The Audit Podcast

Trent Russell
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Oct 28, 2025 • 27min

Ep 261: Why Auditors Need Smarter Tools w/ Ed Zimmer (ControlSense)

This week on The Audit Podcast, our guest is Ed Zimmer, Founder of ControlSense and Principal at Advanced Risk and Controls Analytics, LLC. In this episode, Ed shares what inspired him to launch ControlSense after decades of experience in audit innovation. He talks about the challenges he saw auditors facing, how ControlSense helps solve inconsistencies in the audit process, and why he believes privacy and security must stay at the center of any AI discussion. Ed also walks through a short demo of ControlSense, showing how the platform brings consistency and efficiency to internal audit workflows. For those listening on audio, the demo portion is available on YouTube here. Be sure to connect with Ed on LinkedIn. Also, be sure to follow us on our social media accounts on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok. Also be sure to sign up for The Audit Podcast newsletter and to check the full video interview on The Audit Podcast YouTube channel. Timecodes: 1:57 - Ed's Go-To AI Prompts 5:16 - What lead Ed to Launch ControlSense 6:55 - Solving Audit Inconsistencies with ControlSense 8:51 – Aligning with Each Company's Audit Methodology 14:22 – What Sets ControlSense Apart from Other AI Tools 22:24 – ControlSense in Action: Demo 31:15 – Why Users Feel Safe Inputting Data into ControlSense 32:45 - Final Thoughts * This podcast is brought to you by Greenskies Analytics, the services firm that helps auditors leap-frog up the analytics maturity model. Their approach for launching audit analytics programs with a series of proven quick-win analytics will guarantee the results worthy of the analytics hype. Whether your audit team needs a data strategy, methodology, governance, literacy, or anything else related to audit and analytics, schedule time with Greenskies Analytics.
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Oct 22, 2025 • 6min

IA on AI – Auditing AI in police reporting

Links: Concerns about AI-written police reports spur states to regulate the emerging practice That Omani Auditor Be sure to follow us on our social media accounts on: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-audit-podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theauditpodcast TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theauditpodcast?lang=en Also be sure to sign up for The Audit Podcast newsletter and to check the full video interview on The Audit Podcast YouTube channel. * This podcast is brought to you by Greenskies Analytics. the services firm that helps auditors leapfrog up the analytics maturity model. Their approach for launching audit analytics programs with a series of proven quick-win analytics will guarantee the results worthy of the analytics hype. Whether your audit team needs a data strategy, methodology, governance, literacy, or anything else related to audit and analytics, schedule time with Greenskies Analytics.
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Oct 21, 2025 • 39min

Ep 260: How EY Is Helping Clients Implement AI w/ Paul Goodhew (EY)

This week on The Audit Podcast, our guest is Paul Goodhew, Partner and EY Global Assurance Innovation & Emerging Technology. In this episode, Paul discusses how EY is helping clients implement artificial intelligence and the importance of understanding both the potential and risks of this rapidly advancing technology. He explains why AI is different from all other tool auditors have seen, outlines how EY's AI Assurance Framework is guiding professionals globally, and offers practical advice for auditors learning to evaluate controls that use AI. Paul also shares his personal approach to staying current—testing at least one new AI tool a month—and how EY is equipping hundreds of thousands of people across the firm with the right skills to use AI responsibly. Be sure to connect with Paul on LinkedIn. Also, be sure to follow us on our social media accounts on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok. Also be sure to sign up for The Audit Podcast newsletter and to check the full video interview on The Audit Podcast YouTube channel. Timecodes: 1:35 - How Paul Uses ChatGPT 7:09 - The One Thing Every Auditor Should Do 9:27 - Why AI Is Different Than Every Other Tool 12:30 - How EY Is Helping Clients Implement AI 17:46 - How Internal Audit Can Build Confidence in AI-Driven Controls 22:21 - Why AI Governance Should Be a Top Priority for Companies 25:21 - When Governance Struggles to Keep Up With Technology 27:45 - Agentic IA Advances within the Next Year 33:44 - Training and Upskilling Teams for the AI Era 37:12 - Final Thoughts * This podcast is brought to you by Greenskies Analytics, the services firm that helps auditors leap-frog up the analytics maturity model. Their approach for launching audit analytics programs with a series of proven quick-win analytics will guarantee the results worthy of the analytics hype. Whether your audit team needs a data strategy, methodology, governance, literacy, or anything else related to audit and analytics, schedule time with Greenskies Analytics.
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Oct 14, 2025 • 36min

Ep 259: What It Really Takes to Modernize Internal Audit w/ Ronnie Welch

This week on The Audit Podcast, our guest is Ronnie Welch, Chief Audit Executive at Guardian Life. Ronnie has spent his career in insurance audit, with experience at MetLife, Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, and several Big Four firms. In this episode, Ronnie talks about how he's modernizing internal audit and shares the practical steps his team has taken at Guardian Life. He explains his three-tier analytics system, which helps his 48-person audit team work more efficiently and make a bigger impact. Listeners will come away with clear, actionable ideas for strengthening their own audit teams—no matter the size. We also highlight Ronnie's achievement of winning Guardian Life's CEO Award nearly ten years before stepping into his current role, showing the dedication and leadership that have defined his career. Be sure to connect with Ronnie on LinkedIn. Also, be sure to follow us on our social media accounts on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok. Also be sure to sign up for The Audit Podcast newsletter and to check the full video interview on The Audit Podcast YouTube channel. Timecodes: 1:06 – How Ronnie Uses LLMs 4:38 – Agent Outsourcing 10:04 – Innovating the Team's Knowledge of AI 15:17 – Who Is Internal Audit's Customer? Let's Serve Them 18:20 – Training for Soft Skills 20:45 – Getting the Entire Team to a Basic Analytics Level 27:12 – Tweaks Made to the Three-Tier System Along the Way 30:13 – Ronnie Wins the CEO Award 32:42 – IIA Vision 2035 33:53 – Final Thoughts * This podcast is brought to you by Greenskies Analytics, the services firm that helps auditors leap-frog up the analytics maturity model. Their approach for launching audit analytics programs with a series of proven quick-win analytics will guarantee the results worthy of the analytics hype. Whether your audit team needs a data strategy, methodology, governance, literacy, or anything else related to audit and analytics, schedule time with Greenskies Analytics.
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Oct 8, 2025 • 27min

IA on AI – Dealing with Unmanageable Expectations of AI within your Company

Be sure to follow us on our social media accounts on: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-audit-podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theauditpodcast TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theauditpodcast?lang=en Also be sure to sign up for The Audit Podcast newsletter and to check the full video interview on The Audit Podcast YouTube channel. * This podcast is brought to you by Greenskies Analytics. the services firm that helps auditors leapfrog up the analytics maturity model. Their approach for launching audit analytics programs with a series of proven quick-win analytics will guarantee the results worthy of the analytics hype. Whether your audit team needs a data strategy, methodology, governance, literacy, or anything else related to audit and analytics, schedule time with Greenskies Analytics.
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Oct 7, 2025 • 28min

Ep 258: Bringing Audit Data to Life with Visualizations w/ Valerie Ann Zappia (Victoria's Secret)

This week on The Audit Podcast, we're joined by Valerie Zappia, Internal Audit Data Analytics Manager at Victoria's Secret. In this episode, she takes the opportunity to address those unanswered questions and share her perspective on the challenges many audit teams are facing today. She discusses the realities of managing data availability and quality issues, how to navigate the ever-present debate around selecting tools, and what she's doing to upskill non-data auditors on her team. Valerie also shares her thoughts on how internal audit can better align analytics work with the broader strategy and priorities of the organization. Be sure to connect with Valerie on LinkedIn. Also, be sure to follow us on our social media accounts on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok. Also be sure to sign up for The Audit Podcast newsletter and to check the full video interview on The Audit Podcast YouTube channel. Timecodes: 1:31 – Tackling data acquisition challenges 6:44 – Choosing the right tools with insights from a data analytics expert 11:55 – Building data literacy among non-auditors 17:12 – Securing buy-in from stakeholders outside internal audit 25:24 – Final thoughts * This podcast is brought to you by Greenskies Analytics, the services firm that helps auditors leap-frog up the analytics maturity model. Their approach for launching audit analytics programs with a series of proven quick-win analytics will guarantee the results worthy of the analytics hype. Whether your audit team needs a data strategy, methodology, governance, literacy, or anything else related to audit and analytics, schedule time with Greenskies Analytics.
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Sep 30, 2025 • 37min

Ep 257: Why Public Sector Projects Fail w/ Matthew Oleniuk

This week on The Audit Podcast, we're joined by Matthew Oleniuk, founder of The Risk Insider and former Chief Audit Executive in the public sector. Matthew shares lessons from 15 years as a CAE, what he's most passionate about right now, and his perspective on how to predict whether public sector projects will succeed—or fail. Be sure to connect with Matthew on LinkedIn. Also, be sure to follow us on our social media accounts on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok. Also be sure to sign up for The Audit Podcast newsletter and to check the full video interview on The Audit Podcast YouTube channel. Timecodes: 2:20 – How Matthew Uses LLMs 5:28 – Advice for CAE Leaders 11:20 – The Dynamics of Building an Audit Committee 15: 35 – The Mindset of Empowering the Team 25:03 – What Matthew Is Especially Passionate About Right Now 29:17 – Why Public Sector Projects Fail 33:21 - Final Thoughts * This podcast is brought to you by Greenskies Analytics, the services firm that helps auditors leap-frog up the analytics maturity model. Their approach for launching audit analytics programs with a series of proven quick-win analytics will guarantee the results worthy of the analytics hype. Whether your audit team needs a data strategy, methodology, governance, literacy, or anything else related to audit and analytics, schedule time with Greenskies Analytics.
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Sep 24, 2025 • 9min

IA on AI – Injected AI Bots and The Rise of Orphan Agents

Links: 2025 Audit Analytics and AI Conference United Airlines AI bot injected because it kept refusing to connect with a human The rise of orphan agents: autonomy without control Be sure to follow us on our social media accounts on: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-audit-podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theauditpodcast TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theauditpodcast?lang=en Also be sure to sign up for The Audit Podcast newsletter and to check the full video interview on The Audit Podcast YouTube channel. * This podcast is brought to you by Greenskies Analytics. the services firm that helps auditors leapfrog up the analytics maturity model. Their approach for launching audit analytics programs with a series of proven quick-win analytics will guarantee the results worthy of the analytics hype. Whether your audit team needs a data strategy, methodology, governance, literacy, or anything else related to audit and analytics, schedule time with Greenskies Analytics.
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Sep 23, 2025 • 40min

Ep 256: Soft Skills = Power Skills w/ Geoff Kovesdy & Jimena Escamilla

This week on The Audit Podcast, we're joined by Geoff Kovesdy, who leads Digital Controls AI and Automation, and Jimena Escamilla, Senior Manager in Deloitte's Advisory group. They share their favorite ChatGPT and Copilot prompts, talk about the one thing auditors should focus on right now, and discuss how audit teams can get AI and innovation wrong—and how to avoid those mistakes. The conversation also looks at leadership, with Geoff's reminder that "soft skills equal power skills." Geoff will also be speaking at the 2025 Audit Analytics & AI Conference on September 24–25. The event is virtual, and recordings will be available. His session will cover "GenAI: The Truth of the Matter and Impact on Risks and Controls." Be sure to connect with Geoff and Jimena on LinkedIn. Also, be sure to follow us on our social media accounts on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok. Also be sure to sign up for The Audit Podcast newsletter and to check the full video interview on The Audit Podcast YouTube channel. Timecodes: 3:18 – How to use AI chat bots 8:19 – The One Thing Auditors Should Do 10:25 – What Happens When Innovation Plans Go Wrong 15:16 – Innovation in internal audit 27:31 – Soft Skills equal Power Skills 31:27 - Accountability Meets Empathy 34:26 – How to Strengthen Your Empathy 37:00 - Final Thoughts * This podcast is brought to you by Greenskies Analytics, the services firm that helps auditors leap-frog up the analytics maturity model. Their approach for launching audit analytics programs with a series of proven quick-win analytics will guarantee the results worthy of the analytics hype. Whether your audit team needs a data strategy, methodology, governance, literacy, or anything else related to audit and analytics, schedule time with Greenskies Analytics.
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Sep 17, 2025 • 10min

IA on AI – How Finance Leaders Are Using AI and What Audit Can Learn

Links: Anthropic reports outages, Claude and Console impacted Charting the Future: How CFOs Are Navigating Change with Technology and Foresight​ Be sure to follow us on our social media accounts on: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-audit-podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theauditpodcast TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theauditpodcast?lang=en Also be sure to sign up for The Audit Podcast newsletter and to check the full video interview on The Audit Podcast YouTube channel. * This podcast is brought to you by Greenskies Analytics. the services firm that helps auditors leapfrog up the analytics maturity model. Their approach for launching audit analytics programs with a series of proven quick-win analytics will guarantee the results worthy of the analytics hype. Whether your audit team needs a data strategy, methodology, governance, literacy, or anything else related to audit and analytics, schedule time with Greenskies Analytics.

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