The National Insurance Corporation (NIC) recently hosted the 2014 Regional Internal Auditors Social Security Workshop.

A team of 28 professionals from 11 countries met in Saint Lucia this week, to enhance their skills and learn more about international best practices in internal auditing.

NIC Head of Group Internal Audit, Sue-Ann Charlery-Payne said the workshop is in-keeping with the need to strengthen auditing systems, as the heads of regional social security bodies identified internal auditing as a key priority area for ongoing training.

The two-day training included presentations and lectures, role play, case studies and group work. A presentation by Andrea Gaillard-St. Rose, one of two training facilitators focused on the changing role of the internal audit function.

Mrs. St. Rose said that while many internal auditors are concentrating on traditional job requirements such as auditing financial statements, the focus of internal auditing is rapidly evolving into other areas and auditors must be prepared to meet the challenges head on.

Workshop participants included auditors, financial controllers, officers from compliance departments, investment managers and social security directors.

NIC officials expressed confidence the training will better equip internal auditors to meet the challenges of an increasingly complex work environment.

The 2014 Regional Internal Auditors Social Security Workshop was hosted by the National Insurance Corporation (NIC) and was held at the Bay Gardens Hotel from Oct. 23 – 24.