Ongoing Monitoring
Routine procedures and practices established by the chief audit executive to continuously ensure the internal audit function's conformance with the Standards. Includes supervisory reviews, workpaper evaluations, embedded controls in audit tools, and stakeholder feedback, forming the ongoing quality component of the QAIP.
Source: IIA GIAS 2024, Standard 12.1
Ongoing Monitoring is the set of routine procedures and practices through which the Chief Audit Executive (CAE) safeguards the internal audit function's continuous conformance with the Global Internal Audit Standards (GIAS) 2024. It is the day-to-day quality component of the Quality Assurance and Improvement Program (QAIP). Unlike a periodic internal assessment or an External Quality Assessment (EQA), ongoing monitoring runs continuously alongside the delivery of audit work.
For the board, the supervisory board and the audit committee, ongoing monitoring is the mechanism that flags deviations early, before a periodic or external assessment does. This keeps the quality of the audit function at the right level between assessments and helps the organisation avoid surprises at the EQA. It also gives the audit committee assurance that the CAE actively steers quality rather than only reacting when an external assessor arrives.
In practice, ongoing monitoring consists of a combination of instruments: supervision during engagements, review of working files and working papers, controls embedded in audit tools and the structured gathering of stakeholder feedback. The Global Internal Audit Standards 2024 address ongoing monitoring under Standard 12.1. Findings from this monitoring feed directly into continuous improvement: identified deviations are translated into concrete improvement actions and thereby linked to the broader quality cycle of the QAIP.
ONE Risk Advisory sets up ongoing monitoring so that it works in practice and genuinely feeds the QAIP. We make sure monitoring does not become an administrative layer but a light, recognisable routine that surfaces deviations early and demonstrably safeguards audit quality. In this way, quality becomes a fixed part of the daily work rather than an after-the-fact check.
Last updated:
Related service Quality Improvement
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between ongoing monitoring and periodic assessment?
Ongoing monitoring runs continuously within daily delivery, through supervision and review of working files. A periodic assessment is a separate, deeper review at set intervals. Both belong to the Quality Assurance and Improvement Program (QAIP) but operate on a different rhythm.
Who is responsible for ongoing monitoring?
The Chief Audit Executive (CAE) is responsible for establishing and maintaining ongoing monitoring. The CAE defines the routine procedures and ensures the function continues to operate in conformance with the Global Internal Audit Standards 2024.
Which instruments belong to ongoing monitoring?
These include supervision during engagements, review of working papers, controls embedded in audit tools and the structured gathering of stakeholder feedback. Together they form the day-to-day quality component of the QAIP.
Does ongoing monitoring replace the External Quality Assessment?
No. Ongoing monitoring safeguards quality between assessments, but the External Quality Assessment (EQA) remains the independent external review prescribed by the Standards. Monitoring does, however, ensure the EQA holds no unpleasant surprises.