At a government agency, I met an internal auditor who was technically brilliant, had all the credentials. Knew every policy. But every board meeting, she was asked to “just present the audit plan and findings.” Then sidelined.
I pulled her aside and asked, “Why don’t you present the risk strategy instead?”
She replied, “That’s for the CEO and strategy people.” I laughed. That’s the problem. She didn’t own the seat. She borrowed it.
Six months later, I coached her to repackage her reports: start with a business objective, show the strategic risk, highlight lost revenue or operational drag, and then propose a growth-oriented control.
Her next report sounded like this: “Because of this control gap, we are losing UGX 2.5 billion per year in unbilled services. If we automate the process and link to billing, this can be recovered in Q3.” She started getting invited to strategy meetings.
A year later, she joined the executive team, not as Chief Auditor, but as Director of Business Integrity and Growth.
That is how you break the curse. The fix: how to escape the audit cage
1. Stop being the custodian of past sins. Be the designer of future wins. Don’t just say, “This control failed.” Say, “Here’s how we can redesign it to boost revenue.”
2. Convert findings into financial implications. No one listens to “policy not followed.” But they do listen to “you’re leaking UGX 4 billion because of it.”
3. Learn the language of growth.
Understand ROI, EBITDA, customer lifetime value, product cycles, and pricing strategy. Audit them, yes—but speak like someone who could run them.
4. Build a brand outside the audit.
Write insights. Join transformation committees. Run automation pilots. Lead culture campaigns. Be seen. Audit is your base, not your cage.
5. Ask for more. Do not wait for the EXCO to call. Ask to present. Ask to be part of the turnaround task force. Ask to lead digital audits. Ask to be a risk business partner.
6. Reposition your title.
Stop introducing yourself as “the auditor.” Start saying: “I’m the strategic control partner helping the business grow with confidence.”
Words matter.
7. Get a mentor outside audit. Preferably a COO, CFO, or even a smart Marketing Director. Learn how they think. Steal their worldview. It will make you dangerous, in the best way.
My message to all internal auditors: You are not invisible. You are playing small. The reason you are overlooked is that you built a career on watching others, not becoming one of them.
Change that. From tomorrow, every report you write should feel like a strategy document with risk intelligence baked in.
And when the CEO position becomes vacant, let the board whisper your name, not out of pity, but out of awe. You deserve the corner office. But you must first stop acting like a backroom clerk.
I remain, Mr. Strategy
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