Author: Jason Mefford

Internal Audit Must Embrace Change or Sink Like a Stone

GUEST BLOG One thing I know for certain … the times they are a-changin’ … and internal audit is no exception. I spent the last several months interviewing many chief audit executives (CAEs) from all over the world to gain a better understanding of the current state of internal audit. Read More

USC was at the center of the college admissions scandal

After Admissions Scandal, Universities Must Audit Practices

Writing for Inside Higher Ed, Ryan Craig, a managing director at University Ventures, an investment firm focused on the global higher education sector, provided an interesting take on the recent college admissions scandal that unfolded last week. His conclusion? University internal audit functions should be scouring the admissions process for Read More

Three Lines of Defense Model

Should Internal Audit or Management Conduct Pre-Audits?

Internal audits are great at identifying problematic or even fraudulent transactions, whether in audits of payables to third parties, travel and expense audits, or other assessments. But when an internal audit uncovers improper transactions, it’s often too late. The funds have already been spent and reversing that process is never Read More

PwC Settles for $335 Million over Audits of Failed Bank

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) has announced a $335 million settlement with PricewaterhouseCoopers to resolve professional negligence claims arising out of audits PwC conducted of the failed Colonial Bank, located in Alabama. On December 28, 2017, the United States District Court for the Middle District of Alabama held PwC Read More

Mind the Gap

Google’s Pay Gap Internal Audit Yields Surprising Result

After accusations of wage discrimination against Google for underpaying women for doing similar jobs that men were doing, the tech giant began conducting internal audits in 2012 to look for pay disparity between the genders and with other minority groups. But Google didn’t stop there. It also set up a Read More

New Guide Provides Internal Control Help for Health Care Providers

Health care providers have some new guidance on adopting a solid internal control framework. The Committee of Sponsoring Organizations (COSO), along with advisory firm Crowe LLP and Common Spirit Health have published an updated version of its COSO Integrated Framework specifically for the health care provider industry. COSO says the Read More

Sawyers internal auditing 7th edition

Foundational Internal Audit Guide Gets an Update

A seminal guide for structuring internal audit and carrying out internal audits is getting a refresh. First published in 1973, Sawyer’s Guide for Internal Auditors emphasizes the philosophy that internal auditors should watch for emerging trends. In this significantly revamped update, Sawyer’s Internal Auditing: Enhancing and Protecting Organizational Value, 7th Read More