In “Agile Audit Transformation,” Toby DeRoche offers a concise and practical guide for internal auditors adopting agile practices. The book is about 100 pages long, making it easy to get through. It gives you the main points about agile auditing without stuffing in too much extra stuff you don’t need.
Toby also put in some valuable templates and examples that you can use immediately in your company.
The Author: Toby DeRoche
Toby DeRoche is an audit, risk, and compliance expert, offering guidance to professionals in these areas. Toby has a rich background with credentials like a Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) and an MBA focusing on internal audit from Louisiana State University. He holds multiple certifications, including Agile Audit and Risk Management Assurance, and has over 15 years of experience in internal audit and fraud examinations.
He founded Insight CPE, LLC, to support the ongoing education of audit and risk professionals, and he collaborated with cRisk Academy to develop the Certified Agile Auditor Professional course.
Summary
Toby breaks down what agile auditing is all about and why it might just be the game-changer your audit team needs. He’s not just throwing theory at you; he packs the book with accurate, actionable templates and models you can swipe and deploy in your organization.
The book includes discussion questions and real-life examples, providing a detailed guide for improving audits. It goes through all steps of an audit, from the start, doing the work, to the end reports. It also talks about how to keep using agile methods in auditing over time.
Case Studies
Featuring case studies after each chapter in “Agile Audit Transformation” notably boosts the book’s usefulness. Toby DeRoche shows a great grasp of how people learn by including these real-life scenarios, effectively linking theory with actual practice.
These examples show how agile methods can work in different organizations and allow readers to understand and reflect on the triumphs and hurdles others have faced. This aspect of the book is precious, making the shift to agile methods seem more accessible and doable for auditors in various fields.
Insightful Topics
The book shines particularly in its discussion on Agile Audit Risk Assessment and Agile Audit Execution. DeRoche advocates for a revised approach to audit risk, emphasizing the importance of identifying strategic and emerging threats through enhanced engagement with management and self-assessment processes. This strategy encourages auditors to adopt a more adaptable and responsive stance towards the evolving landscape of risks, a foundational principle of agile methodologies.
Furthermore, DeRoche outlines a structured method for conducting audits in an agile manner through sprints and daily stand-up meetings. This approach facilitates better team management and promotes collaboration and transparency with management via sprint reviews. Such a methodology transforms the audit process into a more flexible, open, and iterative cycle.
Agile Drawbacks
Although the book presents the benefits and approaches of agile auditing, it slightly misses the mark in addressing the potential drawbacks or challenges inherent in adopting agile methodologies within audit practices. The book’s brief coverage of the disadvantages needs more depth, leaving readers wanting a fuller exploration of agile auditing’s limitations and when it might not be the best choice.
Conclusion
“Agile Audit Transformation” stands out as an essential resource for audit professionals seeking a comprehensive yet concise guide to incorporating agile practices within their audit functions. Toby DeRoche’s expertise is evident through the practical advice, templates, and frameworks offered, making this book a valuable asset for auditors at any point in their agile journey.
While a deeper dive into the challenges associated with agile auditing would enhance its breadth, the book’s strengths in delivering clear, actionable insights significantly outweigh this minor limitation.
For those aiming to simplify the complexities of agile auditing, DeRoche’s book serves as an excellent primer.
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Implementing an Internal Audit Department: A Case Study
I was tasked with setting up an internal audit function from scratch for a company that recently went public on the NYSE. When I joined in December 2021, the company had no audit or risk management functions.
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