An evergreen challenge for internal auditors is how to make a real impact. Gone are the days when we could simply be value protectors who patrolled the organization looking for fraud, waste, and mismanagement. To make a true impact in 2022, we must also be change agents who are catalysis for transformational ideas that help create value for the organizations we serve.
If you occasionally have doubts about the impact of internal audit in your organization, you are not alone. A Deloitte survey not long ago found a staggering 60 percent of chief audit executives (CAEs) believed the internal audit function did not have a strong impact and influence within their organization. And, while that was bad news for internal auditors, it was actually an improvement from 72 percent in an earlier survey.