PwC: Investing in internal audit innovation to enhance business value

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As the pace of innovation continues to accelerate, internal auditors face the growing challenge of helping their organisations ensure effective processes and controls while helping to drive the growth of their businesses.

A new study from PwC, titled “Moving at the speed of innovation: The foundational tools and talents of technology-enabled internal audit,” reveals that more advanced internal audit functions are creating departments with a cohesive technology and talent strategy.

Surveying more than 2,500 board members, senior executives, and audit professionals across 92 countries, PwC’s State of the Internal Audit Profession report shows that 75 per cent of Internal Audit teams who have a strong technology- and talent-enabled strategy in place are contributing significant value to their organisations, compared to only 34 per cent of teams, which are lacking in advanced technology strategy and skill sets.

“Technology advancements are evolving quickly and organisations are developing tomorrow’s innovations faster than ever before. However, these tools present new risks and leading Internal Audit functions must provide a unique perspective around them early in the technology innovation cycle,” said Jason Pett, leader of PwC’s US Internal Audit, Compliance and Risk Management practice. “The most successful internal audit organisations are not only prepared to help mitigate the risk of these advanced technologies, but are leveraging the very same tools to execute their work in a more effective manner.”

PwC: Investing in internal audit innovation to enhance business value

According to PwC’s survey, only 14 per cent of internal audit functions are advanced in their technology adoption (known as “Evolvers”). Surprisingly, Evolvers are not just found in large organisations or in regulated industries.

They span industries, company sizes, and geographies, suggesting that organisations can overcome stereotypical technology barriers of budget and size. While Evolvers are a small group, they set the example: nearly half (46 per cent) of internal audit functions are following Evolvers’ technology adoption, but at a slower pace (“Followers”). The remaining 37 per cent of Internal Audit functions lag in technology adoption and are considered “Observers.”

Lauren Massey, principal within PwC’s US Internal Audit, Compliance and Risk Management practice, said, “In order to keep pace with their organisation’s innovation agenda, internal audit needs a strong technology and talent strategy to push the boundaries of their own innovation.”

“Internal audit could have the best innovation plan, but will not be able to execute without the right reinforcements. The combination of technology and talent is the key to accelerating progress,” added Massey.