THE ESTABLISHMENT AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE INSTITUTE OF INTERNAL AUDITORS – GUYANA CHAPTER

May 20, 2018 News

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The Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) Global has declared the month of May, Internal Audit Awareness month, as has been the practice over the years.
The Guyana Chapter of the IIA commenced in April 2000 and is now in its eighteenth year of existence. Lal Balkaran of the Toronto Chapter of the IIA had played a meaningful role in the establishment of this Chapter.
What is the IIA?
The IIA Global was established in 1941 in New York City by a small group of dedicated internal auditors who wanted a professional organization that would represent their profession, and provide educational activities and standards for the professional practice of internal auditing. Since then, the IIA has become a dynamic international organization that meets the needs of a worldwide body of internal auditors.
The IIA’s Mission is to be the primary international professional association, organized on a worldwide basis, and dedicated to the promotion and development of the practice of internal auditing.
With over 180,000 members in approximately 180 Chapters, globally, the IIA is proud to be the world leader in certification, education, research, and technological guidance for the profession worldwide. In North America and in the Caribbean, of which the Guyana Chapter is an affiliate, there are approximately 72,000 members. Headquartered in Altamonte Springs, Florida, the IIA is obligated to meeting the needs and development of Internal Auditors worldwide.
The Global Institute is committed to:
· Providing on an international scale, comprehensive professional development activities, standards for the practice of internal auditing, a code of ethics, and certification of its examinations.
· Researching, disseminating, and promoting to its members and to the public throughout the world, knowledge and information concerning, among others, governance, risk management and controls.
· Having international conferences worldwide in order to educate members and others about the current practice of internal auditing as it exists in various countries throughout the world.
· Bringing together internal auditors from all countries to share information and experiences in internal auditing and promoting education in the field of auditing through local (Guyana), regional (Caribbean) and international meetings.
· Providing a Code of Ethics in order to promote an ethical culture in the profession of internal auditing.
The Guyana Chapter
The Guyana Chapter is part of the Caribbean Eastern District of the IIA. Other countries in this group are Aruba, Barbados, Bermuda and Trinidad and Tobago. There is also the Caribbean Western District which comprises The Bahamas, Cayman Islands, Curacao, Jamaica and the Turks and Caicos.
The Chapters around the world are the building block of the IIA. This Chapter aims to serve the IIA membership as well as commercial, industrial and governmental organizations.
Auditors from both the private and public sectors make up the membership of this Chapter. Representatives from public accounting organizations, educators from the University of Guyana and students interested in the internal auditing field are welcomed to be members. This member diversification provides a real forum for a rich interchange of ideas and information.
This Chapter offers an opportunity to share in the latest techniques and approaches to internal auditing through contact with people in similar positions of responsibility. It also provides in-depth research reports, a dynamic education programme, seminars and conferences, and a steady flow of current auditing publications.
The major publications are the International Professional Practice Framework and the bimonthly journal the Internal Auditor, featuring articles on the practices and development of internal auditing. There is also a monthly Newsletter and a Tone At The Top, the latter of which focuses on governance issues.
Hence these various publications are available to enhance the knowledge and skills of auditors.
It also provides both the Private and Public Sectors’ organizations, information on Conferences and Seminars being held internationally, and encourages attendance.
This information is normally provided a year in advance.
Membership
In 2000, the Guyana Chapter started with fifteen members. As of May 2018 it has grown and still growing to eighty. It has encouraged group membership, which requires at least six members. The Ministry of Finance and the Guyana Revenue Authority Internal Audit Units have group membership.
Seminars/ On- the- Job Training
Over its eighteenth years’ experience, the Guyana Chapter has been actively involved in having Seminars/Workshops and doing On-The-Job training of internal auditors under its professional development program.
Its first Seminar was held on 9 June 2000. It is the standard practice to have at least three Seminars a year. The topics at these Seminars are carefully determined and relate to current day operations. The Chapter’s Seminars are always well attended by participants of both the public and private sectors, and also cooperative entities.
The Presenters/ Facilitators for these Seminars are required to meet the IIA Global Standards. Hence if a Presenter is not available locally, then the Chapter goes overseas. Some of our core Overseas Presenters over the years who are worthy of mention are Claire Gomez and Larry Kowlessar of Trinidad and Tobago, the late Barry Robinson of Jamaica, and Lal Balkaran of Canada.
This Chapter has also being doing on-the-job training at the Ministry of Finance, the Guyana Revenue Authority, and Guyana Forestry Commission which entities will advise on the topics to cover for their auditors’ training.
Certification
The IIA Global provides certification for the examinations it offers. There are, among others, the Certified Internal Auditors (CIA), the Certified Government Auditor Professional (CGAP), the Certified Financial Services Auditor (CFSA), and Certified Risk Management Assurance (CRMA).
Lindsay Bascom was the first Guyanese to do this examination locally and be designated a CIA in 2005. That same year he was recognised and honoured by IIA Global.
Others have followed subsequently such as Deodat Indar, Ramesh Seebarran and Chateram Ramdial, only to mention a few. Practicing internal auditors are being encouraged by this Chapter to do the exams offered by the IIA Global and indeed there is a good response by both members and nonmembers.
The Leadership of the Guyana Chapter
Over the years the leadership of this Chapter has been- John Seeram from 2000 – 2011, Deodat Indar, 2011 -14, Jaigopaul Ram 2015-16, Jaishree Lam 2016-17, and Devi Kaladeen 2017-18.
All the Presidents of this Chapter were/are well qualified to perform in this position.
The Way Forward
After eighteenth years, the IIA Guyana Chapter is now well established and having a meaningful role in the development of the internal auditing profession in Guyana under the guidance of its global body.
It continues to disseminate auditing information through IIA publications, Seminars and On-The-Job Training. Auditors are encouraged to seek membership and certification by doing the Institute’s examinations. For the internal auditing profession to be developed in Guyana, it has to and is maintaining a good working relationship with its stakeholders in both the private and public sectors.
This Chapter continues to follow the Global Institute’s motto which is “Progress through sharing.”
John Seeram
IIA Guyana Chapter

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