Which of the following is an external control relevant to governance processes?

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Independent external assurance is a key governance control. An external audit provides that assurance by independently examining the financial statements and the effectiveness of internal controls, conducted by people outside the organization. It culminates in an opinion that board members and regulators can rely on, strengthening accountability and reducing information risk. This external, impartial perspective is what makes it the primary external control in governance processes.

Internal audit is important for ongoing governance, but it operates within the organization and reports to the board, offering internal rather than external assurance. Actuarial peer review offers a quality check, but it isn’t universally recognized as the formal external governance control. The Appointed Actuary’s report is produced by the company’s own actuarial function and, while informative for governance and disclosures, is not an independent external control.