As a freelance internal auditor, I often find myself contemplating the essence of our role and how we can truly add value to the organizations we serve. It’s not always easy to articulate this, especially when the business side may not fully grasp the function of internal audit.
The Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) defines internal auditing as “an independent, objective assurance and advisory service designed to add value and improve an organization’s operations.” While this definition is accurate, it doesn’t always resonate with everyone. Believe me, I’ve tried explaining this to my mom and my 7-year-old daughter, and they’re still trying to figure out what I do!
Recently, I came across a video of Viktor Wooten, arguably the world’s best bass player, explaining the role of a bass player in a band’s rhythm section. He said, “I am going to reshape his groove and make it sound better”, “My job is not just to play with him, my job is to make him sound BETTER.”
This struck a chord with me. As internal auditors, our role is akin to that of a bass player in a band. We’re not just there to keep time; we’re there to enhance the rhythm, to make the organization ‘sound’ better. We audit, we advise, and we groove with the organization, helping it to perform its best tune!
What are your thoughts on this analogy? I’d love to hear your insights.