Let’s cut to the chase! The past decade has seen a rise in stature of the internal audit profession that is unparalleled in its history. Leading the way have been the men and women who led internal audit functions in enterprises around the world. In the past few years, I have had the privilege of getting to know many of them and the departments they lead. I am confident when I say that the overall caliber of chief audit executives (CAEs) in 2011 has never been stronger!
I have been in the internal audit profession long enough to remember when there was still a grain of truth in the stereotype that accountants and auditors, by nature, were bean counters who hovered over 16-column spreadsheets.…