IT Savvy Internal Audit Teams Share Strategies in New Protiviti Publication

MENLO PARK, Calif., July 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Internal audit's technology trailblazers are sharing their strategies and successes in the latest installment of the Internal Auditing Around the World series from Protiviti (www.protiviti.com), a global business consulting and internal audit firm. Profiles of Technology-Enabled Internal Audit Functions at Leading International Companies (www.protiviti.com/iaworld) explores how businesses can reap enterprise-wide benefits by tapping into such emerging internal audit technology resources as computer-assisted audit techniques (CAATs) and continuous auditing and monitoring tools.

(Logo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20090115/AQTH541LOGO)

(Logo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090115/AQTH541LOGO)

"In today's increasingly sophisticated organizations, internal audit functions must be technology-enabled to increase the scope and pace of work, as well as to produce better, more timely and reliable results," said Bob Hirth, Protiviti executive vice president and leader of the firm's global internal audit practice. "And, as evidenced by the companies featured in our publication, when the internal audit department makes a commitment to technology, positive impacts can be felt across the business."

The new publication profiles nine international companies that have embraced technology as an integral part of their internal audit functions and have invested in the necessary training to maximize the benefits. Through their stories, these internal audit leaders share how technology has helped them do everything from enhance global risk coverage to meet financial audit objectives while controlling costs to improve work flow and track performance.

"Internal audit now has the capability to examine vast amounts of data, identify patterns and potential risks, and make better recommendations to management and the board in a way that wasn't possible until recently," Hirth said. "There are so many opportunities for technology to advance internal audit that it's almost overwhelming for some companies. By sharing leading practices from internal audit leaders, we hope that the new edition of Internal Auditing Around the World can help guide other professionals as they look for ways to integrate technology into their processes."

Profiles of Technology-Enabled Internal Audit Functions at Leading International Companies covers many of the issues faced by businesses in all phases of IT adoption from the challenges of creating a strategy to the natural progressions of a mature system. For example, the publication describes the Commonwealth Bank of Australia's quest to create continuous monitoring tools for assessing emerging risks across the organization – a process started after spending two years developing a CAATs model. "Our role is to ensure our people have the right audit methodologies, tools and processes to execute high-quality audit reviews and deliver optimum value to the business," said Rachel Grantham, the bank's head of strategy and operations for group audit.

This sixth edition of Internal Auditing Around the World also features such companies as Accenture, Deutsche Bank, SAP and Talecris Biotherapeutics, among others.

Visit www.protiviti.com/iaworld to download a complimentary copy of Internal Auditing Around the World: Profiles of Technology-Enabled Internal Audit Functions at Leading International Companies or to access past editions of the Internal Auditing Around the World series.

About Protiviti

Protiviti (www.protiviti.com) is a global business consulting and internal audit firm composed of experts specializing in risk, advisory and transaction services. The firm helps solve problems in finance and transactions, operations, technology, litigation, governance, risk, and compliance. Protiviti's highly trained, results-oriented professionals provide a unique perspective on a wide range of critical business issues for clients in the Americas, Asia-Pacific, Europe and the Middle East.

Protiviti has more than 60 locations worldwide and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Robert Half International Inc. (NYSE: RHI). Founded in 1948, Robert Half International is a member of the S&P 500 index.

Protiviti is not licensed or registered as a public accounting firm and does not issue opinions on financial statements or offer attestation services.

SOURCE Protiviti