Littlechild & Haley undertake EQA
Why Every Internal Audit Function Needs an EQA – And Why It Must Deliver More Than Compliance
At Littlechild & Haley, we are highly experienced Chartered Internal Auditors who know what good looks like. We’ve worked across sectors, guided by the Global Internal Audit Standards (GIAS), and we understand that an External Quality Assessment (EQA) is not just a regulatory requirement—it’s a strategic opportunity to elevate assurance, performance, and stakeholder trust.
1. Conformance with GIAS: More Than a Tick-Box Exercise
The revised GIAS framework demands more than procedural compliance. It expects internal audit functions to demonstrate professionalism, independence, and impact. An EQA provides independent validation that your audit function is aligned with these principles—and where it isn’t, it offers a roadmap to get there.
We assess conformance across all five domains and 52 standards, but we go further: we evaluate how well your audit function is serving the organisation’s purpose.
2. Measuring Performance Outputs and Outcomes
An EQA should answer the critical question: Is internal audit making a difference?
We measure:
– Outputs: audit plans delivered, reports issued, recommendations made.
– Outcomes: improvements achieved, risks mitigated, controls strengthened.
Our assessments include benchmarking, stakeholder feedback, and impact analysis—because performance is about more than activity; it’s about results.
3. Delivering Value to Stakeholders
Stakeholders want assurance that internal audit is:
– Focused on what matters
– Adding value, not just identifying gaps
– Supporting strategic objectives
We engage stakeholders throughout the EQA process, ensuring their views shape the findings and that recommendations are relevant, practical, and aligned with organisational goals.
4. Auditing the Auditors: A Badge of Professional Pride
Internal auditors must be open to scrutiny. An EQA is the profession’s way of saying: “we hold ourselves to the same standards we expect of others”.
It builds credibility, boosts morale, and reinforces the message that internal audit is a trusted advisor, not just a compliance function.
5. Continuous Improvement and Innovation
We don’t just assess—we help you improve. Our post-EQA support includes:
– Action planning
– Coaching
– Strategic advice
And with tools like LH-AURA (AI for Understanding Risk Assurance), we help you turn insights into innovation.
Final Thought
An EQA is your opportunity to show that internal audit is:
✅ Professionally sound
✅ Performance-driven
✅ Stakeholder-focused
✅ Future-ready
We know what good looks like—and we help you get there. Contact us to book your 2026 EQA.
