Internal audit leaders need an effective strategy to support the move to flexible and work-from-home arrangements.
Flexible work options are common in the internal audit profession, but the COVID-19 pandemic has ushered in a new time when more and more auditors are working from home. Some audit departments were ready and adapted easily, while others scrambled to install appropriate infrastructure, security, and processes to support remote work. As the threat of the pandemic begins to ebb, some teams will return to traditional work environments while others may consider permanent changes to their office-centric arrangements.
This unique episode in business has demonstrated the viability of flexible, distributed work arrangements, as well as their pitfalls. Allowing internal audit teams to work from home can have significant benefits, but any distributed work strategy must carefully consider all potential security, managerial, and behavioral issues.
