Internal Audit

Internal Audit’s Mission

The mission of the Internal Audit Division is to strengthen SDCERS’ ability to create, protect, and sustain value by providing SDCERS with independent, risk-based and objective assurance, advice, insight and foresight.

Internal Audit’s Vision

The vision of the Internal Audit Division is to be a trusted and valued partner, assisting SDCERS in providing an independent, leading edge, financially sound, well governed and transparent pension plan.

SDCERS’ Internal Auditor

SDCERS’ Chief Internal Auditor is Sarah Dickson. Sarah investigates designated areas to advise management on how to prevent potential problems and to correct existing problems before they worsen. She does this by identifying areas where there is a higher risk of error occurrence that could significantly impact SDCERS. Then, she plans and performs audits designed to test the processes in these areas – basically, she acts as an objective observer, double checking staff’s work in certain areas to ascertain if there are any mistakes or oversights being made, any opportunities for improvement, and also to ensure relevant laws and internal procedures are being followed.

In order for Sarah to do her job, she must be able to act as an independent, objective consultant. This means that Sarah reports directly to the SDCERS Audit Committee and not to management, eliminating the possibility that any unflattering findings could be swept under the rug. Sarah’s position is one of many checks and balances on SDCERS, which support SDCERS’ core values of accountability, integrity, and transparency.