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Architects, wordsmiths, parrots, duckers and naysayers
4 min read
I wrote about accountability more than a year ago. Recently, a colleague whispered to me that it is time to...
Reputation management: Internal audit on the front lines
4 min read
An organization’s reputation can take years to build but it can be destroyed by just one control breakdown, scandal or...
Ontario Act will test public sector trust
4 min read
On October 30, Ontario began second reading of the Public Sector and MPP Accountability and Transparency Act. Despite its esoteric...
The Emperor has no clothes: A lesson in courage
4 min read
In the well-known children’s story, an Emperor falls victim to the charms and manipulations of some troublemakers who convince him...
Demographics and changing demands challenge oversight
4 min read
The Nova Scotia Office of the Ombudsman is a small operation of 17 full-time staff. While the province has a...
An instrument for good governance
7 min read
I think the ombudsman needs to be independent, because without independence you can’t be flexible, accessible and credible. The independence...
Are you getting the most from your internal audit function?
4 min read
Today’s business environment changes rapidly to adjust to evolving conditions and government priorities. In these times of economic constraint, internal...
It’s good for what ails your organization
6 min read
The best internal auditors actually are really good managers first. I can take very good program managers and make very...
An ambiguous role
4 min read
The recent controversy about the actions of some staff members in the office of the Ontario premier has once again...
Misperceptions about internal auditors
8 min read
Most professionals don’t need more than a sentence at a cocktail party to answer the common small talk question, “So,...