The internal audit (IA) function has become well recognized as one of the key governance
mechanisms, and that role has evolved over time.
Despite its earlier role as a kind of company ‘watchdog’, the nature of IA processes today has expanded and typically encompasses a consulting role, including risk management, control assurance and compliance work.
This is reflected by the new definition of internal auditing by the Institute of
InternalAuditors (IIA) (2011) where it is defined as: