Does Internal Audit Need a Social Conscience?
I have a social conscience.
I care about many things but as I grow older and begin to realise that I will leave the planet to my children I begin to care more and more about social issues, including: -
·??????The climate’s impact on our lives (44 degrees Celsius in Italy!)
·??????Diversity
·??????True inclusiveness in our workplace and not just ticking boxes.
·??????Fairness in everything we do
·??????Making sure bullying and subtle mind manipulation is eradicated from our businesses.
As an internal auditor, I have always had a dilemma. Do I use my position to preach as to how my colleagues should behave? If so, what exactly qualifies me to preach? Am I a moral paragon of virtue?
领英推荐
I will leave it to you to decide but the point I am trying to make is that our profession is no more qualified than any other profession to opine on whether our organisations have a social conscience.
This leaves me with a problem. I would like to get out of bed with a strong sense of purpose. It is important that my occupation is aligned with my moral compass.
The good news is that the world of “ESG” has come to my rescue. As a risk based internal auditor, I need to focus on my organisation’s biggest risks.
Guess what? The failure to comply with ESG related regulations now represents one of the most significant inherent risks in business. Please do not take my word for it – ask the CBI, Odey Asset Management or any organisation that ignored the #metoo movement.
The failure to manage these social risks means you can be here one moment and gone the next.
As a profession we are now obliged to make sure our own organisations have developed their own social conscience. Has your company assessed the social risks it runs and designed and effectively implemented a set of mitigants? Has your organisation built a?heart-mind?connection between its employees and its expectations in terms of behaviour?
How is your social conscience?
Vice President - Group Audit Staff Development, Deutsche Bank ENTP-A
1 年Involvement in, and support of causes and social undertakings outside the workplace is an important means for channelling business and professional skills for the benefit of others. It helps us to be more rounded as individuals
Highly experienced Internal Audit, Risk & Technology Assurance professional, fractional Chief Audit Executive, Non Exec Director and Audit Committee member.
1 年Thanks Sandro, I agree. For many years now, I've always ensured that my various Internal Audit Teams could do something to make a difference. That has included a charitable donation for every trainee to Macmillan Cancer Support, a day gardening & painting outdoor furniture at a respite centre, restoring public gardens at Margam, helping City Hospice with their Forever Flowers campaign at Cardiff Castle. The Team decides the project and I enable the day and also take part. We benefit from a team development activity and achieve a sense of satisfaction. I would encourage Internal Audit Teams to make a difference to your community, it's rewarding on so many levels. It's not preaching, and sets an example for others to consider emulating. I would also add that charities are seeking the professional skills that we have, so I have always encouraged people to join Audit Committees pro bono. It's good for them and good for the individual. There is much we can do and perhaps the IIA could consider a national volunteering scheme ??
Fortifying Bank Against Risks || Vice President bei SMBC GROUP EU AG- Internal Audit|| CISA, CFE, CC
1 年Completely agree, it instils in us a sense of purpose.