Internal audit functions face mounting pressures to adapt and excel across diverse challenges. From embracing ethical auditing in everyday decisions to leveraging data analytics for precision and value, the scope of audit transformation is vast. Auditors must uplevel their control testing programs as we enter the new year and strengthen risk management strategies amid rising exposures. In the last year, AuditBoard’s Webinar Series explored key trends and strategies to prepare auditors for the challenges to come, including breaking down silos with connected data, navigating the evolution of IT General Controls, and aligning with The IIA’s new Global Internal Audit Standards.
In 2024, AuditBoard hosted more than 50 audit, risk, and compliance webinars that were viewed by over 80,000 attendees. The outstanding speakers for AuditBoard’s webinars covered emerging topics in audit and internal control, issues related to ethics, the expanding role of auditors, and the new Global Internal Audit Standards. As a bonus, we were able to grant over 65,000 Continuing Professional Education (CPE) credits to support a variety of assurance certifications. In this article in our “Most Popular Webinar” series, we share the primary trends from the audit webinars we hosted in 2024 and how you can access our most popular webinars of the year, now available to watch on demand.
Looking for thought leadership to recommend to your colleagues on other teams? Check out our top 2024 webinars for AI-Powered GRC, InfoSec, Risk Management, ESG, and UK&I and Europe!
2024 Audit Webinar Trends
The most popular audit webinars follow a common theme related to change, including the evolving role of internal audit, changes needed to how auditors conduct their work, and strategies for adopting the new IIA Standards. The speakers all provide timely and practical advice on managing the changes all auditors face, such as increasing the use of analytics, adopting agile auditing, pushing for control automation, and improving communication during a time of change.
AuditBoard’s Most Popular Audit Webinars of 2024
As you explore the many topics available as on-demand webinars, these are the most popular audit sessions from 2024, in no particular order.
- Rising to the Audit Analytics Challenge: How to Prioritize Efficiency, Accuracy, and Value – Trent Russell from Greenskies Analytics and subject matter experts from AuditBoard explore how advanced analytics can transform internal audit and SOX compliance in a time with unprecedented challenges for identifying, mitigating, and responding to emerging risks in a world of diverse digital data.
- Attendee Feedback: “What a great session!! Helpful information from experienced subject matter experts reinforces the work we are doing and where we want to be with analytics. It’s great that the presenters emphasized that there are growing options for user-friendly data analytics tools and that you’re not required to be proficient in coding in order to get into data analytics.”
- Fortifying Audit Committee Relationships: CAE Strategies for Success – Richard Chambers advises auditors on strengthening their relationship with boards and audit committees through better communication centered on the dynamic risk environment to earn and sustain stakeholder trust.
- Attendee Feedback: “Best webinar by far. Richard Chambers has the absolute best hands-on experience for a topic such as this, both from the CAE and the AC side.“
- Upleveling Your SOX Program in 2024 – Tom O’Reilly shares practices and strategies of modern SOX programs, discussing six core tenets — educate, eliminate, delegate, automate, advocate, and increase reliance — to decrease time and resources devoted to SOX, with the ultimate goal of taking on more strategic audits.
- Attendee Feedback: “Wow! More ideas on how to further build and improve the control environment I manage came from this than any other. One of the MOST useful webinars I have been to in a while, thank you!!”
- Trends in IT General Controls (ITGC): Walking the Highwire With Tools and Auditors – Frank Vukovits from Fastpath and Mindi Scorey from AuditBoard discuss practical solutions for auditing automated IT controls, including the need for comprehensive documentation and testing.
- Attendee Feedback: “Excellent. Lots to cover. Engaging and well-handled. I appreciated Frank’s insights on working with auditors, and his approach validates my past experience.”
- Taming the Elusive Risk: Bracing for Heightened Risk Exposure With Audit Transformation – Audit experts from Deloitte, Nelnet, and Delta Air Lines share their experiences leading audit function transformations to modernize their organizations’ practices. They discuss concepts around building a transformation roadmap, developing a culture of continuous improvement, and engaging with stakeholders.
- Attendee Feedback: “I loved hearing how different companies have made improvements to their internal audit functions with specific examples. I enjoyed hearing how each presenter’s organization was handling change management with the new technology that each company implemented.”
- Transforming Audit to Combat Financial Services’ Heightened Risk Exposure – Leaders from AuditBoard delve into the need for a different approach to auditing in today’s risk environment. They share strategies for adopting agile auditing to increase audit’s ability to adapt to rapid changes, especially in the financial services industry.
- Attendee Feedback: “Agile Audit is always in motion, which goes against the traditional model. The subtle yet highly effective presenters showed a path forward rather than a stark choice. Impressive.”
- Breaking Down Silos: 5 Keys to Connected Data and Teams – Melissa Pici from Syniverse shares five keys to successfully driving an integrated audit, risk, and compliance program, including how to best leverage technology to turn risk knowledge into a competitive advantage.
- Attendee Feedback: “One of the best webinars I have ever attended. I have never heard anyone bring so many complex pieces of managing internal audit and its relationships with compliance, risk management, and operations as well as you have.”
- The Expanding Remit of Internal Audit – Tom O’Reilly shares his perspective on the newer roles and responsibilities for Internal Audit, common themes and characteristics of Internal Audit teams with an expanding remit, and how Internal Auditors can better align people, processes, technologies, and strategies for their audit, risk, and compliance responsibilities.
- Attendee Feedback: “As a new CAE, I found this super helpful as I think about where my team is headed. Very informative about how risk management is expanding under the Internal Audit function.”
- Say Something, Even If: Becoming the Everyday Ethical Auditor – Amanda “Jo” Erven, President and Founder of Audit. Consulting. Education. LLC., presents the need for self-reflection so auditors can recognize ethical blind spots that exist and how these can lead to ignoring or rationalizing unethical behavior.
- Attendee Feedback: “Best ethics training I have attended, and I have attended many. Jo was an interesting, energetic presenter who kept my attention the entire time, provided excellent real-world examples, and gave out thought-provoking concepts.”
- Front Line Perspectives on Adhering to The IIA’s New Global Internal Audit Standards – A diverse panel of experts from Boeing, Casey’s, Protiviti, and AuditBoard share perspectives from the front lines on how internal audit teams of all sizes are strategizing and taking action to conform to the new Global Internal Audit Standards.
- Attendee Feedback: “This has been THE best webinar I have ever attended on the new standards, with practical examples with directed actions as opposed to merely rehashing the Standards. WELL DONE.”
Stay Up to Date With Timely Thought Leadership
AuditBoard’s on-demand webinars tackle the most pressing concerns facing audit, risk, ESG, compliance, and infosec teams, offering insights to sharpen your skills and equip your team to handle emerging risks and trends. The strategies highlighted in these sessions will remain crucial to enhancing the value internal audit delivers to organizations as we enter the new year. Now is an ideal time to revisit the expert guidance available in these webinars and many others. Don’t miss the opportunity to register for AuditBoard’s 2025 Webinar Series and earn free CPE credits while staying ahead of the curve.
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