, systems, exclusions and deliverables are approved?

Output: Scope of work, cycle coverage, deliverables list, exclusions and first data request.

SOW generator ->

3. Plan and capacity

Question: Which reviews matter most, and can the team actually execute them?

Output: Risk-ranked annual plan, quarter loading, reviewer map and capacity gap.

Annual plan generator ->

4. Kickoff and PBC

Question: Who owns evidence, access, timelines, blockers and escalation?

Output: Kickoff pack, stakeholder RACI, data request tracker and escalation protocol.

Kickoff pack generator ->

5. Walkthrough and design gaps

Question: How does the process actually run before controls are tested?

Output: Walkthrough memo, document trace, system map and control design gap register.

Walkthrough memo generator ->

6. RCM and programme

Question: Which risks, controls, tests, evidence and sample basis will be used?

Output: RCM, audit programme, evidence expectations, analytics and reviewer prompts.

RCM builder ->

7. Sampling and fieldwork

Question: What population is tested, what sample is selected, and what did the evidence show?

Output: Sampling plan, fieldwork tracker, exceptions, evidence blockers and reviewer conclusion.

Sampling plan generator ->

8. Continuous monitoring

Question: Which exceptions should be tested repeatedly from source data?

Output: Rule register, source data map, threshold log, false-positive clearing and validated exceptions.

Monitoring rules repository ->

9. Report and response

Question: Which validated issues deserve reporting, and what will management do?

Output: Observation register, report shell, rating matrix, management response, dashboard metrics and committee summary.

Report pack ->

10. ATR and follow-up

Question: Was the agreed action implemented and evidenced after report issue?

Output: ATR, closure evidence, follow-up test, repeat-finding flag and auditor conclusion.

ATR tracker ->
Cycle workbooks

Where cycle detail sits coverage

P2P

Vendor master, PR, PO, GRN, invoice match, GST/TDS/MSME, payments, advances and access.

Open workbook ->
O2C

Customer master, credit, dispatch, billing, GST, collections, credit notes, receivables and cut-off.

Open workbook ->
R2R

Close calendar, manual journals, reconciliations, provisions, reporting, tax tie-outs and access.

Open workbook ->
Cash and Bank

Bank mandates, receipts, payments, BRS, petty cash, deposits, cut-off and bank portal access.

Open workbook ->
H2R and Payroll

Hiring, employee master, attendance, payroll, PF/ESI/PT, salary TDS, exits and HRMS access.

Open workbook ->
Inventory

SKU master, GRN, issues, transfers, counts, ageing, NRV, costing, scrap, cut-off and access.

Open workbook ->
Fixed Assets

Capex, CWIP, FAR, physical verification, depreciation, disposal, impairment, insurance and access.

Open workbook ->
Treasury

Bank mandates, cash forecast, borrowings, covenants, investments, BG/LC, forex, payments and BRS.

Open workbook ->
Statutory Compliance

GST, ITC, TDS/TCS, income tax, ROC, payroll statutory, notices, portal access and monitoring.

Open workbook ->
ITGC

Access, SoD, privileged users, changes, backups, interfaces, logs and report reliability.

Open workbook ->
Evidence rules

Rules before reliance evidence

1

Every sample should name the population, source report, extraction date, filters and control total used for selection.

2

Every observation should trace from condition to criteria, cause, effect, recommendation, management response and evidence.

3

Every monitoring exception should show rule logic, threshold, source data, false-positive clearing and reviewer conclusion.

4

Every ATR item should carry owner, target date, revised date, closure evidence, follow-up test and final auditor conclusion.

5

Every reusable template should carry version, change note and reviewer approval before it becomes methodology.

Separate builds

Website resource now, IA product later product

The website build should stay public, searchable and useful on its own. The internal-audit product build should be separate: it can reuse the same resources as product specifications, control libraries, rule logic, workflow states, export formats and dashboard requirements.

Website resourceSeparate IA product shape
Applicability checkerEntity setup, applicability logic and governance profile
SOW and kickoff toolsEngagement setup, scope lock, owner RACI and PBC workflow
RCM/checklist/workbook libraryControl library, procedure library and cycle execution modules
Monitoring rulesConnector-backed exception engine and recurring rule queue
Report pack and ATR trackerIssue workflow, management response, closure evidence and committee dashboard
Dashboard KPI packCommand centre metrics, committee packet, emerging-risk coverage and monitoring dashboard