Category: Editor’s Blog

Analysis and opinion items from Internal Audit 360’s editors and industry professionals

Control Without Culture Is Just Compliance Theater

GUEST BLOG POST In many organizations compliance is treated like a seasonal performance, where everything is polished just in time for the audit. Controls are executed, evidence is gathered, standard operating procedures (SOPs) are followed to the letter, but only because someone is watching. Once the audit concludes, attention fades, Read More

Auditing AI

AI Is Here, and It Needs Internal Auditing Now More Than Ever

GUEST BLOG POST Artificial Intelligence is no longer a futuristic concept. It’s here, embedded in everything from recruitment software and customer service chatbots to financial forecasting tools and fraud detection systems. But with this unprecedented power comes unprecedented risk. From biased decision-making to data-privacy violations, AI systems are capable of Read More

efficiency in internal audit

Five Steps to Increase Internal Audit Efficiency

GUEST BLOG POST If you are an internal auditor, you know that time is always in short supply. Between regulatory demands, shifting risks, and the day-to-day responsibilities of maintaining independence and objectivity, finding ways to be more efficient isn’t just helpful, it is essential. At the Audit Library, we work Read More

May is internal audit awareness month

May Is Internal Audit Awareness Month

Continuing a long-standing tradition that started in the 1990s, the internal audit community is observing “International Internal Audit Awareness Month” this May. During the month, internal auditors around the world share examples of how the profession provides value to organizations, spotlight the profession’s commitment to good governance and risk management, Read More

Some Radical Advice for Writing Better Internal Audit Reports

GUEST BLOG POST: Having read more than 4,000 internal audit reports over the years, I can honestly say I’ve never read a single one I’d wished was longer. Most of the time, I’m wishing it were over halfway through the so-called “executive summary.” Most internal auditors—and others—drafting audit reports completely Read More

Using SPIKES in internal audit communication

Diagnosing Internal Audit Challenges: A Prescription for Tough Conversations

GUEST BLOG POST When I was recently describing my work as an internal auditor to my older brother, a medical doctor, we stumbled upon a striking similarity: both our professions benefit significantly when focusing on Emotional Quotient (EQ) the ability to navigate emotions intelligently—over Intelligence Quotient (IQ), which focuses on Read More

Whom should the CAE report to?

Reporting Lines: Whom Should Internal Audit Leaders Call Boss?

GUEST BLOG POST Internal audit plays a unique role in the modern organization. While its leader, the chief audit executive, is usually part of the executive team, it is also expected to play an oversight role in assuring that functions and processes are performing as they should. That oversight role Read More

Determining What Rises to the Level of an Internal Audit Observation

GUEST BLOG POST During a recent audit, I encountered a conflict with a senior internal audit team member regarding the finalization of an audit observation. This team member was keen to incorporate insights from a market survey and customer feedback into our report, specifically calling out concerns over the company’s Read More