INDEPENDENT REVIEWS

Organizations are subject to change, in part or in whole; some changes can derogate performance, and small changes have amazingly additive effects.

To protect you organization you must assure that change is not damaging performance, or worse, introducing risk of loss, risk of censure/penalty by regulators or risk to planned progress. Your internal controls should require independent management reviews from time to time.

Reviews may be performed by internal or external auditors assigned by management, and any review conducted by anyone possessed of sufficient technical competence, independence, and authority to assure accurate, objective results is of some value.

However, reports on findings and recommendations for improvement in all functional areas of the organization have more value if they result from reviews by a disinterested party. Many factors can weaken internal controls, and only a review/report that is free from influence by these factors can be completely relied upon.

For these reasons, rarely will external reviewers accept internal reviews to verify regulatory compliance or suitability of internal systems (e.g. acceptability of job/contract management systems).

AN, Ltd. has extensive experience in defending against and repairing the damage from negative review findings. From this experience we have developed review capabilities that can protect you from this threat.

Also for these reasons, rarely should an internal review of critical functions or activities be accepted on its own. If any of your systems or functions has been derogated, there is just too much chance of direct or indirect influence over the findings, to be certain of such findings without independent support.

AN, Ltd. also has in-depth experience in repairing defective internal processes and systems, which experience has taught us how and what to review to protect you from this more insidious type of threat.

The prudent manager schedules periodic reviews by AN, Ltd.