Competing in a rapidly changing world, companies must grapple with emerging challenges seemingly every day: cyber threats, emerging and potentially disruptive technologies, business performance risk, and more. In this increasingly complex environment, internal audit has a crucial role to play to help the organisation manage risks associated with these diverse business trends.

An impactful internal audit (IA) function should stay current with these wide-ranging business issues as they emerge so it can help monitor related risks and their potential effects on the organisation. To provide the greatest value, IA must find opportunities to challenge the status quo to reduce risk, improve controls, and identify potential efficiencies and cost benefits across the organisation.

KPMG internal audit: Top 10 considerations for 2017 outlines areas where IA should focus so it can effectively add value across the organisation and maximise its influence on the company.

1. Integrated assurance
2. Cybersecurity
3. Emerging technologies
4. Strategic alignment
5. Regulatory compliance
6. Third-party relationships
7. Data analytics and continuous auditing
8. Anti-bribery/Anti-corruption
9. Performance risk
10. Culture risk