Which of the following is the most important benefit of control self-assessment (CSA)?

Which of the following is the most important benefit of control self-assessment (CSA)?

A. CSA is a policy/rule driven

B. In CSA approach, risk is identified sooner

C. CSA requires limited employee participations

D. In CSA, resources are being used in an effective manner.

View Answer

Answer: B

Explanation:

Control self-assessment is an assessment of controls made by staff and management within the unit or units involved. It is a management technique that assures stakeholders, customers and other parties that the internal controls of the organization are reliable. The CSA approach requires extensive employee participations and training. This will help to employee understand more about business risks. This will insure the detection of risk in timely manner.

For your exam you should know the information below about control self-assessment:

Benefits of CSA

Early detection of risk

More efficient and improved internal controls

Creation of cohesive teams through employee involvement

Developing a sense of ownership of the controls in the employees and process owners, and reducing their resistance to control improvement initiatives

Increased employee awareness of organizational objectives, and knowledge of risk and internal controls

Highly motivated employees

Improved audit training process

Reduction in control cost

Assurance provided to stakeholders and customers

Traditional and CSA attributes

Traditional Historical CSA

Assign duties/supervises staff Empowered/accountable employees

Policy/rule driven Continuous improvement/learning curve

Limited employee participation Extensive employee participation and training

Narrow stakeholders focus Broad stakeholders focus

Auditors and other specialist Staff at all level, in all functions, are the primary control analysts

The following answers are incorrect:

The other options specified are incorrectly describes about CSA.

The following reference(s) were/was used to create this question:

CISA review manual 2014 page number 61, 62 and 63