Western Governors University

D562: Internal Auditing II

A guide to WGU's graduate course on planning, performing and communicating an internal audit engagement.

Updated October 2026 · 5 min read

D562 Internal Auditing II continues the internal audit sequence in WGU's Master of Science in Accounting Auditing specialization. WGU says it covers the competencies expected of an internal audit professional in the business world.

It follows the Institute of Internal Auditors' International Professional Practices Framework, focusing on the internal audit activity, planning, performing and communicating the engagement, and monitoring progress. The challenge is thinking through a whole engagement from start to finish.

Course at a Glance

ItemDetails
UniversityWestern Governors University (WGU)
CourseD562 Internal Auditing II
LevelGraduate (MS Accounting, Auditing track)
Competency units3, term 3 of the standard path
Builds onInternal Auditing I
Typical workEngagement planning and reporting tasks

What D562 Covers

Competency (summarized)In practice
Plan an internal audit engagementScope, objectives, risks, resources and approach
Perform an engagement through information gathering, analysis and evaluationCollecting evidence and testing controls
Communicate engagement resultsFindings, advice and follow-up

Key Concepts Explained

Engagement Planning

Planning starts with understanding the area, its objectives and its risks. The plan then sets scope, timing, staff and the procedures to be used.

Example: Auditing procurement, the objective might be that purchases are authorized and received. Key risks include unapproved suppliers and duplicate payments, so planned tests include supplier approval checks and a duplicate-invoice analysis.

Evidence

Good evidence is relevant, reliable and sufficient. Documents from outside the organization are generally more reliable than internally produced ones.

Reporting Findings

A well-formed finding states the condition, criteria, cause, effect and recommendation.

Example: Condition: 12 of 60 invoices lacked approval. Criteria: policy requires manager approval. Cause: workflow allowed bypass. Effect: risk of unauthorised payments. Recommendation: enforce approval in the system.

Typical Assignments and How to Approach Them

TaskWhat it testsHow to approach it
Engagement planLinking risk to proceduresStart from objectives and key risks
Evidence evaluationJudging reliability and sufficiencyRank sources and note limits
Audit reportClear communicationUse condition, criteria, cause, effect, advice

Following the Engagement from Start to Finish

A useful habit is to trace one risk through every phase. Identify it during planning, choose a test for it, record the evidence, state the finding and write the recommendation. Showing that chain demonstrates that you understand the process.

Keep report language objective and specific. Avoid blame; describe conditions and their effect so management can act.

Where D562 Sits in the Program

Internal Auditing II is in term 3 of the Auditing specialization, alongside Internal Auditing I and Advanced Auditing. Part I gives you the language of governance, risk and control. Part II asks you to use it to run an engagement, which is a different skill: you decide what to examine, how to test it and how to report.

Choosing Audit Procedures

ProcedureTypical useLimit
InquiryUnderstanding how a process worksNeeds corroboration
ObservationSeeing a control operateShows one point in time
Inspection of recordsTesting approvals and documentationRecords can be incomplete
Retesting or analyticsTesting calculations and large populationsDepends on data quality

A strong plan combines several procedures for each key risk, because one source of evidence is rarely enough.

Communicating with Management

The third competency is about communicating results. Reports should be accurate, objective, clear, concise and timely, and should give management a practical route to act. Before final issue, discuss draft findings with the area audited to confirm the facts, then agree an owner and a date for each action.

Example: Rather than "improve vendor controls", a recommendation might read "The procurement manager should require system-enforced approval of new suppliers by a second person before first payment, by the end of next quarter." It names who, what and when, which makes follow-up possible.

Where Students Get Stuck

Study Tips for D562

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which track includes D562?

WGU's MS Accounting Auditing specialization, in term 3.

What framework does it follow?

The IIA International Professional Practices Framework.

What are the main competencies?

Plan, perform and communicate an internal audit engagement.

How does it differ from Internal Auditing I?

Part I covers foundations; Part II covers the engagement process.

Will you take the assessment for me?

No. We provide tutoring and study models only.

What makes a good finding?

Condition, criteria, cause, effect and recommendation.