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#41913 - 11/08/02 08:12 PM Inquiries by Internal Auditors
Anonymous
Unregistered

Recently, and OTS examiner suggested that the internal auditors should not have 'inquiry' capabilities for customer accounts. That is, an internal auditor should not be able to access a customer of the banks' savings, checking or loan accounts, view transactions, balances, etc. Our internal auditors do not, of course, have 'maintenance' capabilities to any account, loan, savings, checking, general ledger, etc. Our internal auditors use the 'inquiry' as a backoffice review tool and cannot see the logic to deny access. Comments anyone? Do other banks limit access for their internal auditors? I appreciate any and all commments.

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Audit
#41914 - 11/08/02 08:16 PM Re: Inquiries by Internal Auditors
rlcarey Offline
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rlcarey
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 83,219
Galveston, TX
I think that you should thank that OTS examiner for their suggestion and circular file it after he/she turns their back. I have never heard of anything so ridiculous in my life. How in the heck could an auditor do his/her job without "unlimited" inquiry access?? Take for example if involved in an internal fraud investigation that the president or board has asked them to perform on the QT ?????
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#41915 - 11/08/02 09:04 PM Re: Inquiries by Internal Auditors
downstown Offline
Gold Star
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 295
St. Louis, MO
I agree that this is ridiculous. Internal auditors must have access to all information in order to do their job. If you have an internal audit charter, I would see what it says about them having access to corporate and client information.

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#41916 - 11/08/02 09:05 PM Re: Inquiries by Internal Auditors
BANNED BY BOL MANAGEMENT Offline
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BANNED BY BOL MANAGEMENT
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 524
I'll second the rlcarey motion. How can an internal auditor function without access to automated files - they surely have access to any non-automated files.

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#41917 - 11/08/02 09:24 PM Re: Inquiries by Internal Auditors
LinMarie Offline
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LinMarie
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 243
There is no way I could do my job without the access to all files. I agree that internal audit should never to any type of maintenance but must have the capability to view.


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#41918 - 11/08/02 10:27 PM Re: Inquiries by Internal Auditors
Tina A Sweet Offline
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Tina A Sweet
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 1,033
Marysville, Ca.
I third rlcarey's motion, ridiculous
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#41919 - 11/11/02 03:34 PM Re: Inquiries by Internal Auditors
Anonymous
Unregistered

In response to your question on Internal Auditor inquiry capabilities, that right is afforded to me as the Vice President of Internal Auditing. As an Auditor, there are/will be many occasions when inquiry access may be necessary to conduct certain audit steps and perform fraud investigations. I disagree with the OTS's recommendation to your organization on this topic. However, I agree you should have no maintenance capabilities.

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#41920 - 11/11/02 03:54 PM Re: Inquiries by Internal Auditors
RVFlyboy Offline
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RVFlyboy
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 5,991
Soaring over Georgia
I'd ask the OTS examiner what the concern is? Is it an information security or privacy issue that concerns them? It sounds like a very bizarre and unreasonable suggestion to me, but I wouldn't just dismiss it out of hand without exploring the reasoning behind the recommendation.
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#41921 - 11/12/02 05:39 PM Re: Inquiries by Internal Auditors
Anonymous
Unregistered

Thanks to all of you who responded to my inquiry. I value your opinions and its conforting to know others reacted with incredulity as I did. We will have a conversation with the examiner soon and certainly will ask him what his concern is. Thanks again everyone!

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