As we approach the end of this annual worldwide celebration of the Internal Audit profession, Debbie Moorhouse reflects on GIAA’s role – and her own - in the wider, global community …
The Government Internal Audit Agency (GIAA) provides internal audit, counter fraud and investigation and other services to UK government. Our purpose is to support clients with implementing fundamental levels of assurance, helping them understand the level of risk they are exposed to that could impact on the delivery of their strategic objectives, and to manage and control those risks in an effective and proportionate way. Our mission is for our people to provide objective insight that supports government to achieve better outcomes and value for money – ‘better insights, better outcomes’. We also recognise how much our clients value the chance to learn from others, wherever they happen to be in the world.
HiRes DMoorhouse Ldn (4).JPGOur Government Internal Audit Leadership Community is a great example of bringing together internal audit leaders from across the central government profession to share experiences and learn from each other. Our last meeting focused on Topical Requirements, People Developments and preparing for an external quality assessment (EQA) – varied topics which had everyone engaged in lively discussions.
One of the projects that I am proud of being involved in is the UK Overseas Territories (UKOTs) Project. This is a collaboration between the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, the National Audit Office (NAO) and GIAA. This project is aimed at enhancing governance and oversight of public finances in UKOTs, and we work closely with our internal audit colleagues across the territories to strengthen the capacity and capability of internal teams and to encourage sharing of knowledge, skills and experience. The project brings the opportunity to come together with external auditors, clerks and public accounts committee members to share challenges and learn from each other.
As an Agency delivering internal audit services to central government, we have been on an amazing journey over the last 11 years since our inception. We’ve shared our learning from that experience with several overseas internal audit teams who were just starting out. What has been a joy is learning how far teams have come and the developments that they have made.
Further afield, I participate in the European Confederation of Institutes of Internal Auditing Public Sector Committee. The Committee’s objective is to promote good governance and internal audit across the European public sector and to develop guidance papers to be used locally as advocacy tools. Colleagues from different countries came together to work on a paper setting out the challenges that we face in implementing the Global Internal Audit Standards. The paper was so helpful it was then published by The Global Institute of Internal Auditors, a true example of auditors supporting other auditors across the globe.
I feel very privileged with the opportunities I’ve had to engage and learn from so many colleagues across the globe, whilst making my own small contribution to the global profession.
Debbie Moorhouse is the Interim Technical Director and Head of Profession at GIAA.
https://giaa.blog.gov.uk/2026/05/29/international-internal-audit-awareness-month/
seen at 11:34, 29 May in Government Internal Audit Agency.