Internal Audit Awareness Month – Will we always need it?
May was International Internal Audit Awareness month! This is a worthy cause to market the value that the profession can deliver. However, it occurs to me that other highly regarded careers don’t have such a campaign. Have you ever heard of an attorney awareness day, or an engineering awareness month? I’ve not.
These professions have a higher profile and well understood value proposition to its customers – internal audit is trying to more widely establish itself with its customers and stakeholders: boards, management, organization employees and 3rd parties.
This suggests to me that there’s much work to do to raise the status and perception of the profession with those we serve. We do this by adding value in areas that matter to them! I believe these are operational activities that reduce their risk, makes their lives easier, and allows them to better meet their distinct business objectives.
We do this by engaging and building relationships to gain trust as to what we can do. So get out there sell yourselves! Maybe we can reach the point where a formal awareness month will be superfluous, as we are well known, understood, and sought out by our organizations.