Global Advocacy

IIA Advocacy

The IIA's strategic plan promises to raise the profile of and demand for internal audit and ensure the profession is recognised as an indispensable resource by key stakeholders. A principle tool for accomplishing this goal is advocacy.

Successful advocacy means honing and promoting key messages to inform and promote the fundamental elements that make an organisation’s internal audit function an essential element in effective governance.

Internal audit makes organisations stronger. Properly positioned internal audit functions that are independent, well-resourced, and aligned with an organisational strategy make for effective internal audit.
When internal audit is effective, it makes the organisation stronger.

The IIA’s International Standards for the Professional Practice of Internal Auditing provide the foundation for high-quality audits that help ensure complete, accurate, and reliable information is reported to the governing body and stakeholders. The Standards are a mandatory element of The IIA’s International Professional Practices Framework (IPPF), which includes the Code of Ethics, Core Principles, and the Definition of Internal Auditing.

The IIA's Certified Internal Auditor® (CIA®) is the only globally accepted certification for internal auditors and remains the standard by which individuals demonstrate their competence and professionalism in the internal audit field. CIAs demonstrate proficiency in the profession and are better equipped to deliver high-quality audits in accordance with the Standards.

Discover more about Advocacy at The IIA.

Global Advocacy: Elevating the Profession

Internal audit is indispensable to governance, and governance supports the success of all organisations. The focus of advocacy and The IIA’s 2030 vision for the profession is that internal audit be recognised as such by the year 2030. To that end, the Global Advocacy Platform document comprises core messages highlighting the nature and value of internal audit, and how it is objective, competent, independent, and trusted. The messaging regarding the contribution of internal audit to governance and risk management addresses the following questions:

What is governance and why is it needed?
How is internal audit indispensable to governance?
How does internal audit contribute to organisational success?
What is needed for internal audit to be successful?
What does it mean for internal audit to be independent and objective?

Collectively, these aim to capture in plain terms the central role internal auditors play in helping organisations achieve their goals.

Download the Global Advocacy Platform resource.

IIA Position Papers

Position Papers assist a wide range of interested parties but are primarily designed to inform and educate internal audit stakeholders on issues of importance to The IIA and the profession. Their focus is generally related to significant governance, risk, or control issues, and delineating the associated roles and responsibilities of internal auditing.