Which statement BEST describes the purpose of a Quality Assurance and Improvement Programme (QAIP) within an IS audit function?
- ATo replace the need for external regulatory inspection of the audit function by demonstrating that internal controls operate effectively across the organisation.
- BTo verify that auditees implement corrective actions within agreed deadlines and to escalate overdue actions to the executive committee for resolution.
- CTo benchmark the IS audit budget against industry peers so that resource allocation requests to the audit committee can be substantiated with comparable data.
- DTo provide reasonable assurance that the IS audit activity conforms with professional standards and is continuously improving its performance. Correct
Why A is wrong: Regulatory inspection is independent of the QAIP and is not displaced by internal quality programmes, although strong QAIP outputs may inform regulators' confidence in the function.
Why B is wrong: Tracking corrective actions is part of audit follow-up and reporting, not the central purpose of a QAIP, which targets the audit function's own conformance and improvement.
Why C is wrong: Budget benchmarking may be a by-product of mature quality programmes, but it is not the defined purpose of a QAIP as set out in professional guidance.
Why D is correct: A QAIP is designed precisely to give the chief audit executive and oversight body assurance of standards conformance and to drive ongoing improvement of audit practice.