The IIA Research Foundation

2009 — A Year in Review

Read a message from The IIARF president, Paul Sobel

The IIA Research Foundation’s (IIARF’s) research pipeline continued to flow despite the financial challenges that affected the organization in 2009. It accomplished this by focusing on:

Expanding knowledge and understanding of internal auditing by providing relevant research and educational products to advance the profession globally.
Asking how The IIARF should be structured to ensure sustainable, global success. li>Challenging staff and Champions from within The Foundation to identify better processes for conducting and managing research initiatives and project development and to investigate more cost effective delivery methods.

Notable successes in 2009 included publishing the research report, Internal Audit Capability Model for the Public Sector, which currently is the most comprehensive document describing the fundamentals for effective internal auditing in the public sector. The World Bank provided financial and technical support to this initiative. Also, The Foundation published five downloadable research reports as a service to IIA Members in 2009, including International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS): What Internal Auditors Need to Know and Why Enterprise Risk Management is Vital: Learning from Company Experiences with Sarbanes-Oxley Section 404 Compliance. Additionally, 11 educational products and 7 Knowledge Reports were issued, including:

Internal Auditing: Assurance and Consulting Services, 2nd Edition
Audit Committee Reporting: A Guide for Internal Auditing
Auditing Compensation and Benefits Programs
Implementing the International Professional Practices Framework, 3rd Edition>

Other highlights of 2009 include:

Development of the Global Internal Audit Survey, a component of the CBOK 2010 Study, for deployment in early 2010 in 22 languages. The results of the survey will present insights on emerging issues and challenges facing the profession, help identify new opportunities for internal auditors to add value to their organizations, contribute to the development of new standards and guidance, and show changes in the profession since the 2006 study was conducted.
Translation of Spanish CIA, CGAP, CCSA, and CFSA certification exam study materials in partnership with IIA-Argentina, IIA-Spain, and IIA-Mexico.
Engaging researchers during the fourth international IT Audit Research Symposium in Johannesburg in partnership with The IIA’s Advanced Technology Committee.
Launching product download deliverability for the online bookstore (www.theiia.org/Bookstore).
Enhancing the functionality of www.theiia.org/Bookstore that enables Bookstore customers to make an IIARF donation at time of checkout.

Research Grants

The Foundation awarded the 2009 Esther R. Sawyer Research Award to Emily Ray at the University of Texas at Dallas for her paper, “Adding Value: How Modern Internal Auditing Assists Organizations in Achieving Strategic Objectives.” This annual award is granted to a student currently enrolled or graduating from the internal audit program at an IAEP school and is based on submission of an original manuscript on a specific topic related to modern internal auditing. The award is funded by a grant from the family of Lawrence B. Sawyer.

In 2009, The Foundation also funded one Michael J. Barrett Doctoral Dissertation Award for Kasey Martin at the University of Texas at San Antonio who is studying the characteristics of internal audits and fraud detection. This grant is designed to provide incentive to future professors who will continue research and education in the profession.

In Appreciation of Donors

The IIARF is extremely grateful for the ongoing support from the individuals, organizations, and IIA chapters and institutes that make its mission possible. The Foundation is able to undertake important research projects, provide relevant research materials, and help define the future of the internal audit profession because of the generous donations from its loyal supporters: individual, corporate, and affiliate contributors; Master Key and Heritage Circle members; and IIA staff and volunteers. Notable support in 2009 was provided by:

PricewaterhouseCoopers, an IIA Principal Partner.
The Association of College and University Auditors, the World Bank, IIA-Netherlands, and IIA-Norway, Research Sponsors.
IIA-Chicago, which entered into a five-year partnership with The IIARF to fund internal audit research.
Paul J. Sobel, Visionary Circle member, and Stephen D. Goepfert, Chairman’s Circle sponsor.
Roderick M. Winters and Microsoft Corporation, recipients of The Foundation’s 2009 Advocate and Friend Award.

Please visit www.theiia.org/Research for a complete list of donors.

Read the full IIA annual report and consolidated financial statements here.