Minister implores auditors to register with professional body
The Finance Minister, Peggy Serame has challenged practicing internal auditors across the country to register with Institute of Internal Auditors Botswana, to collectively prop up the auditing profession in the country. The call comes as endeavors to achieve sustainable audits within companies is valued in both public and private entities. She implored continued engagement by relevant stakeholders to ensure every practicing internal auditor is registered with the institute, which currently has a paltry registered membership of 300 auditors. Serame said her plea is in line with promoting and monitoring conformance with standards of desired professional practice in internal auditing. “In offering audit services, internal auditors should not only advise boards and managements
on improving conventional corporate governance practices, business recovery and contingency planning geared at overcoming the current or any future challenges; but you should also perform business sustainability audits to ensure there is compliance in this area,” said Serame at the 11th Institute of Internal Auditors Botswana National Conference.
The conference was held under the theme: ‘ Ensuring Corporate Stability during Disruption and Turbulence’, putting a spotlight to volatile environment, that both public and private businesses are operating in.
She highlighted that there can never be corporate stability where organisations do not practice business sustainability.
Serame defined sustainability as the management and coordination of environmental, social and financial demands and concerns to ensure responsible, ethical and sustained success.
The Minister further said auditors’ mindset should support innovation within internal auditing, and enhance and protect organizational value.
“With such a situation persisting, internal auditors will be better prepared to influence management’s responses to disruptions and evolving risks faced by their organizations,” said Serame, urging auditors to be directly responsible for self- development and not leave capacitation needs to employers.
She also implored auditors to embark on the path to align to the country’s ‘ Reset’ agenda, whose intent is to mobilise all elements of national development and provide direction and understanding with respect to the implementation of the priorities that have been identified to deliver high impact goals of government. The 11th Internal Audit National Conference is an annual event held under the auspices of the Institute of Internal Auditors- Global and African Federation for Institute of Internal Auditors.