How Good a Head of Internal Audit Are You, Really?
Fifty questions across ten competencies and the four faces of a modern head of internal audit — Independent, Strategist, Executor, Advisor. Behavioral and scenario-based, not flattery. About 15 minutes. Built for the people who provide independent assurance: objective, risk-focused, rigorous, and increasingly a trusted advisor the board acts on.
What this assessment measures
10 competencies across the 4 faces of the Head of Internal Audit role — Independent, Strategist, Executor, Advisor — built on the Independent assurance: independence, risk-based planning, execution, advisory. Five questions each: scenarios, honest reads and forced choices designed to resist self-flattery.
Independent
Objectivity, integrity and the courage to report.
- Independence & Objectivity — Reports to the audit committee; conclusions strictly evidence-based, never negotiable.
- Courage & Integrity — Delivers hard truths fairly; surfaces uncomfortable findings regardless of who is involved.
- Assurance & Governance Mandate — A clear, board-backed charter; a crisp third line that strengthens governance.
Strategist
Risk assessment and a living, risk-based audit plan.
- Risk Assessment — Dynamic, evidence-led; deep business understanding; gets ahead of emerging risk.
- Risk-Based Audit Planning — A living plan that points resources at what matters most to the organization.
- Coverage & Agility — Timely, agile audits; continuous monitoring; assurance delivered fast when it counts.
Executor
Rigorous, well-evidenced, data-enabled audit work.
- Audit Execution & Quality — Rigorous fieldwork, robust evidence, true root cause, QA-validated quality.
- Data Analytics & Modern Methods — Analytics across the lifecycle; full-population testing; a data-capable function.
Advisor
Insight that drives action; trust with the board and the team.
- Insight & Advisory — Forward-looking insight that changes how the business operates, not just findings.
- Team, Methodology & Stakeholders — A developed bench; a trusted advisor to the committee; trusted on all sides while independent.
How the score reads
- Emerging (0–34) — Foundations forming — operating below a full audit-leadership mandate today.
- Developing (35–51) — Real strengths with clear, nameable gaps before a top internal-audit seat.
- Established (52–67) — A solid, credible head of internal audit across the four faces.
- Advanced (68–82) — A strong audit leader operating ahead of the role — audit-committee-grade.
- World-class (83–100) — A boardroom-grade audit leader — independent assurance that makes the organization stronger.
What you get
- An overall score out of 100 and a maturity level
- Your Head of Internal Audit archetype — the honest read on how you lead today
- A 10-competency radar across the faces above
- What companies actually demand from Head of Internal Audit hires, from real job postings, against your profile
- A personalized AI analysis and development roadmap, delivered by email with a print-ready PDF report
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