The innovation imperative: Forging internal audit's path to greater impact and influence

Deloitte’s global survey report, The innovation imperative: Forging Internal Audit’s path to greater impact and influence, explores the current state of Internal Audit functions worldwide, focusing on those with the greatest impact and influence within their broader organization.

Companies in every industry are innovating, but in many cases, the Internal Audit function historically hasn’t been keeping pace. Our survey findings indicate progress over the last two years in the extent to which CAEs perceive their functions to have impact and influence. But a deeper look reveals significant need—and opportunity—for Internal Audit groups to embrace innovation to meet the evolving needs of the organization and deliver more value.

The report discusses:

• Key survey findings regarding the current state of Internal Audit functions in nearly a dozen critical areas, including analytics, Robotic Process Automation (RPA), Agile Internal Audit, and cyber risk 
• What the functions with high impact and influence are doing in each of these areas
• Key considerations to become more innovative and, as a result, more impactful and influential within the organization

High-impact functions are embracing new approaches to Internal Audit work and to how they serve their stakeholders. They are adopting advanced analytics and new technologies. They are broadening their services into areas such as culture assessments, and they are addressing talent issues through alternative resourcing models. In sum, they are doing things differently, innovating along the way.

About the survey

To better understand how Internal Audit functions can enhance their impact and influence within the organization, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited conducted a survey of more than 1,100 Chief Audit Executives from companies representing every major industry and geographic region.