May is Internal Audit Awareness Month, and staff auditor Julie Earls said she and her colleagues want to help educate the campus community about their role on campus.
“The word ‘audit’ often has a negative connotation,” stated Earls. “People usually think we, as internal auditors, are trying to catch them doing something wrong. That is inaccurate. Our goal is to add value to the University as a whole.”
According to Earls, the Internal Audit Department tries to accomplish its goal in three ways:
- By identifying risks that could prevent the University from achieving its goals
- By ensuring the University is held accountable to its stakeholders
- By saving the University money and protecting its reputation
Auditors examine the processes across campus to try to detect where something could go wrong, and then we notify management so they can put protective measures in place before an undesirable impact happens, explained Earls.
Employees are taxpayers, which means we are stakeholders of the University, Earls noted. “Internal audit’s independence and objectivity help promote open communication on issues that require improvement, even when our views as auditors differ from management’s views.”
In its goal of protecting the University’s reputation and saving it money, internal auditors work with departments/units across campus to recognize opportunities for cost-savings.
“We look for inefficient operations, theft, fraud, noncompliance or wasteful spending,” said Earls. “We try to find these before an external party can – not only to save money but to protect our reputation.”
During May, Inside UNC Charlotte will publish short articles related to internal audit topics to help faculty and staff members to better understand the profession and the role and mission of the University’s Internal Audit Department.