IIA Responds to Fort Lauderdale Mayor's Concerning Comments about City Auditor's Independence

In the course of publicly discussing the decision, Mayor Dean J. Trantalis stated, “Our auditor, that we hire, is to handle matters that we want investigated.” This statement is troubling and conflicts with the independent watchdog role the City Auditor plays, as documented in the City Auditor’s Office Charter. The charter states:

“All audit activities shall remain free of influence by any element in the organization, including matters of audit selection, scope, procedures, frequency, timing, or report content to permit maintenance of an independent and objective mental attitude necessary in rendering reports.”

While management has input into the internal audit process, they do not control it. The IIA strongly believes that an independent audit function in government helps protect taxpayer dollars and ensures that governments are transparent and accountable to the public. We urge the Mayor and the City of Fort Lauderdale to affirm the need for independence in the City Auditor role.

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Media Contact

Chris Almonte
The Institute of Internal Auditors
Chris.Almonte@theiia.org
+1-407-937-1349

About The Institute of Internal Auditors

The Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) is a nonprofit international professional association that serves more than 230,000 global members and has awarded more than 185,000 Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) certifications worldwide. Established in 1941, The IIA is recognized throughout the world as the internal audit profession's leader in standards, certifications, education, research, and technical guidance. For more information, visit theiia.org.