logo-newlogo-newlogo-newlogo-new
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Audit Trail Academy
  • Advisory Services
  • Books
✕
  • Home
  • Chambers on Internal Audit
  • Uncategorized
  • The IIA at 80: A Legacy of Leadership, Collaboration, and Advocacy

The IIA at 80: A Legacy of Leadership, Collaboration, and Advocacy

Internal Audit’s Relationship With the General Counsel Can Be Complicated
November 29, 2021
New 2022 “Top Risks” Report Is Required Reading for Internal Auditors
December 9, 2021
December 6, 2021

Two events occurred 80 years ago this week that are still remembered decades later. The Dec. 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor plunged the United States into the middle of a raging world war that had already engulfed much of the planet. Two days later, on Dec. 9, the 11 founders of The Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) held their long planned inaugural annual meeting in New York City. After the formalities of the meeting that evening, they took time to gather around a radio and listen to President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s fireside chat with the nation in the wake of the attack. The president laid out the hard challenges that America faced as it prepared for a war that would reshape the world.

I have always imagined how those intrepid and motivated founders of The IIA drew strength from Roosevelt’s resolute message at such a pivotal point in the nation’s history. From those beginnings was born The IIA. Eighty years later, The IIA serves the needs of more than 200,000 members around the globe and is the internal audit profession’s most widely recognized advocate, educator, and provider of standards, guidance, and certifications.

Interestingly, when I joined the internal audit profession 46 years ago as a freshly minted college graduate, I actually knew very little about The IIA. But as the decades passed, I became increasingly inspired by the organization, its leaders, and its mission. I became a volunteer almost 30 years ago as a member of The IIA’s Public Sector Committee, and first joined The IIA’s staff 20 years ago this week as vice president in charge of training. Eight years later, I was named The IIA’s ninth CEO. I stepped down as President and CEO earlier this year. My 12-year tenure leading this important organization was the professional honor of my life, and I will always be grateful for the opportunity.

As The IIA’s 80th anniversary approached, I reflected on its legacy in serving and advancing our profession. Entire books have been written on the history of The IIA, but for me, there are three things that have enabled the organization to serve the profession so effectively: leadership, collaboration, and advocacy. On this important occasion, I want to share my personal reflections on each:

The IIA’s success has been built on the shoulders of giants. In first six years from its founding, The IIA was led entirely by motivated and inspired volunteers. Then, in 1947, Brad Cadmus was hired as its first executive director. Brad was the first of now 10 CEOs to help guide The IIA. As I noted in a blog celebrating The IIA’s 70th anniversary 10 years ago, those who came before me were “giants” upon whose shoulders I humbly stood. But, more so than for other professional associations, The IIA’s legacy is one of partnership between staff and volunteer leaders. More than 80 individuals have chaired The IIA’s Global Board over its history, and since 1947, those Chairs and IIA CEOs have worked closely together to bring the organization the leadership it deserves. I served alongside 13 different Chairs and countless other volunteer leaders on The IIA’s Board during my tenure. It was clearly a partnership, but I never lost sight of the fact that the Chair and the board were the senior partners in the relationship. For, if The IIA has exemplified anything, it is as a bastion of strong and effective governance on behalf of its members.

“Progress Through Sharing” is more than a slogan. In the long history of The IIA, only one Chairman of the Board has passed away in office. Ray Noonan died unexpectedly in 1953. His theme as Chair was “Progress Through Sharing.” In his memory, and because it was such a powerful message, The IIA officially adopted those words as its official motto in 1955. More than a tagline, it has helped define and guide the culture of The IIA in the more than six decades since. I can personally attest to that. Sharing knowledge, insights, and leading practices have been guiding principles of the organization, contributing immeasurably to the internal audit profession. For example, volunteer committees and task forces were instrumental in crafting the pillars upon which the profession has been build, such as:

  • Statement of Responsibilities of Internal Auditing in 1947
  • Code of Ethics in 1968
  • Certified Internal Auditor program in 1973-1974
  • Standards for the Professional Practice of Internal Auditing in 1978
  • Vision for the Future (including a new internal audit definition) in 1999
  • Core Principles for the Professional Practice of Internal Auditing in 2016
  • Three Lines Model (for governances and risk management) in 2020

Other professional bodies certainly leverage their members and volunteers to advance their professions, but progress through sharing is in The IIA’s DNA.

Advocacy has forged a strong profession recognized for its resilience and agility. Almost all professional bodies engage in advocacy; The IIA is no different. For at least the past three decades, The IIA has been deeply committed to creating and building awareness about the profession and the value it brings around the world. At IIA headquarters and in chapters and affiliates across the globe, staff and volunteers have partnered to promote the profession to government regulators, global standard-setters, and even legislative bodies. In 2016, The IIA fulfilled a long-planned strategic priority by establishing its first office in Washington, D.C. to advocate on behalf of U.S. members. For The IIA, however, advocacy was never limited to those outside of the profession. Since its inception, The IIA has advocated for professionalism by those who practice internal audit. The pillars I mentioned above, resulting from the hard work of task forces and committees, show the journey has been one of continuously raising the bar for the internal audit profession by elevating standards, guidance, and even certifications.

Reflecting on the 80th anniversary of The IIA, I can’t help but note the disruption the world has faced, especially over the nearly past two years. The second year of the COVID-19 pandemic has been compared to World War II in terms of its global impact. However, unlike those who gathered at the founding meeting of The IIA 80 years ago this week, we have the extraordinary benefit of hindsight and our profession has the benefit of 80 years of growth and maturity. We have proven time and again our resilience in the face of risk-induced disruption. Thanks to The IIA and all that it has done for internal auditing, we are an agile profession that can pivot quickly to address the raging and emerging storms.

Looking forward, I’d like to reflect on a quote by former U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama:

“We’ve got a responsibility to live up to the legacy of those who came before us by doing all that we can to help those who come after us.”

Let’s honor that legacy by each of us continuing to support the important mission of The IIA around the world. As a profession, we will be only as good as we collectively aspire to be. Invest your time and energy into this profession and into supporting The IIA wherever you may be.

Share

Related posts

January 31, 2023

Recent Advice on Hiring Internal Auditor’s You Can ‘Trust’ Is Misdirected


Read more
January 24, 2023

Do Performance Bonuses Impair Internal Auditors’ Independence and Objectivity?


Read more
January 16, 2023

Are Internal Auditors to Blame When Boards Are in the Dark?


Read more

2 Comments

  1. Anton van Wyk says:
    December 6, 2021 at 3:15 am

    Thanks Richard. I am proud to have been associated with the profession for over 35 years now and agree we have progressed through Sharing.

    Reply
  2. Hal Garyn says:
    December 6, 2021 at 4:37 pm

    Having been a member of The IIA for much of my career, having been a chapter volunteer leader, having been a global committee volunteer leader, and having served as a member of senior HQ staff, I hope my small contributions to the success of The IIA have made a minor difference. Thanks for reminded us of the legacy The IIA has had in so many professional’s careers, and may it continue to endure for many years to come. And, thank you for your instrumental leadership role in The IIA’s successes Richard.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

What’s Trending

01-31-23

Recent Advice on Hiring Internal Auditor’s You Can ‘Trust’ Is Misdirected


01-24-23

Do Performance Bonuses Impair Internal Auditors’ Independence and Objectivity?


01-16-23

Are Internal Auditors to Blame When Boards Are in the Dark?


Read More

Archive

  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012
  • December 2011
  • November 2011
  • October 2011
  • September 2011
  • August 2011
  • July 2011
  • June 2011
  • May 2011
  • April 2011
  • March 2011
  • February 2011
  • January 2011
  • December 2010
  • October 2010
  • September 2010
  • August 2010
  • July 2010
  • June 2010
  • May 2010
  • April 2010
  • March 2010
  • February 2010
  • January 2010
  • December 2009
  • November 2009
  • October 2009
  • September 2009
  • August 2009
  • July 2009
  • June 2009
  • May 2009
  • April 2009
  • March 2009
  • February 2009

Contact Us

PO Box 1441
New Smyrna Beach, FL 32170

+1-407-463-9389
rchambers@richardchambers.com

About AuditBeacon.com

AuditBeacon.com is a resource center for internal auditors and risk professionals from around the world. In addition to more than 500 blogs authored by Richard Chambers, the site includes links to news and insights on internal audit and other information that illuminates the value of this important profession. AuditBeacon.com is provided as a service by Richard F. Chambers and Associates, LLC.

Copyright © 2023 Richard F. Chambers & Associates. All Rights Reserved.
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Audit Trail Academy
  • Advisory Services
  • Books