Ep 5: Asking the Right Questions: How Audit Committees Can Better Oversee IA feat. Gavin Martin

Gavin Martin, Experienced Internal and External auditor having worked with some of the largest banks in the world. 🔍 What should audit committees really be asking internal audit? In this episode, host Thomas Michel is joined by governance, risk and control expert Gavin Martin to explore how audit committees can further enhance their effectiveness as stewards of internal audit. With nearly 30 years of experience across internal and external audit functions at organizations like UBS, Credit Suisse, and Lloyds Banking Group, Gavin shares how audit committees can engage more meaningfully, with the right questions, fostering a deeper understanding of risk appetite, and stronger collaboration. 🎧 Key Topics Discussed: • Why understanding internal audit’s risk appetite choices is critical for effective oversight • How to make audit planning and audit universes more transparent to the committee • The power of generative AI in audit, and the behavioral risks it introduces • Rethinking assurance: From single-year outputs to timeless risks perspectives • How audit committees can better challenge, calibrate, and align with internal audit • Why it’s time to balance audit calendars with flexible, risk-based interventions • Building trusted relationships through onboarding, curiosity, and clarity 💡 Takeaway: Oversight isn’t just about reviewing audit reports, it’s about surfacing and aligning on the assumptions and judgments that underpin them. True value lies in transparency, shared risk understanding, and honest dialogue between internal audit and the audit committee. 🎯 Gavin’s Advice to Auditors: “Be brave enough to have the conversations. Focus on outcomes, not just tasks. The real power lies in understanding, not ticking boxes.” 📌 Don’t forget to follow or subscribe to Governance Unplugged on your favorite platform and connect with host Thomas Michel on LinkedIn. Have a guest or topic in mind? Visit keystone-governance.ch to get in touch.