Why does internal audit exist? The origin story of the profession
Why don't organizations blindly trust their own numbers? Follow the origins of internal audit from the first clay tablets via the Dutch East India Company (VOC) and the great accounting scandals to the audit function of today. For executives, supervisory board members and anyone outside the audit function who wants to understand what internal audit means for them, with a translation to your own role in every lesson and a glossary of key terms. ยท Level: Foundation.
What you'll work through
- The origins of internal audit: from clay tablet to boardroom
Why independent verification arises as soon as ownership and management drift apart, and how that grew into the profession of internal audit. - Scandals, lessons and the audit function of today
What major control failures such as Enron, Barings and Wirecard taught the profession, and what that means today for boards and oversight.
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Content last updated: 2026-08-24.