The Hindu Business Line : `Certified Internal Auditor' course

The Institute of Internal Auditors - India, a part of the Florida-headquartered IIA Inc, is in active dialogue with the parent body to further streamline the CIA (Certified Internal Auditor) course for Indian students. There is also a move to establish a permanent secretariat of the international body in India soon.

The Indian body holds professional examinations on behalf of IIA Inc for students and others with necessary qualifications desirous of joining the profession of Internal Audit, and awards certificates. The entire process is orchestrated by the US-based body, through its various branches and chapters in more than 100 countries around the world.

Talking to Business Line on the sidelines of IIA-India's 17th Annual Conference here on Saturday, Mr Santanu Ghosh, President, said the course can be made more attractive for Indian students through reduction of fees, and this was what the Indian wing was now trying to do.

Making it affordable

According to Mr Ghosh, if the examination process, under the broad guidelines of the parent body, could be carried out at the Indian end fully, a lot of time could be saved and the fees too may become affordable to more Indian students and all those wanting to take up internal audit as a career.

He said given the emerging importance of multi-disciplinary internal audit controls in the wake of major financial scams involving giants such as Enron world-over, professionals holding a CIA tag may find job opportunities in countries such as the US, the UK and Canada.

IIA-Inc Secretariat

Mr Ghosh said there was also a move to create a permanent IIA-Inc Secretariat in India He said preliminary discussions had been held with Mr David A. Richards, President of IIA Inc on this, and a formal announcement to this effect was expected at IIA-Inc's international conference in Houston, US, next month. Once a permanent secretariat was created, holding of CIA exams ourselves may become much easier, he added.

IIA-India now has five chapters in Kolkata, Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Bangalore, and the CIA course has four exam Groups, with qualified CAs or cost accountants getting waiver of one group.