The Audit Podcast

AI is changing the way internal audit teams work, but understanding how to use AI agents effectively requires more than simply adopting new tools.
In this episode of The Audit Podcast, Trent Russell sits down with Rich Penfil, former data science manager of I Audit Ops at PayPal and founder of Assure Swarm, to discuss how AI agents are reshaping internal audit.
Rich explains how he uses AI in his personal life, why auditors should focus on reimagining their methodologies and workflows, and the importance of balancing automation with human oversight. They also discuss agent permissions, the risks of the "Lethal Trifecta," upskilling, and why separating your knowledge base from your AI engine can help future-proof your approach.
Timecodes:
02:50 AI in personal life
05:11 AI and the future of internal audit
06:20 Proactive AI workflows
07:35 Build versus buy
09:29 Human oversight
12:33 Upskilling auditors
13:36 AI agent security
15:43 Knowledge base versus engine
16:57 Audit Innovation Challenge
18:11 Final Thoughts
The conversation also explores how auditors can move beyond AI pilots and begin building practical, governed workflows that create lasting value.
Be sure to connect with Trent Russell on LinkedIn and check out Green Skies Analytics for more resources on audit analytics and AI. 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 check out the full video interview on The Audit Podcast YouTube channel. This podcast is brought to you by Green Skies Analytics, the services firm that helps internal audit teams make analytics actually work. Whether your audit team needs help with an analytics or AI strategy, methodology, governance, literacy, or anything else related to audit analytics, visit Green Skies Analytics to learn more and schedule a call.

In this repeat episode of The Audit Podcast, Trent Russell revisits his conversation with Scott Madden, former Chief Audit Executive and former Senior Product Marketing Manager and Market Advisor at AuditBoard, and now founder and president of Arc Hybrid.
Scott and Trent discuss the human side of internal audit, including building relationships with stakeholders, creating rapport, hiring for character, navigating cost cutting and turnover, and building an internal audit function from the ground up. They also explore how teams can think differently about technology, risk, and the skills needed to build stronger audit functions.
Scott will also be speaking at the Audit Analytics and AI Conference on October 21st and 22nd. His sessions will cover the dual AI engine audit lifecycle model, platform agnostic zero code methods for running a hybrid audit process, and how to evaluate when to build custom AI solutions versus relying on existing software architecture. The conference is virtual and available on demand.
Timecodes
00:00 Introduction + Audit Analytics and AI Conference
02:38 AI and the Human Element
09:08 Building Relationships and Stakeholder Engagement
17:52 Hiring, Character and Team Building
25:44 Cost Cutting, Turnover and Organizational Risk
32:33 Building an Internal Audit Function
40:41 Scott's Career, Arc Hybrid and Lessons Learned
44:45 Final Thoughts
Be sure to connect with Trent Russell on LinkedIn and check out Green Skies Analytics for more resources on audit analytics and AI. 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 check out the full video interview on The Audit Podcast YouTube channel. This podcast is brought to you by Green Skies Analytics, the services firm that helps internal audit teams make analytics actually work. Whether your audit team needs help with an analytics or AI strategy, methodology, governance, literacy, or anything else related to audit analytics, visit Green Skies Analytics to learn more and schedule a call.

This week on The Audit Podcast, Bill Engelhaupt, author of The Productive Auditor and founder and principal of Auditology LLC, joins the show to discuss how internal audit professionals can take back control of their time, reduce distractions, and build more productive audit teams.
Bill explains why productivity isn't simply about getting more things done. It's about protecting your attention for the work that matters most. He shares how interruptions, fragmented work, and constant notifications can turn a task that should take 20 or 30 minutes into an hour, and why creating dedicated blocks of uninterrupted time can make such a difference.
Bill also breaks down his approach to the "Power Hour," a protected block of time where teams agree to eliminate interruptions and focus entirely on getting important work done. He explains how audit leaders can establish this as a team norm and why it can be just as valuable for managers and leaders who need uninterrupted time to review and complete work.
The conversation then shifts to prioritization and productivity for audit leaders. Bill explains why teams can fall into the trap of cherry-picking easier tasks while more important work gets pushed aside. He shares how sprints, daily huddles, and clear team priorities can help auditors stay focused on the work that matters most.
Bill also discusses psychological safety and its role in high-performing audit teams. He explains why auditors and clients need to feel comfortable speaking up about problems and concerns, and how leaders can create an environment where people feel safe sharing uncomfortable information. He also introduces the idea of a pre-mortem as a way to identify potential problems before an audit begins.
The conversation also covers building trust with audit clients, including why auditors should focus on asking questions that encourage real information rather than simply confirming what they already expect to hear. Bill explains why asking "why?" can sometimes put people on the defensive and offers a better approach for getting people to open up.
Finally, Bill shares practical strategies for managing distractions, from turning off Slack and Teams notifications to putting your phone away and preparing your workspace before starting a focused work block. He also discusses the growing challenge of AI as both a productivity tool and a potential distraction.
03:36 Why Interruptions Are Killing Productivity
05:01 How to Protect Your Attention
06:06 The Power of 90-Minute Work Blocks
08:55 How Fatigue Impacts Audit Judgment
11:29 Why Slack and Teams Make Work Take Longer
12:32 Why Humans Are Wired for Distraction
13:27 When AI Becomes a Productivity Distraction
15:13 What Audit Leaders Should Protect Their Time For
16:54 How to Prioritize the Work That Matters
19:20 The Role of Psychological Safety in Audit Teams
23:05 Using a Pre-Mortem to Identify Problems Early
24:13 How to Build Psychological Safety With Audit Clients
25:44 Asking Better Questions During an Audit
26:33 Why You Should Stop Asking "Why?"
27:53 The One Thing Audit Leaders Can Do Tomorrow
29:27 Practical Ways to Protect Your Focus
32:06 Breaking the Habit of Checking Your Phone
34:12 How Productivity Can Give You Your Life Back
Be sure to connect with Bill Engelhaupt on LinkedIn and check out The Productive Auditor and his other resources for practical advice on productivity and internal audit.
Be sure to connect with Trent Russell on LinkedIn and check out Green Skies Analytics for more resources on audit analytics and AI.
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 check out the full video interview on The Audit Podcast YouTube channel.
This podcast is brought to you by Green Skies Analytics, the services firm that helps internal audit teams make analytics actually work. Whether your audit team needs help with an analytics or AI strategy, methodology, governance, literacy, or anything else related to audit analytics, visit Green Skies Analytics to learn more and schedule a call.

This week on The Audit Podcast, Rania Bijlani, Founder & CEO of RB Advisory & Consultancy, joins the show to discuss how internal audit leaders can prepare for the future of the profession, embrace AI without losing human judgment, and build stronger partnerships across the organization.
Rania explains why auditors need to move beyond simply using AI tools and start thinking about how they can audit AI, govern its use, and become part of the strategic conversation around AI. She breaks down the three biggest risks she sees for auditors: failing to learn AI, using it only superficially, and becoming overly reliant on it. She also explains why discernment and judgment will become even more important as AI takes on more of the work.
Rania also shares her approach to helping internal audit teams become AI-ready, emphasizing that training alone isn't enough. Teams need a strategy, an actionable plan, and implementation support to turn what they learn into meaningful change.
The conversation then shifts to one of Rania's biggest areas of expertise: building trust, influence, and real partnerships within the organization. She breaks down the foundation of trust, why credibility and shared purpose matter, and how auditors can move beyond policing the business to becoming true partners.
Finally, Rania shares the biggest lesson she's learned from hosting her own podcast, Impact Legacy with Rania: across industries and leadership roles, it is the human skills — authenticity, self-belief, strategic thinking, emotional intelligence, and relationship-building — that truly make leaders stand out.
Check out Rania's podcast - Impact Legacy with Rania 
 
04:35 Will Auditors Survive AI?
07:02 The Three Biggest AI Risks for Auditors
08:00 Why Auditors Need Discernment, Not Just Judgment
09:24 Why Human Connection Still Matters
14:20 How Internal Audit Leaders Can Prepare for the Future
16:34 Why AI Training Alone Isn't Enough
18:04 How to Build Real Partnerships Within the Organization
19:38 The Foundation of Trust
21:16 Why Relationships Are Built Over Time
22:38 How Trust Builds Influence and Impact
24:12 Lessons From Hosting Impact Legacy
25:03 What Business Leaders Really Care About
26:06 Why Human Skills Make Leaders Stand Out
27:28 Rania's Advice for the Future of Internal Audit
 
Be sure to connect with Rania Bijlani on LinkedIn and check out RB Advisory & Consultancy for more resources on internal audit, risk, governance, leadership, and AI readiness.
 
Be sure to connect with Trent Russell on LinkedIn and check out Green Skies Analytics for more resources on audit analytics and AI.
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 check out the full video interview on The Audit Podcast YouTube channel.
This podcast is brought to you by Green Skies Analytics, the services firm that helps internal audit teams make analytics actually work. Whether your audit team needs help with an analytics or AI strategy, methodology, governance, literacy, or anything else related to audit analytics, visit Green Skies Analytics to learn more and schedule a call.

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Also be sure to sign up for The Audit Podcast newsletter and to check the full video interview on The Audit Podcast YouTube channel.