Blog and Resources
Blog and Resources
It’s Time to Modernize Your Internal Controls–7 Principles to Implement Today
For more than twenty years, Risk Oversight has helped organizations design, run, and improve their internal control programs. One belief drives all of it: a control program should make an organization stronger, not just prove it is compliant. This article lays out the philosophy behind our work: seven principles for internal control programs that add value, drive action, and fit how organizations actually operate today.
Could Imagination Be the Hottest New Skill for CFOs and Controllers?
The finance leaders who thrive in this era won’t be the ones with the biggest tech budgets. They’ll be the ones with the most imagination, and the willingness to change something once they’ve imagined it. That second part matters. Imagination without follow-through is just a pleasant afternoon. But you can’t follow through on something you’ve never let yourself picture. So let’s start there.
Long Live Finance Transformation — Just Stop Waiting for the Knight
“Transformation” might be the longest-running buzzword in corporate history. We’ve cycled through business process reengineering, streamlining, optimization, digital, and now “AI transformation.” Same knight, new armor. I’m not knocking anyone mid-transformation — the big programs still have their place. I’m skeptical of the treadmill. And I’m genuinely excited about the new kind of transformation quietly taking its place.
The Real Deal on AI in the Internal Audit World: An Interview with Mike Levy
I recently sat down with Mike Levy, CEO of Cherry Hill Advisory and former chairman of the IIA North American Board, to talk about what’s really happening as AI meets internal audit. Some teams are leaning in. Others are hesitating. Mike has a front-row seat to all of it, and through Cherry Hill Advisory he has launched an impressive range of resources, talks, and free webinars on AI for internal audit.
Working Papers Still Matter–and Work (even in the Age of AI)
We just wrapped up another internal control season, and we always look for common denominators and lessons learned. Our biggest (and least glamorous) takeaway surprised us. Across clients, across the size or maturity of the business, across industries — major energy companies, transportation, energy services, government entities, and not-for-profits — the biggest finding and area for improvement was this: Working papers and reconciliations remain one of the most underleveraged tools in the control environment and one of the fastest ways to add value. Consider this our post-season debrief, delivered with good intentions and strong coffee: the fundamentals still matter. Maybe more than ever.
Two AI Shortcuts for Internal Audit and Financial Reporting (No Training Required)
Risk Oversight hosted several AI peer groups this year, bringing together internal auditors, controllers, and finance professionals to share what's actually working. Not the theoretical stuff. Not the "AI will transform everything" keynote material. The real,...
Forget the Heat Map. Grab a Coffee: Low-Tech Tips to Manage Risk
Disinformation. Geopolitical chaos. Supply chain disruption. Cyber threats. There's no shortage of excellent reports on emerging risks—MNP's Canadian risk trends, Diligent's ERM strategy guide, NSSG Global's five critical trends. All are worth your time. Yet getting...
5 Business Disruptions We Can’t Ignore: The State of Knowledge Work for 2026
Let me be clear: I'm optimistic about AI and the future of work. But optimism without awareness is just naivety dressed up in a vision statement. As we step into 2026, I've collected five ideas that made me stop scrolling and start thinking—the concepts that challenge...
10 Essential Governance Conversations to Have Before the Year Ends
Sure, we've got economic uncertainty and the AI revolution to contend with. But let's not lose sight of the fundamentals—good governance is always in style, especially as we approach year-end. As someone who spends their days (and sometimes nights) in the governance...
Are Your AI Goals Working? A Reality Check on the State of AI Strategy
It's easy to get lost in a tsunami of AI hype. Between vendors promising the moon and consultants positioning themselves as AI prophets, the noise level is deafening. It can feel like everyone is an expert except you. Here's the thing: Most of us in the corporate...