Amid challenges, internal auditors must relentlessly develop competencies in ethical decision-making.
The success of any internal audit function depends equally on the compliance of the internal audit function with the Global Internal Audit Standards and the ethical competencies of individual internal auditors.
Internal auditors need to maintain ethical behavior at all times, as they have been entrusted with both assurance and advisory roles by the board of directors, management, and the public. The trust placed in the internal auditing profession by various stakeholders underscores the importance of adhering to ethical standards in all circumstances. This assertion underpins the purpose of internal audit described in the new Global Internal Audit Standards.
In addition, Standards 1.1 Honesty And Professional Courage and 1.2 Organization’s Ethical Expectations draw attention to the importance of avoiding conflicts of interest to maintain impartiality and promote ethical behavior within the organization. This is significant because internal auditors must be change agents, enhancing the general ethical culture of the organization. Employees are more likely to embrace and adopt ethical behavior when they witness it in action, leading to a positive ethical environment throughout the organization.