An internal control structure is a key function of a business organization. An internal control questionnaire can bring a perfect picture of the internal control structure. So, we provide an internal control questionnaire to evaluate the internal control structure.
Internal Control Questionnaire
QUESTIONNAIRE
ON EVALUATION OF INTERNAL CONTROL STRUCTURE
1. Name of Organization………………….
2: Participants Name………………………
3. Participants Designation……………….
4. Does your company achieve each of the following control objectives?
i) Effectiveness and efficiency of operation
- Always
- Very Frequently
- Frequently
- Seldom
- Never
ii. Reliability of financial statements.
- Always
- Very Frequently
- Frequently
- Seldom
- Never
iii. Compliance with applicable laws and regulations
- Always
- Very Frequently
- Frequently
- Seldom
- Never
Questions related to internal control environment:
Management philosophy and operation Style:
5. Does management emphasize short-term profits and operating goals to the detriment of long-term goals?
- Always
- Very Frequently
- Frequently
- Seldom
- Never
6. Is the management group dominated by one or a few individuals?
- Always
- Very Frequently
- Frequently
- Seldom
- Never
7. Does the management take the undue business risk to achieve its objectives?
- Always
- Very Frequently
- Frequently
- Seldom
- Never
8. Is management aggressive toward selecting from available, alternative accounting principles?
- Always
- Very Frequently
- Frequently
- Seldom
- Never
Integrity and Ethical value:
9. Is there any written corporate code of conduct that establishes an appropriate tone for management?
- Yes
- No
10. If yes, is management behavior restricted by the corporate code of conduct?
- Always
- Very Frequently
- Frequently
- Seldom
- Never
Commitment to competence:
11. Does your company recruit competent and trustworthy employees to encourage initiative and creativity and to react quickly to changing conditions?
- Always
- Very Frequently
- Frequently
- Seldom
- Never
Board of directors and audit committee:
12. Does your company appoint an audit committee that is composed entirely of outside (non-employee) directors?
- Always
- Very Frequently
- Frequently
- Seldom
- Never
13. Does the audit committee work closely with the company’s board of directors, and external and internal auditors?
- Always
- Very Frequently
- Frequently
- Seldom
- Never
14. Does the audit committee provide an independent review of the actions of corporate managers on behalf of the company’s shareholders?
- Always
- Very Frequently
- Frequently
- Seldom
- Never
15. Does the management proper action recommended in the audit report?
- Always
- Very Frequently
- Frequently
- Seldom
- Never
Organization Structure:
16. Is an up-to-date organization chart prepared to show the name of the key personnel?
- Always
- Very Frequently
- Frequently
- Seldom
- Never
17. Is the information system function separated from incompatible functions?
- Always
- Very Frequently
- Frequently
- Seldom
- Never
18. Are the team members empowered to make decisions who don’t seek- multiple layers of approval to complete their work?
- Always
- Very Frequently
- Frequently
- Seldom
- Never
19. Is the internal audit function esparto and distinct from accounting?
- Always
- Very Frequently
- Frequently
- Seldom
- Never
Assignment of authority and responsibility:
20. Does the company prepare written employee job descriptions defining specific duties and reporting relationships?
- Always
- Very Frequently
- Frequently
- Seldom
- Never
21. Is written approval required for changes made to information systems?
- Always
- Very Frequently
- Frequently
- Seldom
- Never
22. Does the company properly delegate authority to employees and departments?
- Always
- Very Frequently
- Frequently
- Seldom
- Never
Human resources policies and practices:
23. Is there any written recruitment in your organization to what extent it complies?
- Always
- Very Frequently
- Frequently
- Seldom
- Never
24. Does your company have a training program for new employees?
- Always
- Very Frequently
- Frequently
- Seldom
- Never
25. Are new personnel given instructions with respect to internal controls, ethics, and corporate code of conduct?
- Always
- Very Frequently
- Frequently
- Seldom
- Never
26. Is there a periodic rotation of duties among key employees?
- Always
- Very Frequently
- Frequently
- Seldom
- Never
Risk assessment component:
27. Does your company conduct a risk assessment to identify analyze and prevent the risk to which your company is exposed?
- Always
- Very Frequently
- Frequently
- Seldom
- Never
Control activities component:
Proper authorization of activities:
28. Do the transactions and activities are properly authorized by the appropriate authorities?
- Always
- Very Frequently
- Frequently
- Seldom
- Never
Segregation of duties:
29. Do the authorization functions (Approving transactions and decisions) are segregated?
- Always
- Very Frequently
- Frequently
- Seldom
- Never
30. Do the recording functions (Preparing source documents; maintaining journals, ledger, or other files; preparing reconciliations, and preparing performance reports) are properly segregated?
- Always
- Very Frequently
- Frequently
- Seldom
- Never
31. Do the custodian functions (handling cash, maintaining inventor store room receiving incoming customer checks, writing organization bank accounts) properly segregated?
- Always
- Very Frequently
- Frequently
- Seldom
- Never
Design and use of documents and records:
32. Do the formats and contents of all the documents are kept simple?
- Always
- Very Frequently
- Frequently
- Seldom
- Never
33. Are the source document pre-numbered?
- All
- Most
- More
- Few
- None
Adequate safeguard of assets and records:
34. Does your company maintain accurate records of assets including information?
- Always
- Very Frequently
- Frequently
- Seldom
- Never
35. Does your company restrict physical access to assets (Cash register, safes, and lockboxes) by unauthorized users?
- Always
- Very Frequently
- Frequently
- Seldom
- Never
36. Does your company protect records and documents (in a fireproof storage area, locked filing cabinet, etc?)
- Always
- Very Frequently
- Frequently
- Seldom
- Never
37. Does your company restrict access to computer rooms, computer files, and information by unauthorized users?
- Always
- Very Frequently
- Frequently
- Seldom
- Never
Independent checks on performance:
38. Does your company make a reconciliation of two independently maintained sets of records (subsidiary Vs general ledger?)
- Always
- Very Frequently
- Frequently
- Seldom
- Never
Monitoring component:
39. Does your company have ongoing monitoring activities?
- Always
- Very Frequently
- Frequently
- Seldom
- Never
40. Does your company separate monitoring activities?
- Always
- Very Frequently
- Frequently
- Seldom
- Never
Internal Control Questionnaire
The internal control questionnaire image is given above to give an idea about the structure of the internal control questionnaire. It may be in a different format.
Related Content of Report Writing:
- Definition of Graphical Representation of Report
- An Effective Structure of a Market Report
- Definition and Uses of Formal Reports
- Internal Report Template
- Informal Report Example for Business
- Difference Between Formal and Informal Reports
- Importance of Market Report for Market Research
- Principles of a Market Report for Market Research
- Advantages and Disadvantages of Graphical Representation of Data
- Difference Between Informational Report and Analytical Report
- Importance of Market Report for Marketing of Agricultural Product
- Types of Market Report
- Structure of a Report and Sample Report in Letter Format
- Market Research Report Template, Sample, Example, and Format
- Market Report Definition
- Essential Features of a Market Report
- Annual Report Template, Sample, Example, and Format
- Formal Report Example / Format / Template / Sample
- How to Write an Informal Report Step by Step
- How to Write a Formal Report Effectively
- Steps to Write a Report Effectively
- Effective Business Report Writing Methods
- Purposes / Objectives / Significance / Importance of Report
- Principles / Qualities of a Good Report
- Parts of Informal Report