The Institute of Internal Auditors has announced a series of changes to its Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) Challenge Exam program. The CIA Challenge Exam Program is a fast-track pathway that lets experienced, already-credentialed professionals earn the CIA designation by taking one comprehensive exam instead of the standard three-part CIA exam. Read More
After more than 45 years in and around the internal audit profession, I’ve had plenty of time to reflect on what I’ve learned—often the hard way. Like most people, I didn’t pick up these lessons in a classroom. They came through experience, missteps, and moments that didn’t always go quite Read More
Chief audit executives face growing expectations from boards and senior leaders to deliver not only assurance, but also clarity and strategic value. Therefore, quality management in internal audit is now more than a compliance exercise – it is a strategic lever on maintaining the relevance and influence of the audit Read More
A polished balance sheet and a flawless compliance checklist can hide evidence of a rotting corporate core. While traditional auditing excels at spotting misallocated funds and missing approval signoffs, it is often blind to the “soft side” of corporate culture—those unwritten rules, silent anxieties, and behavioral shortcuts that raise ethical Read More
Internal audit is a key part of organizational transformation projects. It has changed from a traditional inspector of compliance to a strategic partner that protects value creation and drives long-lasting change. With this new job, auditors can plan for disruptions, build resilience, and make sure that changes are in line 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
Chief audit executives spend a great deal of time focused on plans, risks, and deliverables. That focus is necessary, but as leaders more is needed. The effectiveness of an internal audit function is shaped as much by how the team is led as by the work it delivers. Strong internal Read More
Last year in this space, we wrote about a profession emerging from a period marked by uncertainty, disruption, and rapid change. As 2024 turned into 2025, internal auditors were still grappling with the aftershocks of the pandemic, accelerating technological change, geopolitical instability, and questions about where—and how—they could add the Read More
Internal auditors are a rare breed. To perform well in their jobs, they must possess a mix of skills that are seldom found in one person. They need to be analytical with laser-like focus, while also being true “people persons” with strong communication skills. They must be rule-followers who respect Read More
Most recent college graduates don’t aspire to become chief audit executives. For that matter, most business graduates probably don’t even set out to become internal auditors. Maybe they take an internal audit job after a stint at a Big Four firm. Or they find themselves in the role from a Read More
