Enterprise risk assessment and audit planning
Build the audit universe, rank risk and develop practical annual or multi-year coverage.
Co-sourced, outsourced and targeted internal audit
Internal Audit Servicesfor Private, Public andGovernment Entities
SC US is a licensed CPA firm providing co-sourced, outsourced and targeted internal audit services to organizations across the United States.
We support boards, audit committees and management with objective, risk-based assurance over financial, operational, technology, compliance, governance and third-party risks.
Licensed CPA firmProfessional audit and control discipline
Integrated risk coverageFinancial, operational, IT and governance perspective
Board-ready reportingClear findings, ownership and follow-up
Overview
What is internal audit?
Internal audit evaluates whether governance, risk management and control processes are designed and operating in a way that supports the organization’s objectives.
The work is broader than a financial statement audit. Internal audit can examine financial reporting, operations, technology, cybersecurity, compliance, third parties, governance and other risks that affect performance or accountability.
A credible function does more than issue findings. It helps the audit committee and management understand exposure, prioritize action and verify whether agreed improvements are completed.
Clear responsibility boundaries: The audit committee or governing body retains oversight of internal audit. Management remains responsible for the processes, controls, decisions and remediation activities being reviewed.
Services
Internal audit services
Each service can be completed on its own or included in an annual or multi-year audit plan.
Discuss planning
Financial and operational controls
Review revenue, procurement, payroll, close, expenses and other critical business processes.
IT audit and IT general controls
Evaluate access, change management, IT operations, backup, recovery and system governance.
Governance and compliance reviews
Assess decision rights, policy execution, regulatory obligations and oversight processes.
Third-party and vendor risk
Review critical providers, outsourced processes, assurance reports and dependency risk.
Remediation validation and follow-up
Track open findings, review evidence, retest controls and report unresolved actions.
Why it is used
When internal audit is needed
Internal audit is useful when the board needs independent information, the business has become more complex or control issues continue to recur.
Board and audit committee oversight
The governing body needs an independent view of significant risk, control effectiveness and management action.
Growth and operating complexity
Processes, systems, entities and responsibilities have changed faster than the control environment.
Recurring findings and unresolved issues
The same problems continue because ownership, root cause and remediation are not consistently tracked.
Regulatory, financing or transaction readiness
External stakeholders expect stronger governance, evidence and control discipline before a major event.
Engagement options
Co-sourced, outsourced or targeted internal audit
The right model depends on whether you already have an internal audit team and how much support you need.
Support an existing internal audit team
Your internal leader retains direction while SC US adds capacity or specialized expertise.
- Supplement planned fieldwork
- Add IT, cyber or process specialists
- Support peak periods or backlog
- Provide independent quality review
Best when a function already exists
Outsource the internal audit function
SC US performs the core internal audit activities while the audit committee retains oversight.
- Risk assessment and audit planning
- Fieldwork and report development
- Committee presentations
- Remediation tracking and follow-up
Best when dedicated internal capacity is limited
Complete a focused internal audit review
Complete a focused review without establishing a broader recurring function.
- Specific process or control review
- ITGC or vendor assessment
- Transaction or program testing
- Agreed-upon procedures where appropriate
Best for a focused question or immediate need
Internal audit scope
What internal audit evaluates
The scope is selected from the risks that matter to the organization, not from a generic checklist.
Governance and accountability
Decision rights, committee oversight, policies, escalation and management responsibility.
Risk management
How risks are identified, assessed, accepted, treated, monitored and communicated.
Financial and operational controls
Process design, approvals, reconciliations, segregation, documentation and execution.
Technology and data controls
Access, change, operations, resilience, cybersecurity governance and data handling.
Compliance and third parties
Regulatory obligations, contracts, vendor dependencies and outsourced control environments.
Remediation and sustainability
Whether actions address root cause, are completed on time and remain effective.
How we work
Our internal audit process
We use the TRUST framework to organize scope, testing, reporting and follow-up from the start of the engagement through remediation.
Define scope and priorities
Confirm objectives, stakeholders, significant changes, concerns and the areas that deserve priority.
Review controls and evidence
Perform interviews, walkthroughs, documentation review and risk-based testing with clear requests.
Assess root cause and impact
Distinguish an isolated exception from a broader design, accountability or execution problem.
Agree actions, owners and dates
Agree practical remediation that addresses the risk and assigns clear management accountability.
Track remediation
Review evidence, retest where needed and keep the audit committee informed of overdue or unresolved exposure.
Why SC US
Why organizations work with SC US
We provide experienced auditors, clear reporting and coverage across financial, operational and technology controls.
CPA firm audit discipline
Structured planning, evidence, documentation and reporting grounded in professional audit practice.
Senior auditor access
Clear communication with professionals who understand the scope, findings and stakeholder concerns.
Big Four experience
Experience from complex audit environments delivered with responsive coordination and continuity.
Financial and IT controls
Coverage that connects business processes, financial reporting, systems, access and technology operations.
Reports for management and the board
Findings explain risk, root cause, management action and progress without unnecessary technical language.
Flexible resourcing
Use one focused review, specialist support or a complete recurring function as governance needs evolve.
Organizations
Who we work with
We work with private, public and government organizations, boards and existing internal audit teams.
Private and growth-stage companiesOrganizations formalizing governance before financing, acquisition or scale.
Public and regulated entitiesCompanies that need recurring control, compliance and audit committee coverage.
Government and public-sector organizationsEntities accountable for programs, public funds, policy execution and governance.
Boards and audit committeesOversight groups that need an objective view beyond management reporting.
Existing internal audit teamsFunctions requiring specialist expertise, extra capacity or independent review.
Finance, risk and compliance leadersTeams coordinating controls across business, technology and regulatory requirements.
Questions
Internal audit FAQs
Answers to common questions about scope, independence, co-sourcing, outsourcing and reporting.
Internal audit is an independent and objective assurance and advisory activity that evaluates whether governance, risk management and control processes are designed and operating in a way that supports the organization’s objectives. The scope can include financial, operational, technology, compliance, governance and third-party risks.
An external financial statement audit is performed to support an opinion on the financial statements. Internal audit provides broader and more continuous coverage of governance, risk management and controls. It may review financial reporting, but it can also examine operations, technology, cybersecurity, compliance, vendors and other business risks.
In a co-sourced model, the organization retains an internal audit leader or team and SC US adds capacity or specialized expertise. In an outsourced model, SC US performs more of the function, including risk assessment, planning, fieldwork, reporting and follow-up, while the audit committee or governing body retains oversight.
The audit committee, board or other designated governing body should approve the internal audit mandate and risk-based plan. Management provides input on business priorities and emerging risks, but oversight of the function remains with the appropriate governance body.
The plan begins with the organization’s objectives, risk profile, regulatory environment, prior findings, significant changes and concerns raised by management and the audit committee. These inputs are used to build an audit universe, rank risk and determine the timing and depth of coverage.
Internal audit can review financial and operational controls, IT general controls, cybersecurity governance, regulatory compliance, procurement, payroll, revenue, financial close, third-party risk, project governance, business continuity, data governance and other areas relevant to the organization.
Yes. Internal audit support can include risk assessment, process walkthroughs, control documentation, testing, deficiency evaluation support and remediation follow-up. Management remains responsible for the control environment and any formal management assessment.
Yes. Technology coverage may include access management, change management, IT operations, backup and recovery, cloud governance, cybersecurity program controls, third-party technology risk and the use of assurance reports such as SOC reports.
The function should have direct access to the audit committee or governing body and sufficient authority to determine scope, obtain information and communicate results. Management owns the processes, controls and remediation. SC US does not make management decisions or assume responsibility for the activities being audited.
Findings are written to explain the condition identified, the relevant risk, the root cause, the business impact and the action required. Reports also identify management owners, agreed actions and target dates so the audit committee can distinguish urgent exposure from longer-term improvement opportunities.
Open findings should be tracked through remediation. Follow-up work may include reviewing management evidence, retesting the affected control and reporting overdue or unresolved actions to the audit committee. The engagement is not complete simply because a report has been issued.
Yes. SC US can provide specialized expertise, additional fieldwork capacity, independent quality review or support for specific audits while the internal team retains responsibility for the broader function and audit plan.
Yes. A co-sourced or outsourced model can provide credible coverage without the fixed cost of building a full in-house department. The scope and frequency can be scaled to the organization’s risk profile, governance expectations and available resources.
The frequency depends on risk. Higher-risk areas may require annual or more frequent attention, while lower-risk areas may be reviewed on a rotating multi-year cycle. The plan should also remain flexible enough to address acquisitions, system changes, regulatory developments and other emerging risks.
Useful starting information includes the organization chart, strategic priorities, risk registers, prior audit reports, significant policies, major systems, key vendors, regulatory obligations, committee concerns and known control issues. SC US uses this information to define the audit universe and initial risk assessment.
Internal audit consultation
Tell us what you need reviewed.
We will help you determine the appropriate scope and whether co-sourced, outsourced or targeted support is the right fit.
Thank you.
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