GUEST BLOG POST As the author of five New York Times bestsellers, Malcolm Gladwell’s work sits firmly on bookshelves of executives and those of all walks of life. Yet his influence extends beyond popularity alone. Gladwell has built a career translating complex research, behavioral insights, and systemic issues into stories Read More
Internal auditors across all sectors are intimately familiar with this pattern: you find an operational failure, trace the steps back through interviews and documentation to understand the root cause, and discover that the underlying process itself was sound. Procedures were well designed. Safety controls were properly established. The risk evaluation Read More
An internal audit report can determine whether critical risks are addressed quickly or buried in a backlog of competing priorities. They shape how stakeholders perceive the internal audit function and influence the decisions and remediations that follow an audit. When internal audit reports are clear, well-structured, and actionable, they turn Read More
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
One of the most exciting aspects of parenthood is passing down the stories and books that shaped our childhoods. With little effort, we often recall our favorite stories and their memorable plots—like the heartwarming lessons from Charlotte’s Web or the playful risks in The Cat in the Hat. But consider Read More
GUEST BLOG POST I apologize in advance to all my friends who make a living (at least in part) by helping people write what they believe are “effective” internal audit reports. But every so often, we should challenge everything we do. So today, I am focusing on internal audit reports. Read More
GUEST BLOG POST I believe just about every internal audit executive would agree with me that our independence from management is critical. We need to be able to operate without undue interference from management. That means that they are not able to stop or change our audit reporting, our opinions, Read More
Internal audit reports play a crucial role in ensuring organizational governance and driving improvement. However, crafting reports that are clear, concise, and impactful can be a challenging task. This guide equips you with the knowledge and tools necessary to transform your internal audit reports from mere documentation to powerful catalysts Read More
GUEST BLOG POST A few years ago, I was privileged to be a member of the Institute of Internal Auditors’ Relook Task Force. It had a couple of objectives, including reviewing the Definition of Internal Audit (which it decided did not require updating, although we did decide to add a Read More
We’ve all heard it: “I want this issue to be resolved even more than you do,” a senior member of management told me during a phone conversation following-up on an open audit finding. I was relieved, believing that the higher-ups had finally understood the gravity of not taking action on Read More
