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Public Administration vocabulary · Transparency, Audit and Ethics

Internal control

Meaning in public administration, with examples

nounAdvanced term

In public administration, internal control means: The policies, procedures and checks an organization puts in place to protect its resources, prevent errors and fraud, and make sure it meets its objectives and follows the rules.

In Turkish: iç kontrol

How it is used

Managers are responsible for designing and maintaining internal control, and internal auditors assess whether it works. Examples include separating duties, requiring two signatures and reconciling accounts. In Turkey the system was introduced in public bodies by Law No. 5018.

Example sentences

  1. Weak internal control allowed the same employee to order goods and approve the payment.

  2. The internal control action plan sets out who is responsible for each risk.

Common collocations

  • internal control system
  • weak internal control
  • internal control standards
  • internal audit
  • auditAn official, independent examination of an organization's accounts, systems or performance to check that money was used properly and rules were followed.
  • accountabilityThe duty of public bodies and officials to explain and justify their decisions and use of resources, and to accept responsibility, including sanctions, when things go wrong.
  • inspectionAn official visit or examination to check that a place, organization, product or activity meets the required rules and standards.
  • supreme audit institutionThe independent national body that audits how the government spends public money and reports its findings to parliament, such as a court of accounts or national audit office.

This word in other fields

The same English word can have a different meaning in another field:

More terms: Transparency, Audit and Ethics

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