The European Banking Authority’s (EBA) guidelines on the common procedures and methodologies it proposes for supervising banks need better clarity over the role of internal audit in the governance structure, says ECIIA.
In its response to the EBA’s consultation on Draft Guidelines for common procedures and methodologies for the supervisory review and evaluation process under Article 107 (3) of Directive 2013/36/EU, ECIIA said that the body was wrong to describe internal audit as part of the internal control systems of financial institutions.
“The task of the internal audit function is not to control, but to audit (amongst others) the control functions, giving assurance to the board and supervisory bodies,” said the response.
ECIIA says the distinction is essential because it reflects the core task of internal audit to oversee all of the other functions of a bank from a uniquely independent perspective for the board.
“Given that future international teams of inspectors will be working with this extremely helpful paper, it is important to establish a clear understanding of the difference between control systems and the internal audit function,” ECIIA President Thijs Smit says.
ECIIA has written to EBA requesting for a number of amendments to be made to the draft guidance.
The EBA’s final guidelines will be applied in the supervision of all institutions across the European Union and represent a step towards forging a consistent supervisory culture across the single market.
EBA says the guidelines provide a common framework for the work of supervisors in their assessment of risks to banks’ business models, their solvency and liquidity. “The guidelines will be a key component of the EU Single Rulebook aimed at improving the functioning of the internal market, including a sound, effective and consistent level of regulation and supervision in the banking sector,” it said.