The internal Audit Foundation in collaboration with Grant Thornton recently released a report in which over 200 chief audit executives (CAEs) and directors shared their perspectives on leveraging data analytics to generate and elevate value. The majority of internal auditing teams are already prioritizing data analytics and automation as a tool to add value to […]
A new article in the IIA’s publication “Internal Auditor” discusses a report released by the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) regarding the consumer account and cross-selling failures at Wells Fargo Bank. The report recommends fines for three former internal audit and risk management executives at the bank. While it is rare […]
The world of financial reporting has seen significant transformations in the past few decades, with evolving regulatory standards and changing business environments. Amid these changes, one area that has continually held significance is the internal audit function (IAF). Despite its importance, the IAF has remained an area with limited data availability, constraining further research and […]
Recent developments in the accounting industry have led to increased collaboration between professionals from different accounting firms. This collaboration involves firms providing various services, such as audit and tax, to client organizations. While this trend offers many benefits, it also raises questions about how information is shared among these professionals and its potential impact on […]
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has made two significant announcements recently, indicating its ongoing commitment to a transparent and accountable financial market. Registration Fee Rate Hike for Fiscal Year 2024 The SEC unveiled the fee rates for fiscal year 2024. Effective from October 1, public companies and other issuers will experience an increase in […]
Earnings management has long been a concern in the corporate world, with companies striving to meet or beat analysts‘ earnings forecasts through various accounting tactics. External auditors play a critical role in curbing opportunistic earnings management behavior and providing financial statement reliability. However, recent research by Eric Lohwasser and Yaou Zhou explores how companies that […]
Generative AI, a technology with the capability to drive vast economic transformation, is on the brink of reshaping our future. McKinsey’s recent research underlines the sheer magnitude of this shift, suggesting generative AI could add a staggering $2.6 to $4.4 trillion annually across numerous use cases. To put this in perspective, this is akin to […]
In the era of remote work, public accounting firms grapple with a vital concern: how to effectively socialize new employees. This process, known as Organizational Socialization (OS), is pivotal for new professionals to assimilate the attitudes, values, social skills, and technical expertise vital to their success in the firm. Historically, newcomers were inducted into a […]
In today’s fast-paced financial markets, the timely and accurate disclosure of material information is crucial for investors to make informed decisions. However, some managers may seek to exploit investors‘ cognitive constraints and processing capacity to strategically hide negative news. In this blog post, we explore a recent research study conducted by Caleb Rawson, Brady J. […]
Whistleblower programs have undoubtedly made their mark in the corporate sector, acting as a formidable tool in the fight against unethical behavior. Yet, when we pivot our attention to the academic realm, especially where student policies for reporting peer misconduct are concerned, a glaring gap emerges. F. Todd DeZoort’s enlightening research, published in the esteemed […]
The International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) has recently issued its inaugural global sustainability disclosure standards, marking a significant development in the field of sustainability reporting. The standards, IFRS S1 and IFRS S2, aim to provide a common language for disclosing sustainability-related risks, opportunities, and climate-related factors. These standards will have far-reaching implications for internal auditors, […]
Artificial intelligence and algorithmic decision-making systems have become an integral part of our daily lives, impacting various aspects, from e-commerce and entertainment to medical diagnosis and financial domains. While these algorithms offer efficiency and scalability, users often struggle to trust these systems due to the „black box paradox.“ Users increasingly demand transparency in algorithmic decision-making […]
Audit regulation is primarily focused on enhancing the quality of external financial reporting and protecting the interests of external stakeholders. However, there is growing recognition that such regulation can also have spillover effects on the internal information environment of organizations, benefiting managers in their decision-making processes. A recent study by Brant Christensen, Lijun (Gillian) Lei, […]
To assist organizations in understanding and benchmarking their own processes, the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) and Thomson Reuters collaborated on a report. This report aims to explore the risks and controls associated with business-to-business transactions and relationships. The findings are compiled in: “Combatting Business-To-Business Fraud: Benchmarking Report”. The report is intended to provide […]
The adoption of advanced language models, such as ChatGPT, in the accounting field has sparked considerable interest and discussion in recent times. In this blog post, we dive into a recent paper that talks about how Uniper, a multinational energy company, has harnessed ChatGPT to enhance its internal audit function (IAF) and revolutionize its auditing […]
There is a rapid shift in auditing practice with the integration of audit data analytics (ADA) tools. As the audit landscape changes, the question arises: How can educators effectively integrate ADA into the existing auditing curriculum to better equip students for the future of auditing? An illuminating study by Booker, Pelzer, and Richardson, published in […]
The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) has introduced critical audit matters (CAMs) to expand audit reports to provide external users with more information regarding potential risks of material misstatements. While the intention of CAM disclosures is to highlight the risk of material misstatement and the corresponding audit procedures, early studies suggest that investors may […]
A newly published paper in Accounting Horizons highlights the implications of frequent auditor switching for the audit quality. The paper is particularly significant for regulators, practitioners, and academics to inform policy discussions, audit committee disclosure requirements, risk models, investment decisions, and future research on auditor switching. Existing accounting research primarily focuses on single-instance auditor changes […]
In a press release published on May 18, 2023 the Institute of Internal Auditors (The IIA) and the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) presented their report: “Building a Best-in-Class Whistleblower Hotline Program”. The report includes benchmarking data, evaluates the factors contributing to program effectiveness, explores reasons for not having a hotline program, and examines […]
It is not an uncommon occurrence for companies to face operational and accounting failures at some point in their journey. When such events occur, these companies often find themselves seeking ways to salvage their reputations and regain the trust of their stakeholders. According to a recent study published in The Accounting Review by Matthew S. […]
In 2022, several risk areas put organizations in a state of permanent crisis: the ongoing pandemic, supply chain issues, climate change along with natural disasters, persistent inflation and rising energy prices driven by the war in Ukraine. For this reason, 14 Institutes of Internal Auditors across 15 European countries have conducted a study on key […]
The eighth market scan conducted by the IAASB’s Disruptive Technology team explores the Internet of Things (IoT), focusing on Networks for Asset Monitoring and Data Generation. This technology enables real time tracking, management, and monitoring of business processes and assets. The article provides an overview of IoT, discusses its impact on the International Auditing and […]
A new research article in Accounting Horizons shows the efficacy of Center for Internal Auditing Excellence (CIAE) programs in raising the quality of Internal Audit Functions (IAFs) of nearby companies. A lack of domain knowledge in internal auditing could lead to lower-quality and less effective IAFs. The CIAE program produces new practitioners with greater internal […]
A newly released paper emphasizes the significance of risk governance in organizations and its susceptibility to internal and external influences. It underscores the importance of executives and boards in setting a strong tone at the top regarding risk governance in their organizations. This tone should prioritize and highlight the value and role of risk governance […]
The Auditing Standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board’s (PCAOB) provide authoritative guidance to auditors of U.S. public companies during their audits. However, these standards predominantly employ masculine generic pronouns instead of gender-specific or gender-neutral pronouns. Reflecting the audit profession’s and the PCAOB’s emphasis on equity and inclusion, as well as the significance to […]
In the fast-paced digital era, technological proficiency has become increasingly vital across various industries. To bridge the gap between technology and the accounting profession, a group of dedicated students and faculty from Brigham Young University (BYU) has established TechHub.training. The mission is to provide a comprehensive platform that empowers young professionals with essential technology skills. […]
The “ Fraud Risk Management Guide – second edition “ article from the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) and the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) is an updated guidance for organizations to follow in addressing the specific fraud risk. This Guide updates the first edition of the Fraud Risk Management […]
The International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) has recently issued its first Request for Information (RFI) on May 4, 2023. The purpose of this Request for Information (RFI) is to gather input and shape the ISSB’s work plan for the next two years. The ISSB is currently seeking feedback on its priorities during this period. You […]
ESG factors have rapidly become as important as financial metrics for corporations, leading to increased pressure and potential for exploitation. Organizations must evaluate their ESG programs, update reporting standards, strengthen controls, and address fraud risks. However, the lack of consistent standards in the regulatory and reporting frameworks poses challenges, giving anti-fraud practitioners a critical role […]
The increasing interconnectivity of our world creates new opportunities as well as new risks. Deployment of digital technologies, exponential growth in data volumes, and changing business needs are expanding targets for cyber threats, making effective collaboration between cyber and risk management a strategic priority. Deloitte’s Global Future of Cyber Survey 2023 examines the current state […]
ChatGPT, an advanced language model, has been making waves in the media, with many speculating about its potential for massive disruption, particularly in the fields of accounting and auditing. However, prior research has raised concerns about ChatGPT’s performance on student assessment questions. In order to shed light on this issue, a recent research project aimed […]
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has issued thelargest-ever whistleblower award of nearly $279 million. The award was granted to a whistleblower whose information and assistance led to successful enforcement actions by the SEC. This award surpasses the previous record of $114 million given in October 2020. The SEC’s whistleblower program has been highly successful […]
As of December 15th, 2022, the IDW has introduced ISA [DE] 315 (Revised 2019), an auditing standard that has been fundamentally revised by the IAASB to identify and assess the risks of material misstatement. Due to the changing audit scope resulting from ongoing digitization, the increasing use of new automated tools and techniques, and other […]
The global economy has consistently been subject to a variety of financial risks and the COVID-19 pandemic has brought new challenges that require careful consideration. In a recent article, The Wall Street Journal highlighted twelve areas of financial risk in the current economic landscape. The charts presented in the article show the increasing levels of […]
The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) requires all firms to include a risk factor section in their periodic filings, but doubts remain about the informativeness of these disclosures. Cybersecurity risk disclosures are particularly important due to the increasing number of data breaches, and firms have a responsibility to inform investors about changes in their […]
Recent changes in regulations in Germany about the Financial Market Integrity Strengthening Act (FISG) highlight the importance of audit committee effectiveness in ensuring the reliability and transparency of financial reporting. The FISG was enacted in response to high-profile accounting scandals and corporate failures, including the collapse of Wirecard, which shook the confidence of investors in […]
Sustainability reporting is becoming an increasingly important topic in the business world, and for good reason. It is a way for companies to communicate to stakeholders how they are addressing sustainability issues, such as climate change, social responsibility, and environmental impact. By providing transparency and accountability, sustainability reporting helps build trust with stakeholders and demonstrates […]
The audit expectation gap describes the difference between what auditors do and what the public thinks they do. It has been a problem for the audit profession for decades, particularly with regard to auditors’ responsibilities for preventing and detecting fraud and maintaining internal controls. However, there has been a recent paradigm shift towards digital audits […]
Algorithms are becoming increasingly prevalent in our lives, from the ads we see on social media to the decisions made by banks and other institutions. However, as algorithms become more widespread, it is crucial to ensure they are not biased or discriminatory through appropriate auditing approaches. In a recent Harvard Business Review article, the importance […]
COSO has released additional guidance „Achieving Effective Internal Control of Sustainability Reporting“ using the globally recognized COSO Internal Control-Integrated Framework as its basis. The guidance includes references to the role of internal audit function in sustainability reporting and key themes to consider while establishing and maintaining an effective system of internal control over sustainable business […]
The Pulse of Internal Audit report is a primary data source for leaders in internal audit. It offers valuable information on various topics such as internal audit budgets, staff, audit plans, risks, and more important topics. The 2023 edition includes timely data on audit frequency for critical risk areas. The report serves as a benchmarking […]
The use of ChatGPT, an artificial intelligence (AI) language model from OpenAI, is currently causing „office drama“ with large debates over its appropriate use, productivity hacks, and the evaluation of human performance. While some workers embrace it to create professional-sounding emails and automate tasks, others push back on machine-created work. JPMorgan Chase and Verizon Communications […]
The expenses for both companies and their investors due to cybersecurity incidents are increasing, and the rate of increase is also going up. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is suggesting changes to its rules to make public companies provide better information about their cybersecurity risk management and incident reporting. In the current form, the […]
The International Internal Audit Standards Board just announced the next stage in the IPPF evolution (IIA, 2023): Public comment on the proposed Standards is now open! The IIA started its IPPF Evolution project in 2020, with the goal of modernizing and transforming the IIA Standards to ensure their continued relevance and applicability. Research and benchmarking […]
It has now been almost three years since the IIASB acknowledged the need for re-organizing and -presenting the Standards, and thus began to update the internal audit profession’s governing documents. After a throughout revision phase that took into account the input of a broad range of stakeholders, a draft of the new standards is now […]
The Institute of Internal Auditors’ (IIA) position paper Relationship of Trust – Building Better Connections Between the Audit Committee and Internal Audit stresses the importance of a trusting and dynamic partnership between internal audit and the audit committee. The IIA calls the relationship between both parties “critical” to good governance and suggests that the “CAE […]
With the onset of and hype around ChatGPT, companies increasingly start experimenting with tools that involve artificial intelligence (AI). However, guidance and frameworks on how internal auditing can deal with AI remain scarce. Back in 2017, the IIA outlined in their white paper Artificial Intelligence – Considerations for the Profession of Internal Auditing that internal […]
Disclosing Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) information is crucial in today’s business environment because it allows investors, stakeholders, and consumers to make informed decisions about a company’s impact on the environment, society, and governance practices. Furthermore, ESG information has been linked to better long-term financial performance and it is increasingly used by investors as a […]
The Public Sector differs significantly from profit organizations in terms of its objectives and purpose. Thus, the work and structure of internal audit functions (IAFs) differ fundamentally between these types of organizations as well. To address the special needs of IAFs within the public sector a practice guide by the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) […]
In the last report “Redefining the Resilient Organization” of a three-part series on “Internal Audit in a Post-COVID World” by the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA), the authors give internal auditors guidance on how to prepare organizations for potentially arising business transformations and disruptions. Part of this guidance is putting the internal auditor’s focus, especially […]
The collection on „Global Perspectives & Insights: Cybersecurity in 2022, Parts 1-3”, published by the Institute of Internal Auditors, discusses different issues within the contemporary evolving cybersecurity landscape. While part 1 focuses on the implications of regulatory changes on cyber reporting by the SEC, part 2 deals with the benefits of symbiotic relationships between Heads […]
The report „Embedding ESG and sustainability considerations into the Three Lines Model“, co-written by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA), provides suggestions and guidance, on how environmental, social, and governance (ESG)-related matter can be integrated into the key roles of the revised Three Lines Model – […]
In its second report on “Internal Audit in a Post-COVID World”, the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) deals with global supply chains, which were severely hit by pandemic challenges and uncertainties, being only 2% of global supply chains prepared for such an event according to surveys of the US branch of the consulting firm Ernst […]
In its first report on “Internal Audit in a Post-COVID World”, the Institute of Internal Auditors investigates talent management within a post-pandemic setting. In the light of the pandemic-driven demand for flexibility and human-centricity of employees, the findings suggest difficulties of employers to offer the required individual employee’s flexibility while retaining internal audit functions with […]
In its reaction to the European Financial Reporting Advisory Group (EFRAG) consultation on the Draft of European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS), the European Confederation of Institutes of Internal Auditing (ECIIA) is strongly advocating that the EFRAG provides necessary clarity on the role of Internal Audit has in light of ESG matters. To be precise, since […]
In their joint global survey „Internal Audit: A Global View“ by the Internal Audit Foundation and the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA), in which more than 3,600 internal audit professionals from a range of different entities, industries and regions in 159 locations were asked, trends within the development of internal audit functions (IAFs) were examined. […]
In its report, Accountancy Europe, a professional membership organization uniting 50 professional organizations representing qualified accountants, auditors and advisors across Europe, provides clarity on the structure of public audit oversight following changes within European Union (EU) audit legislation in 2014. In light of one key objective within the changes in EU regulation: harmonization of public […]
In their joint survey „Internal Control and the Transformation of Entities“ by the Institute of Management Accountants, the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants and the Internal Audit Foundation, in which more than 1,950 professionals from the areas of finance, accounting and internal audit from a range of different entities worldwide were asked, it was examined […]
In its guidelines, the European Banking Authority (EBA) provides further clarity regarding Directive (EU) 2015/849 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 May 2015 on the prevention of the use of the financial system for the purposes of money laundering or terrorist financing (AML/CFT efforts). Specifying the mandatory introduction of an AML/CFT […]
In their joint report „Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) 101: Internal Audit’s Invaluable Role in Creating a Sense of Belonging at Work,“ the Institute of Internal Auditors, Deloitte and the Internal Audit Foundation discuss how internal audit functions (IAFs), based on their role as an assurance providers, trusted advisors and agents of change, could have […]
The European Confederation of Directors Associations (ecoDa), which represents the interests of approximately 55,000 board members within the EU, has published a position paper on the European Commission’s proposal for a Directive on Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence. The aim of this new Directive would be to foster sustainable and responsible corporate behavior along the entire […]
Increasingly common risks in the cybersecurity perimeter are considered particularly dangerous for businesses. Therefore, this report by the Institute of Internal Auditors of Spain is aimed at audit committee members to raise awareness for such risks, and to point out ways to monitor these. For this purpose, key questions are introduced to help explain the […]
The European Commission’s proposal for a Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) provides for the adoption of EU Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS). EFRAG was invited in a letter from Commissioner McGuinness to provide technical advice and assistance to the European Commission in the form of fully developed draft standards and/or draft amendments to the sustainability reporting […]
The European Commission has adopted technical rules to be used by financial market participants when disclosing sustainability-related information under the Sustainable Finance Disclosures Regulation. Under these standards, financial market participants will provide information about how they reduce possible negative impacts that their investments may have on the environment and society in general. The rules are […]
The current crisis is posing difficult challenges to the Banking System, which is requested to rapidly adapt and cope and market developments with fast-moving regulations. A Banking risk profile can potentially be impacted by a wide range of drivers: business, credit, country, regulatory, liquidity and financial risk, operational/continuity (among which IT and cybersecurity, physical safety), […]
The IIA’s Global Knowledge Brief series on cybersecurity presents an overview of the new SEC proposals, including the implications they have for cybersecurity reporting regulation in the U.S. as well as abroad. It also explores how internal auditors can play an essentiel role in helping their organizations manage an altered compliance plan that new regulations […]
One of the biggest challenges CAEs face is having enough personell obtaining the right abilities to complete their audit plans. To meet this challenge, many CAEs engage third parties for some of their internal audit activities. This report will help internal audit practitioners, managers and audit committees to more effectively manage these chalenges.
The world may have gone digital, but it comes to a standstill when people are missing. We saw that last year, for example, when it caused international delivery delays and rising prices occurred. With the easing of Covid restrictions, companies around the world are realising that people are necessary for the growth and development of […]
The European Commission has introduced a proposal for a directive on corporate due diligence in the field of sustainability. First, it has completed an impact assessment. The proposed directive will require companies to integrate due diligence into their policies and decision-making identify, prevent, mitigate and minimise actual or potential adverse impacts on human rights and […]
Since email revolutionised the way we work, especially the way professionals communicate, the proliferation of faster digital communication tools to support businesses has grown rapidly. It is well known that businesses are faced with a large amount of data volume and complexity that they generate through digital collaboration platforms. Read more about the Compliance Risks […]
Der Bericht „Interne Revision und Compliance: Klarheit und Zusammenarbeit für eine bessere Governance“ in der Reihe Global Perspectives & Insights des IIA erläutert, wieso ein einheitliches Rollenverständnis für eine wirksame Compliance und eine unabhängige Prüfung bedeutend sind. Die Publikation enthält Analysen zur Anwendung der sechs Grundsätze des Drei-Linien-Modells und Beispiele aus der Praxis. Hier können […]
The IIA Netherlands presented the Internal Audit Ambition Model in October 2018. The approach has convinced the representatives of internal audit. With the help of the model, they can define the audit functions, check whether they comply with the standards of the IPPF. In addition, the model supports communication with the audit committee by providing […]
Environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues are a hotly debated topic globally and across all industries and organizations. The pressure on organizations to address ESG issues continues to grow, making it paramount. Internal audit functions are invaluable to companies and should be more involved in their organization’s ESG efforts. The new report „Prioritizing ESG: Exploring […]
The 25th PwC Global CEO Survey surveyed 4446 CEOs from 89 countries.It shows that CEOs remain confident. Around 77 percent of CEOs believe that global economic growth will improve in the coming twelve months (previous year: 76 percent). Nevertheless, there are many threats, uncertainties and tensions. CEOs are most concerned about cyber risks, followed by health risks […]
The 2021 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), released this week by Transparency International, shows that corruption around the world is treading water. 86 percent of countries have made little or no progress over the past decade. The CPI ranks 180 countries and territories on perceived levels of public sector corruption on a scale of zero (very […]
Volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity characterize the digital transformation. In this context, digital trust is highly important. As a result, players must address the factors that influence and shape the future of digital trust. Deloitte presents a future foresight approach to this as part of the study „Future of Digital Trust: Driving forces, trends and […]
Anyone following discussions about the growing importance of compliance as a rule-based management tool may get the impression that integrity and trust have become fundamentally dispensable and that the principles of the honorable businessman are no longer in keeping with the times. But on closer inspection, the opposite is true. In practice, compliance is mainly […]
In terms of the compliance challenges that will be central to financial institution compliance officers in 2022, evidence shows that they will play a key role in addressing risk. A new report, „Compliance Priorities for 2022 in the Financial Services Industry,“ from Protiviti identified several compliance priorities. These fall into three categories: the broader risk […]
The current crisis has shown that we live in a digital environment, and this trend will intensify in the future. Working in a digital environment will be a normal state in the future. IIA Netherlands, in cooperation with EY, conducted a study on how Internal Audit (IAF) is using digitalization technologies such as Robotic Process […]
The concern of executives about the state of the world’s climate has increased in recent months. But optimism that immediate action can make a difference has also increased. This is shown by Deloitte’s new CxO Sustainability Survey 2022. The survey polled a total of more than 2,000 C-level executives in 21 countries. The focus of the […]
To remain relevant in the current business environment, internal audit must maintain an innovative mindset, challenge and update existing audit methodologies, and leverage emerging technologies such as governance, risk, and control (GRC) to improve business collaboration. The report „Using Evolving Technologies to Improve Collaboration: How GRC Software Can Support Risk Management and Internal Audit“ by […]
Through a recent survey of C-level executives and directors worldwide, Protiviti identified 10 top risks for 2022. The top three are presented below. The risk in third place relates to pandemic-influenced market conditions. Especially due to new variants there is uncertainty at this point. Rank two of the major risks relates to the succession problem […]
The European Banking Authority (EBA) published its revised Guidelines on internal governance for investment firms under the Investment Firms Directive (IFD). The guidelines provide details on how the IFD governance provisions should be applied by Class 2 investment firms by setting out the roles, responsibilities, and organization of the management body, as well as the organization […]
What is the relationship between internal audit and compliance? This is the subject of a new report from the IIA entitled „GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES AND INSIGHTS: Internal audit and compliance: Clarity and collaboration for stronger governance“. To explain the relationship between internal audit and compliance, the report uses the three-line model and is a tool for […]
Internal audit is an activity, so go swimming! This Internal Audit 360° article identifies different types of internal audit leaders. How effective they are in the current era of COVID-19 and volatility, uncertainty, and complexity depend on whether they are on the sidelines or surfing the waves of the organization’s problems. Author Dr. Rainer Lenz […]
Internal audit is well positioned to assess resilience risk and embed resilience in organizations. This is demonstrated in the new white paper „Are We Ready? It’s Time for Internal Audit to Focus on Resilience Amid Extreme Change“ from the IIA in collaboration with Protiviti. The paper helps chief audit executives better understand the importance of […]
What will internal auditing look like in the future? As a result of the pandemic, the definition of „normal operations“ for internal auditing has been redefined in almost all companies around the world. Within internal audit, audit plans were changed, site visits became impossible, and new ways of performing daily tasks were found. Many processes […]
We wish you a happy new year! A new article in Internal Auditor magazine summarizes the key findings of the OnRisk Report for 2022. The report surveyed 30 board members, 30 C-suite executives and 30 chief audit executives from 90 different North American companies. It shows that this year risks are being prioritized that have […]
With societal expectations increasingly permeating corporate governance, companies‘ business models must evolve to deliver sustainable value creation that benefits not only shareholders but also internal and external stakeholders and society at large. In this context, ecoDa and Mazars have jointly published a practical guide to help board members and leadership teams navigate their company’s sustainability […]
To date, the field of research related to internal auditing is still relatively small. In the new paper „New Frontiers for Internal Audit Research“ by Margaret H. Christ, Marc Eulerich, Ronja Krane and David A. Wood, concrete recommendations for future research are given. This was accomplished through surveys, interviews, and discussions with practitioners. Overall, three […]
How long should an audit report be? Does are most internal audit reports the right length? For many stakeholders of audit reports in the executive suite and boardroom, the answer is probably that they are “too long!” So, is the answer ten or twenty pages? Is it two or three? This article from Internal Audit […]
The Covid-19 pandemic resulted in many changes, including for the internal audit profession. However, these changes have not been exclusively negative; topics such as flexible working models, automation through data analytics and audit technology are increasingly the focus of internal audit. This new normal brings with it multifaceted challenges, for example, the basic competencies for […]
The Institute of Internal Auditors‘ new Chairman of the Board, Charlie T. Wright, and the Internal Audit Foundation jointly present their white paper „Future Ready: Upskilling Today for the Profession of Tomorrow“. This paper combines findings from research and the Internal Audit Foundation’s global study „Assessing Internal Audit Competency.“ In particular, the white paper addresses […]
Essential to business success and strategic decision making is effective risk identification and monitoring. A new article from Protiviti will address perspectives on establishing and maintaining leading practices in the context of identifying, assessing, mitigating, and monitoring risks arising from artificial intelligence (AI). Specific actions that organizations can take to mitigate risks during the AI lifecycle […]
Getting people interested in the concept of risk management is difficult, partly because it is not seen as a core business and therefore does not get the attention it needs. While risk management should be a dynamic activity that can respond quickly to changing circumstances, in practice it rarely is. In its new white paper, […]
In times of the COVID-19 pandemic, the risk of workplace fraud has increased significantly in many companies and industries. For example, lost revenue has caused companies to reduce their operating expenses. The risk of accounting fraud is increasing. One type of accounting fraud is real earnings management (REM). In this process, managers intentionally create an […]
The Internal Audit Foundation and Deloitte released a joint Premier Global Research Study, “Assessing Internal Audit Competency: Minding the Gaps to Maximize Insights.” The two organizations collaborated to complement the launch of The IIA’s Internal Audit Competency Framework. The resulting comprehensive report outlines five key findings that help identify areas where there are gaps in […]
Whereas a decade ago boardrooms were concerned with the question „should we invest in digital transformation?“ today the focus is on „how much should we invest and, more importantly, how quickly should we invest if we are accountable to our shareholders?“ Although the question may not seem that complex at first glance, many other questions […]
At the latest since the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) came into force in May 2018, data protection compliance has been on the risk map for internal auditing. The significant liability/sanction risks as well as the increased accountability requirements have led to the implementation of data protection management systems in companies and in the […]