Episode 209: Internal Audit Structures (Domain 5)

The effectiveness of internal audits depends not just on what’s reviewed, but on how the audit function is structured within the organization. In this episode, we examine audit committees—teams responsible for planning, conducting, and overseeing internal audits to ensure objectivity and alignment with organizational goals. We discuss how committees bring together expertise from IT, legal, risk, and operations, and how regular meetings, defined charters, and reporting mechanisms support transparency and accountability. We also explore self-assessments, which allow teams to proactively evaluate their own processes using standardized checklists or maturity models. While self-assessments can’t replace formal audits, they provide an early-warning system and help teams stay prepared. Internal audit structures must balance independence with collaboration—ensuring that controls are tested without alienating those responsible for executing them.