​The IIA and AuditBoard Extend $500,000 Scholarship Program to Support Internal Auditors Impacted by COVID-19 Pandemic

‘Elevate Internal Audit Scholarship Program’ Provides Scholarships to Laid-off and Furloughed Internal Auditors for IIA Training and Certification Programs

The Institute of Internal Auditors and AuditBoard, a leading cloud-based audit software platform, today announced the extension of a $500,000 scholarship program to provide access to training and educational courses for internal auditors who have been adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and related economic pressures.

The Elevate Internal Audit Scholarship Program will continue to provide scholarships to internal auditors who have been impacted by layoffs and furloughs. The scholarships can be used to participate in six diverse IIA training and certification program bundles, regardless of the recipient’s professional level or ability to pay. Such programs typically cost in the hundreds of dollars. But, as with many professions, internal auditors have seen mounting job losses and other cutbacks over the past several months. A recent IIA survey found that 21% of audit teams were forced to reduce staff this year as a result of the pandemic.

This scholarship program reflects both AuditBoard’s goal of elevating the audit profession through technology and education and The IIA’s mission to advance the profession by providing educational and training opportunities based on a global set of standards, guidance, and certifications. These overlapping mandates to fuel professional development in the internal audit community are more crucial than ever in today’s dynamic risk environment to help enhance and protect organizational value.

“The internal audit community continues to face the dual challenges of a fast-changing risk environment and difficult market conditions, including unfortunate layoffs and furloughs,” said Scott Arnold, President and CEO of AuditBoard, a leading cloud-based software platform for transforming the way enterprises manage critical risk, audit, and compliance work. “As a company that believes in the power and purpose of the audit community, we’re proud to continue the partnership with The IIA to help internal auditors grow professionally and expand the modern audit skills needed to position them well for their next career step and their future.”

“Organizations of all sizes still face unprecedented challenges from the twin impacts — health and economic — of this unrelenting virus, making internal audit’s role to support sustainability that much more crucial,” said IIA North American Board Chair Nancy Haig, CIA, CCSA, CFSA, CRMA. “Providing six diverse education and training bundles to internal auditors is core to what the scholarship program offers. By helping internal auditors affected by job cuts access our programs without regard to cost, they will be able to maintain and even advance their skills, enabling a quicker transition back to work as the economy recovers.”

Applications for the Elevate Internal Audit Scholarship Program are still being accepted from those pursuing an internal audit career who are currently experiencing a pandemic-related layoff or furlough in the United States and Canada. The scholarships cover the cost of select course bundles focused on modern internal audit practices and innovation, emphasizing the essentials, CIA prep, and information technology. The IIA’s premier Certified Internal Auditor® (CIA®) certification and the AuditBoard Modern Audit Technology course also are included in the scholarship program.