Unsung Heroes - The Institute of Internal Auditors

Unsung heroes of business
You don't tug on Superman's cape, and you don't mess around with them

By Joe Couture
The Leader-Post
Monday, May 28, 2007

Most people would agree that internal auditing is neither the most glamorous nor the most high-profile profession around. In fact, if most people heard the words "internal auditing" in casual conversation, their eyes would glaze over and their minds would wander to the groceries, the laundry -- anything other than the less-than-exhilarating topic at hand.

Others might conjure up images of adding machines or calculators on a desk, over which is huddled a frazzled middle-aged man in a grey suit, crunching the numbers until they can be crunched no more. In reality, internal auditors do very little in the way of number crunching.

That responsibility falls more to external auditors. But misconceptions like these abound about the internal auditing profession. In order to combat that ignorance, the Saskatchewan Chapter of The Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) has declared May to be Internal Audit Awareness Month.

Speaking to internal auditors, one realizes it really is kind of an exciting profession -- one along the lines of Sherlock Holmes or perhaps even Superman. The Man of Steel might be perceived to be boring while clad as Clark Kent. But when the suit comes off ...

Well, no, internal auditors tend to remain fully attired while going about their business. But when it comes down to crunch time (in a non-numerical sort of way) internal auditors are quite literally there to save the day -- and the bacon.

To do this, internal auditors swap the X-ray vision and red cape for a magnifying glass and deerstalker cap. Sherlock Holmes is certainly the fictional character most representative of the profession, according to IIA Saskatchewan Chapter board of governor's member Terry Novecosky.

In the wake of corporate scandals in companies, like Enron and WorldCom, it becomes important to have an investigator on hand to "reasonably assure" that there isn't anyone cooking the books.

"If a problematic case crosses your desk, it's not boring," Novecosky says. "Some times you get calls out of the blue, and you are just presented with an issue that you've got to deal with that could lead to criminal prosecutions, employees being dismissed, anything."

It's not all negative stuff though, as auditors also get to let people know when they've achieved success. One way or the other, it helps to have an investigative and curious personality type, he adds. Hence the Great Detective parallel: "Always with the eye glass looking for the small detail, and trying to get a feel for the big picture by looking at what's going on," Novecosky explains.

But once the investigations are complete, it becomes the job of the internal auditor to make recommendations to make things run better, which in some cases could save the company.

And that's when the mild-mannered Clark Kent hops into a phone booth and breaks out the red-and-blue spandex. "It's exciting," says Brenda Youle, who sits on the Canadian Council of the IIA. "You are making a difference. We make recommendations in our reports, and it's interesting to watch them progress into completion."

That's because the internal auditors are part of the company, while maintaining a degree of separation that allows them to function objectively and independently, explains IIA board member Linda Klassen. "We partner with the managers of the organization to effect change, to make things better," she says. "It's that second set of eyes, internally. We look at what the processes are, and what they should be. We do a lot of research around best practice to be able to add value to the organization."

Although formerly only the realm of those with a financial background, auditors might now be everything from engineers to geologists to human resource experts -- the diversity of experience is valuable as auditors look at all areas within the company, Klassen says.

Because of that, the project-oriented job can be diverse and exciting from day to day, Klassen adds. Auditing really is a strategic arm of the organization, and auditors get to see the overall picture of the company from a strategic level.

"You get to look at all aspects of the organization," adds Youle. "You work with all levels of people within the organization."

In that sense, the internal auditors would be more like the cartoon character Snoopy, according to Klassen. "He always is taking everything in that is going on between the Peanuts characters," she says of everyone's favourite beagle. "He has the strategic view from the doghouse!"

And to best make that happen, auditors can now receive a designation of CIA (Certified Internal Auditor) from The IIA. The worldwide certification symbolizes "competency, commitment to and achievement in internal auditing," according to The IIA's Web site.

Superman, Sherlock Holmes, Snoopy -- in the end, the role of internal auditors really is a far cry from the dull stereotype many might hold.

For more information, visit The IIA's Web site at www.theiia.org.

REPRODUCED HERE WITH PERMISSION FROM THE LEADER-POST IN CANADA.

Quick Search Advanced Search Site Map IIA Popular Pages Find Your Local IIA Research Reports Discussion Groups E-learning Find a Job		Home / The IIA / About the Profession / Promoting / Unsung Heroes Unsung heroes of business You don't tug on Superman's cape, and you don't mess around with them By Joe Couture The Leader-Post Monday, May 28, 2007 Most people would agree that internal auditing is neither the most glamorous nor the most high-profile profession around. In fact, if most people heard the words "internal auditing" in casual conversation, their eyes would glaze over and their minds would wander to the groceries, the laundry -- anything other than the less-than-exhilarating topic at hand. Others might conjure up images of adding machines or calculators on a desk, over which is huddled a frazzled middle-aged man in a grey suit, crunching the numbers until they can be crunched no more. In reality, internal auditors do very little in the way of number crunching. That responsibility falls more to external auditors. But misconceptions like these abound about the internal auditing profession. In order to combat that ignorance, the Saskatchewan Chapter of The Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) has declared May to be Internal Audit Awareness Month. Speaking to internal auditors, one realizes it really is kind of an exciting profession -- one along the lines of Sherlock Holmes or perhaps even Superman. The Man of Steel might be perceived to be boring while clad as Clark Kent. But when the suit comes off ... Well, no, internal auditors tend to remain fully attired while going about their business. But when it comes down to crunch time (in a non-numerical sort of way) internal auditors are quite literally there to save the day -- and the bacon. To do this, internal auditors swap the X-ray vision and red cape for a magnifying glass and deerstalker cap. Sherlock Holmes is certainly the fictional character most representative of the profession, according to IIA Saskatchewan Chapter board of governor's member Terry Novecosky. In the wake of corporate scandals in companies, like Enron and WorldCom, it becomes important to have an investigator on hand to "reasonably assure" that there isn't anyone cooking the books. "If a problematic case crosses your desk, it's not boring," Novecosky says. "Some times you get calls out of the blue, and you are just presented with an issue that you've got to deal with that could lead to criminal prosecutions, employees being dismissed, anything." It's not all negative stuff though, as auditors also get to let people know when they've achieved success. One way or the other, it helps to have an investigative and curious personality type, he adds. Hence the Great Detective parallel: "Always with the eye glass looking for the small detail, and trying to get a feel for the big picture by looking at what's going on," Novecosky explains. But once the investigations are complete, it becomes the job of the internal auditor to make recommendations to make things run better, which in some cases could save the company. And that's when the mild-mannered Clark Kent hops into a phone booth and breaks out the red-and-blue spandex. "It's exciting," says Brenda Youle, who sits on the Canadian Council of the IIA. "You are making a difference. We make recommendations in our reports, and it's interesting to watch them progress into completion." That's because the internal auditors are part of the company, while maintaining a degree of separation that allows them to function objectively and independently, explains IIA board member Linda Klassen. "We partner with the managers of the organization to effect change, to make things better," she says. "It's that second set of eyes, internally. We look at what the processes are, and what they should be. We do a lot of research around best practice to be able to add value to the organization." Although formerly only the realm of those with a financial background, auditors might now be everything from engineers to geologists to human resource experts -- the diversity of experience is valuable as auditors look at all areas within the company, Klassen says. Because of that, the project-oriented job can be diverse and exciting from day to day, Klassen adds. Auditing really is a strategic arm of the organization, and auditors get to see the overall picture of the company from a strategic level. "You get to look at all aspects of the organization," adds Youle. "You work with all levels of people within the organization." In that sense, the internal auditors would be more like the cartoon character Snoopy, according to Klassen. "He always is taking everything in that is going on between the Peanuts characters," she says of everyone's favourite beagle. "He has the strategic view from the doghouse!" And to best make that happen, auditors can now receive a designation of CIA (Certified Internal Auditor) from The IIA. The worldwide certification symbolizes "competency, commitment to and achievement in internal auditing," according to The IIA's Web site. Superman, Sherlock Holmes, Snoopy -- in the end, the role of internal auditors really is a far cry from the dull stereotype many might hold. For more information, visit The IIA's Web site at www.theiia.org. REPRODUCED HERE WITH PERMISSION FROM THE LEADER-POST IN CANADA.