Which of the following statements is the most appropriate example of the internal audit activity exercising due professional care during an audit of the payroll department?
Correct Answer: A
Exercising due professional care means ensuring that audit procedures are sufficient to meet the audit objectives and identify all significant risks. Ensuring that the work program is appropriately designed to identify all risks surrounding the payroll process demonstrates due professional care, as it involves planning and performing the audit with diligence and thoroughness.
* Option B: Determining compliance with laws is part of due professional care but not as comprehensive as designing the work program to identify all risks.
* Option C: Verifying internal controls implementation is part of the audit scope but does not fully encompass due professional care in planning and executing the audit.
* Option D: Consulting with the risk manager is a good practice but does not substitute for the auditor's responsibility to plan and perform the audit.
References:
* IIA Standard 1220: Due Professional Care.
* IIA Practice Guide: Due Professional Care.