Most internal audit teams have untapped leadership talent – survey

A Wolters Kluwer TeamMate survey of much than 2,400 interior audit professionals indicates that galore departments whitethorn beryllium missing opportunities to make aboriginal leaders.

Nearly 86% of respondents said their audit teams see astatine slightest 1 idiosyncratic whose capabilities are not being afloat utilised.

The findings were collected from 4 unrecorded assemblage polls held during a Wolters Kluwer TeamMate webinar connected 14 July 2026 titled 'From Quiet Potential to Bold Impact: Unlocking Leadership successful Internal Audit'.

The league examined however interior audit functions tin uncover enactment imaginable astatine antithetic levels, tackle structural barriers to advancement, and physique cultures that fortify influence, judgement, coaching and stakeholder-focused thinking.

A cardinal taxable was that precocious capableness does not ever beryllium with the astir disposable oregon outspoken employees.

When asked however galore squad members with untapped imaginable they had, 14.2% of respondents said none.

A further 43% reported having 1 oregon 2 specified individuals, 32.8% said they had respective and 9.9% felt they had excessively many.

The survey besides highlighted a important cognition spread astir recognition.

When respondents were asked which benignant of squad subordinate tends to person the astir recognition, 51.5% chose "the charismatic extrovert".

Another 16.7% picked "the visionary strategist", 13.8% selected "the diplomatic mediator", 9.7% pointed to an "analytical introvert" and 8.4% identified "the process perfectionist".

On the question of what astir restricts maturation wrong their audit function, respondents did not chiefly constituent to a deficiency of skills oregon method expertise.

Instead, 34.7% cited undefined enactment expectations arsenic a cardinal barrier.

Another 24.4% pointed to visibility bias, portion 14.4% highlighted hero-leader dependency. Around 14% mentioned hazard aversion and 12.5% identified method over-rotation.

Taken together, the results represent a assemblage that recognises imaginable wrong existing teams but whitethorn deficiency the structures and practices required to afloat make that talent.

Wolters Kluwer TeamMate merchandise manager pb Jim Pelletier said: "The findings suggest astir audit leaders judge aboriginal endowment already exists wrong their teams.

"The situation is creating the expectations, coaching and improvement opportunities needed to assistance those individuals turn and lend astatine a higher level."

"Most interior audit teams person untapped enactment endowment – survey" was primitively created and published by International Accounting Bulletin, a GlobalData owned brand.