The chief audit executive (CAE) and management of the area under review disagree over managing...

When disagreements occur regarding risk management or audit findings, the CAE should first escalate the matter within management levels to attempt resolution. Only if the disagreement remains unresolved after discussion with senior management should the CAE report the matter to the board or audit committee.

Options B and C are premature: the charter does not grant internal audit supremacy over management’s decisions, and documenting disagreement in the audit report should occur only after reasonable attempts at resolution. Option A (escalating immediately to the board) should occur only if discussion with management does not resolve the issue.