Internal Audit and General Inspection

The primary role of Société Générale's Internal Audit function is to periodically evaluate the efficiency of the internal controls employed by an entity.

Employing some 1,300 members of staff, it is structured according to two levels:

• each Group business line has its own Internal Audit Department and Chief Auditor, who reports directly to the division head,
• the function employs specialist auditors who assist division auditors where specific expertise is needed (accounting audits, legal audits, IT security audits and audits of counterparty risks) and who report to the head of the function.

Each Group business line has its own Internal Audit Department and Chief Auditor who reports directly to the division head. The division head has hierarchical or functional authority over all of the auditors in his business line. The functional departments also have an audit unit which falls within the remit of the Group’s Corporate Secretary.

The General Inspection Department carries out around 100 assignments each year and verifies the overall quality of the internal control function.
It inspects the business activities and operations of all Group entities and reports its findings, conclusions and recommendations to the General Management.

The General Inspection is also one of the main departments responsible for ensuring that internal controls throughout Société Générale and its subsidiaries are both consistent and effective.