Practical Ways to Use AI Across the Audit Lifecycle
Artificial intelligence can help internal auditors work more efficiently, analyze information more effectively, and communicate results more clearly, but only when it is used with appropriate judgment and safeguards.
This practical course explores how auditors can use AI throughout planning, fieldwork, reporting, and follow-up for tasks such as identifying risks, developing audit programs, organizing walkthrough notes, analyzing data, drafting executive communication, and tracking issues.
Participants will also learn how to establish guardrails, validate AI-generated content, protect sensitive information, and maintain professional skepticism.
Updated for 2026, the course includes current AI tools, examples, prompts, and hands-on applications designed to help auditors audit smarter, not harder.
Audit Smarter, not Harder - with Elizabeth and Audie the Internal Otteror!
Elizabeth McDowell, CPA, CIA has over 20 years of audit experience and is the founder of Audit Forward, an innovative internal audit consulting and training firm. Elizabeth is passionate about advancing and advocating for the internal audit profession and was recognized as one of the 2023 Internal Audit Beacons by Richard Chambers. Elizabeth makes auditing and training fun (no, really!) with the help of her mascot, Audie the Internal Otteror. Elizabeth’s most recent industry experience was at Achieve, where she was Sr. Director, Audit Strategy; prior to that, she held internal audit leadership roles at Elevations Credit Union, Fidelity Investments, and Xcel Energy after first starting her career at Ernst & Young.
