Internal audit insights: High-impact areas of focus 2017

In any organisation, there are numerous areas where Internal Audit’s objectivity, perspective, and skills can assist stakeholders and provide valuable insight. Yet Deloitte’s 2016 Global Chief Audit Executive (CAE) survey revealed that only 28 percent of CAEs believe their functions have strong impact and influence within their organisations. This raises a question: Where can Internal Audit have the most positive impact and influence?

Though the answers differ for each Internal Audit group, generally impact and influence increase when Internal Audit attends to areas of greatest risk, importance, and concern to key stakeholders.

This year’s edition of our Internal Audit Insights series identifies eleven areas of high impact for Internal Audit in the year ahead. It also explains why these areas are important to stakeholders and how Internal Audit might approach the area in upcoming audit plans.