The inherent risk in the audit is represented by the susceptibility that the audited financial statements in accordance with the adoption of the International Standards on Auditing contain significant errors due to fraud or error, for this reason, this investigation focused on characterize the design of internal control to reduce the risk inherent in the audit of financial statements. Methodologically, the research is qualitative, with a flexible design aimed at carrying out a documentary review by various authors of the subject studied, as well as the analysis of the doctrine established in the International Auditing Standards issued by the International Federation of Accountants, through the International Auditing, Assurance and Review Standards Council. Specifically, we worked with the 2016-2017 books, which is the last revision in Spanish offered by the aforementioned regulatory body for the accounting profession. As research findings, it was obtained that the internal control system is made up of five fundamental elements: control environment, risk assessment, control activities, information and communication, as well as monitoring and supervision activities. As a general conclusion, the reduction of the risk inherent in the audit of financial statements can be achieved by strengthening the components focused on the operating, financial and economic environment of the company, the assessment of risk, as well as the design of activities. of control. The entities are recommended to design control policies framed in the strengthening of the three main components identified in the findings as the main axis for reducing the risk inherent in the audit of financial statements.