Bridging the Lines: How Internal Audit can Evolve Beyond Assurance to a Strategic Partner
Internal audit is evolving beyond its traditional role of risk and control assurance. In a recent webinar held on 14 August 2025, Nitin Chhatwani, Chief Risk and Compliance Officer & Advisory Partner at TREO, explored how internal audit can become a strategic partner that provides insight, influence, and impact across the organisation.
The session highlighted how internal audit can work more closely with business, risk, compliance, and legal functions, moving beyond traditional audits to support decision-making and organisational resilience. A key focus of the webinar was on soft controls and culture - the human and organisational factors that shape effective governance. Nitin emphasised the importance of understanding leadership behaviour, cultural norms, and ethical practices when shaping audit programmes. The discussion also covered the alignment of audit activities with business strategy and collaboration with other risk functions. These approaches strengthen the role of internal audit as a trusted advisor while maintaining its independence.
Key takeaways included:
- Expanding audit scope to include soft controls and cultural elements
- Measuring the maturity of open reporting programmes
- Providing the board with insights on how culture impacts risk
- Partnering with other risk functions for an integrated view of organisational health
- Balancing independence with business knowledge to deliver strategic value
By integrating broader organisational insights and fostering partnerships across functions, internal audit can play a proactive role in guiding strategy, anticipating risks, and shaping organisational effectiveness.
