The Audit Podcast

This week on The Audit Podcast, Casey Atwater, former Head of Audit at ZoomInfo and founder of Internal Audit Collective, joins the show to talk about how AI is changing SOX, internal controls, and the way internal audit work gets done.
 
We focus on what's actually changing in practice. Casey shares why SOX is no longer just a testing exercise, but a design and architecture problem. As systems change faster and AI gets embedded into day-to-day work, the way controls are built and maintained has to change with it.
 
He explains why controls need to live inside workflows instead of being tracked in spreadsheets, and why management will increasingly take ownership of control design and execution. Internal audit still plays a role, but it shifts more toward advising, reviewing change, and focusing on higher-risk areas outside routine SOX testing.
 
We also talk about the gap between automation and complexity. Even though more systems are being added, many organizations are not seeing meaningful efficiency gains in controls. Casey walks through why that mismatch exists and what it means for audit teams.
 
The conversation ends with practical ways audit teams can start adapting now—by reducing redundant controls, looking harder at which systems actually need to be in scope, and working more directly with control owners to fix issues instead of just documenting them. He also makes the point that while tools and AI will change a lot of the technical work, relationships and communication inside the business still matter just as much.
 
1:42 — ControlBridge AI & the future of SOX
16:16 — Continuous monitoring
09:13 — Getting management to own controls
20:18 — AI beyond testing automation
22:24 — Practical actions for audit leaders
25:17 — Final Thoughts
 
Be sure to connect with Casey on LinkedIn.
 
 
Also, be sure to follow us on our social media accounts on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok.
 
Also be sure to sign up for The Audit Podcast newsletter and to check the full video interview on The Audit Podcast YouTube channel.
 
This podcast is brought to you by Greenskies Analytics, the services firm that helps auditors leap-frog up the analytics maturity model. Their approach for launching audit analytics programs with a series of proven quick-win analytics will guarantee the results worthy of the analytics hype. 
 
Whether your audit team needs a data strategy, methodology, governance, literacy, or anything else related to audit and analytics, schedule.

This week on The Audit Podcast, Angelo Poulikakos, Global Leader of Internal Audit and Financial Advisory Capabilities at Protiviti, joins the show for a wide-ranging conversation on AI, innovation, and what it means to stay relevant in a rapidly changing profession.
 
Drawing from his experience helping organizations navigate AI adoption, Angelo shares how his own use of AI has evolved, why context matters more than prompts, and how audit leaders can move beyond simply becoming faster and cheaper to delivering deeper insights and greater value. He also discusses Protiviti's internal strategy for embracing AI, building future-ready talent, and transforming how audit work gets done.
 
The conversation explores the balance between human creativity and AI, the importance of critical thinking in an AI-driven world, and why staying hungry to learn, experiment, and innovate is essential for the future of internal audit.
 
2:05 - Creativity, Critical Thinking & Technology
8:13 - From Prompt Engineering to Context Engineering
16:58 = What's Next for AI
19:06 - The EAT Framework for Internal Audit Transformation
29:25 - Final thoughts
 
Be sure to connect with Angelo on LinkedIn.
 
 
Also, be sure to follow us on our social media accounts on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok.
 
Also be sure to sign up for The Audit Podcast newsletter and to check the full video interview on The Audit Podcast YouTube channel.
 
This podcast is brought to you by Greenskies Analytics, the services firm that helps auditors leap-frog up the analytics maturity model. Their approach for launching audit analytics programs with a series of proven quick-win analytics will guarantee the results worthy of the analytics hype. 
 
Whether your audit team needs a data strategy, methodology, governance, literacy, or anything else related to audit and analytics, schedule.

This week on The Audit Podcast, Danielle Ritter, VP and Head of Internal Audit at GitLab and former CAE at Instacart, joins the show to share lessons from her leadership journey and practical advice for audit professionals at every stage of their careers.
 
Drawing from her experience leading audit functions across multiple organizations, Danielle discusses what matters most during a CAE's first 100 days, how to build credibility with stakeholders, and why strong relationships are essential to an effective audit function. She also shares how her team is embracing AI, developing new skills, and preparing for the future of the profession.
 
2:06 – Using AI in work and everyday life
5:16 – Where CAEs should focus: insights vs. efficiency
6:46 – Day One: listening and learning
10:11 – Navigating the CAE interview process
13:09 – How to define and demonstrate value
16:40 – What information belongs in the boardroom
19:00 – A practical approach to building strong relationships
22:45 – AI and the future of job security
27:55 – Making time for self-directed learning
30:07 – Final thoughts: your career does not define you
 
Be sure to connect with Danielle on LinkedIn.
 
Also, be sure to follow us on our social media accounts on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok.
 
Also be sure to sign up for The Audit Podcast newsletter and to check the full video interview on The Audit Podcast YouTube channel.
 
This podcast is brought to you by Greenskies Analytics, the services firm that helps auditors leap-frog up the analytics maturity model. Their approach for launching audit analytics programs with a series of proven quick-win analytics will guarantee the results worthy of the analytics hype. 
 
Whether your audit team needs a data strategy, methodology, governance, literacy, or anything else related to audit and analytics, schedule.

This week on The Audit Podcast, Aadesh Gandhre, CAE at DTCC, steps in as guest host for a conversation with his colleague, Idania Orengo, Chief of Staff, Internal Audit at DTCC, about the human side of audit transformation.
 
Drawing from their experiences at DTCC, they discuss how culture, communication, and leadership help build high-performing audit teams. They explain that innovation is not always driven by technology. Sometimes it comes from simplifying processes, building trust, and creating an environment where people feel comfortable sharing ideas.
 
The conversation also highlights the importance of mentorship, collaboration, and strong relationships in driving successful transformation within internal audit.
 
6:15 - Early Days at Goldman
7:45 - What Makes a Great Leader
9:55 - Feedback, EQ & Confidence
13:55 - The Human Side of Transformation
16:08 - Building DTCC's Audit Culture
18:58 - Leadership Behind the Scenes
23:27 - Strong Teams & Communication
25:36 - ERGs, Identity & Inclusion
27:48 - AI vs Human Connection
30:00 - Innovation That Actually Works
34:10 - Changing the View of Internal Audit
39:50 - Finding Your Voice
41:30 - Final Thoughts
 
Be sure to connect with Aadesh and Idania on LinkedIn. 
 
Also, be sure to follow us on our social media accounts on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok.
 
Also be sure to sign up for The Audit Podcast newsletter and to check the full video interview on The Audit Podcast YouTube channel.
 
This podcast is brought to you by Greenskies Analytics, the services firm that helps auditors leap-frog up the analytics maturity model. Their approach for launching audit analytics programs with a series of proven quick-win analytics will guarantee the results worthy of the analytics hype. 
 
Whether your audit team needs a data strategy, methodology, governance, literacy, or anything else related to audit and analytics, schedule.

This week, Michelle Jackson and Edgar Berrios, internal audit leaders at MIT, join the show.
 
Drawing from their work at MIT, they share a practical perspective on how AI is being integrated into the audit process. Their approach goes beyond the technology itself, emphasizing the importance of guidelines, mindset, and human oversight to create AI solutions that are effective and responsible.
 
The conversation explores how AI is transforming audit teams today. From defining agentic AI to practical use cases like drafting audit findings and improving communication, Michelle and Edgar break down what's actually working in practice. They also discuss the importance of clear governance and human review to ensure quality outputs.
 
The episode also includes a real-world walkthrough showing how to build an AI agent using Copilot.
 
Be sure to connect with Michelle and Edgar on LinkedIn.
 
1:32 - Best Chat prompts
5:10 - Agentic AI Explained
7:00 - Prioritizing Company Use Cases for Agentic AI
10:20 - Developing Guidelines and Guardrails for Agentic AI
14:23 - How to Build an Agent
25:55 - Drafting an Audit Finding
32:17 - Final Thoughts
 
Be sure to connect with Mark on LinkedIn. Also, be sure to follow us on our social media accounts on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok.
 
Also be sure to sign up for The Audit Podcast newsletter and to check the full video interview on The Audit Podcast YouTube channel.
 
This podcast is brought to you by Greenskies Analytics, the services firm that helps auditors leap-frog up the analytics maturity model. Their approach for launching audit analytics programs with a series of proven quick-win analytics will guarantee the results worthy of the analytics hype. 
 
Whether your audit team needs a data strategy, methodology, governance, literacy, or anything else related to audit and analytics, schedule.