Seven "outstanding and "exceptional" winners named at Institute's Audit & Risk Awards

Seven teams and individuals were presented with awards for their "outstanding and exceptional" internal audit work and "inspirational leadership" at our Audit & Risk Awards on 30 January:

• ‘Best use of Technology’ winner: UBS Group Internal Audit Innovation and Technology Team
• ‘Best Innovation in Training and Development’ winner: Standard Life Aberdeen plc
• ‘Inspirational Leader’ winner: Preeti Sadarangani, Vodafone plc
• ‘Outstanding Team - Financial Services Sector’ winner: Santander UK's Internal Audit Team
• ‘Outstanding Team - Private Sector’ winner: Essentra plc's Group Assurance Team
• ‘Outstanding Team - Public Sector’ winner: Government Internal Audit Agency’s BEIS/DCMS Team
• ‘Best Newcomer’ winner: Dev Daworaz, Deutsche Bank.

The Audit & Risk Awards were run in collaboration with PwC who hosted the prestigious event at their More London Riverside Office.

The ceremony took place after the launch of the Internal Audit Code of Practice, whose recommendations are aimed at enhancing the overall effectiveness of internal audit and its impact, within organisations operating in the UK and Ireland. The recommendations can be regarded as a benchmark of good practice against which organisations can assess their internal audit function. The new Code aims to increase the effectiveness of internal audit in the private and third sectors and help businesses better manage governance, risk and internal control following high-profile collapses linked to governance deficiencies, including Carillion.

Liz Sandwith, Audit & Risk Awards judge and Chartered IIA Chief Professional Practices Adviser said:

“I want to congratulate: UBS Group internal audit innovation and technology team; Standard Life Aberdeen; Santander UK internal audit team; Essentra group assurance team; Government Internal Audit Agency BEIS/DCMS team; Preeti Sadarangani from Vodafone; and Dev Daworaz from Deutsche Bank for the outstanding and exceptional work that made them Chartered IIA Audit & Risk Award winners.  

“This year’s Audit & Risk Awards shows the outstanding and exceptional work that internal auditors are doing everyday which is helping boards to better manage the challenges they face.  

“In January, we launched the Internal Audit Code of Practice to raise the status and scope of internal audit. We urge boards, audit committees and Chief Audit Executives to apply our new Code to harness the power of internal audit within their organisations. “

Notes for editors

1. In the ‘Best use of Technology’ award, the judges highly commended: Credit Suisse's, Group Internal Audit, Data Analytics and Innovation Team.

2. Pictures from our Audit & Risk Awards event will be available to media after the event. Please email Joe.Derrett@iia.org.uk to request pictures.

3. Our Audit & Risk Award judges were Geraldine Rutter - PwC, Partner; Ruth Prickett - Editor, Audit & Risk magazine; Elizabeth Honer - Chief Executive, Government Internal Audit Agency (GIAA); and Liz Sandwith - Chief Professional Practices Advisor, Chartered IIA.

4. The Chartered IIA is the only professional body dedicated exclusively to training, supporting and representing internal auditors in the UK and Ireland. We have 10,000 members in all sectors of the economy. First established in 1948, we obtained our Royal Charter in 2010. Over 2,000 members are Chartered Internal Auditors and have earned the designation CMIIA. About 1,000 of our members hold the position of head of internal audit and the majority of FTSE 100 companies are represented among our membership. Members are part of a global network of 200,000.