External Quality Assessment (EQA) for public and third sector organisations
Independent, proportionate and pragmatic reviews that recognise the realities of public service organisations
What we deliver
The Chartered Institute of Internal Auditors provides independent External Quality Assessments for local authorities, charities, housing associations, higher education institutions and other public sector bodies. Our reviews assess conformance with relevant standards and codes while remaining proportionate, pragmatic and tailored to organisational context.
- Independent EQA opinion.
- Assessment against the Global Internal Audit Standards.
- Detailed review of internal audit governance, performance and effectiveness.
- Identification of strengths and recognised good practice.
- Benchmarking and market insight.
- Practical and prioritised recommendations.
- Continuous improvement roadmap.
- Executive summary suitable for Audit Committees and Boards.
Why choose us
Genuine independence
At the Chartered IIA, we do not outsource services. This means we don't have a commercial interest in replacing your internal audit provider or selling additional delivery services.
Experienced EQA reviewers
Our review panel is comprised of experienced Heads of Internal Audit, many of whom have held senior executive, board and non-executive positions. The individuals named in our proposal are the same individuals who undertake the assessment.
Public and third sector expertise
Our EQA panel includes experienced internal audit leaders who have worked across government, not-for-profit organisations, higher education, housing and commercial sectors. Our reviewers understand the challenges facing organisations operating under public accountability and limited resources.
Practical recommendations
Our reviews are not designed to create unnecessary process or bureaucracy. We provide recommendations that are clear, prioritised and realistic to increase effectiveness, influence and organisational value.
Meet the Quality Services Panel
Claire Ashby
Claire is a chartered Internal Auditor and fellow of ICAEW with over 25 years internal audit experience. Claire runs an internal audit consultancy providing outsourced internal audit services to the not-for-profit sector.
She leads the internal audit provision for significant charities and cultural institutions including the National Theatre, Royal Ballet and Opera and Breast Cancer Now. She is trustee of the charity, World Land Trust, and chairs their Finance, Audit & Risk committee.
Claire has undertaken EQAs for over 16 years and has led more than 50 assignments across a number of sectors including charities, professional services firms, central government, media and telecoms, housing and higher education.
Rachel Bowden
Rachel has over 25 years' internal audit experience both within in-house teams and providing co-sourced and outsourced services. Her experience spans public sector, government, charities and large corporates. Previously a partner in a professional services firm, Rachel has led EQAs for a diverse range of multi-client providers including accounting firms and shared service providers.
Rachel has delivered over 60 EQAs. She is an experienced non-executive director and audit committee chair.
John Chesshire
John has nearly 30 years’ Internal Audit experience and has been a public sector Head of Internal Audit, a Chief Assurance Officer and an Audit Committee Chair. He currently sits on two audit committees in the international charity and defence sectors.
John specialises in external quality assessments for the public sector, charities, and international organisations, particularly those with small and medium-sized internal audit functions.
John still undertakes internal audit engagements for different organisations to keep his hand in and because he still loves internal auditing.
Faye Haywood
Faye is a Chartered Internal Auditor with over 15 years’ experience in internal audit and assurance, including more than a decade in senior leadership roles. Her experience spans the public, higher education, housing, charity and research sectors.
Her leadership roles have included leading a large local government internal audit consortium, managing internal audit within a major global health research organisation and serving as Interim Chief Audit and Assurance Executive within a large UK university.
Now Director and Principal Consultant of The Virtual Auditor, Faye provides internal audit, risk and governance services across the public and not-for-profit sectors and is an experienced External Quality Assessment assessor for the Chartered IIA. She also serves as an Audit and Risk Committee member within the housing sector.
Vincent Lynch
Although a chartered accountant by trade, Vincent has spent the 20 years in assurance roles with various Irish Public Limited companies. He was the Head of Internal Audit for nearly fourteen years with Grafton Group plc, a FTSE 250 listed company during Vincent’s tenure. Previously he was Group Financial Controller and Head of Internal Audit with IWP International plc in Dublin.
He also brings a valuable perspective on the quality of internal audit and assurance gained through his involvement at non-executive level with Chartered Accountants Ireland and through his membership of the Audit Committee Institute.
Vincent has completed over 35 EQAs on behalf of the Chartered IIA since 2014 in a range of sectors including Government Departments, semi state bodies, financial and insurance institutions in the regulated sector.
Thokozani ‘TK’ Sihlangu
TK is an accomplished internal audit, risk and governance executive with over 14 years’ experience, including more than a decade in senior internal audit leadership roles.
He has served as Chief Audit Executive and Head of Internal Audit across major banking institutions and is currently Managing Director of SH Advisory in Ireland.
His sector experience spans banking and financial services, healthcare, and the public sector, with particular expertise in establishing and transforming internal audit functions, leading combined assurance initiatives, and managing key stakeholder relationships.
TK has also held several board and trustee positions in Ireland and South Africa.
