The Institute of Internal Auditors’ (IIA) asserts that internal auditing is an “independent, objective assurance and consulting activity designed to add value and improve an organization’s operations.” The IIA also states that internal auditing should help an organization by bringing a systematic approach to improving the effectiveness of risk management, control and governance processes. We use the term “future auditor” to describe a chief audit executive (CAE) who takes definitive steps toward making The IIA’s vision a reality.

The idea of the future auditor points to an endgame to which every progressive CAE should aspire. Given the recent data, we dedicate this issue of The Bulletin to this notion of the future auditor and its implications to internal audit’s value proposition.