The chief audit executive at Sandhurst Council reports functionally to the audit committee and administratively to the chief executive. An external assessment finds a nonconformance that has narrowed the function's overall assurance scope. The chief executive, uncomfortable with the finding, asks the chief audit executive to soften the wording before it reaches the audit committee. How should the chief audit executive proceed?
- AAgree to moderate the wording for the chief executive, then present the softened version to the audit committee to keep the two accounts aligned.
- BWithhold the finding from the audit committee entirely until the chief executive is satisfied it is fairly stated, to avoid presenting a disputed disclosure.
- CRefer the wording dispute to the external assessor and disclose only the version the assessor is willing to endorse to the audit committee.
- DDisclose the nonconformance and its impact accurately to the audit committee, communicating the chief executive's perspective separately rather than altering the finding. Correct
Why A is wrong: Keeping a single aligned account sounds tidy, but allowing management to soften a disclosure before it reaches the board compromises the chief audit executive's functional reporting line and the accuracy of the finding.
Why B is wrong: Fair statement is a valid aim, but withholding a nonconformance that affects overall scope from the audit committee subordinates the board's oversight to management's comfort, which the reporting structure exists to prevent.
Why C is wrong: The assessor's view informs the finding, but the disclosure obligation rests with the chief audit executive reporting to the board, not on obtaining the assessor's sign-off on the exact wording before communicating.
Why D is correct: The chief audit executive's functional reporting line requires an accurate disclosure of the nonconformance and its impact to the board; management's view can be conveyed alongside it without changing the finding itself.