WHEREAS, internal auditing is a key process that strengthens organizations and protects stakeholders of both the public and private sectors by helping to identify and manage an organization's risks and ensure policies, procedures, and controls are in place and working appropriately; and

WHEREAS, internal auditing is an established profession guided by a globally recognized code of ethics and International Professional Practices Framework (IPPF), and has evolved into an increasingly sophisticated and complex activity that requires specialized knowledge, training, and education; and

WHEREAS, internal auditors are independent, objective professionals who assist organizations in improving their operations and achieving their objectives by applying a systematic and disciplined approach to evaluating and improving the effectiveness of risk management, controls, and processes; and

WHEREAS, internal auditors analyze their findings and advise organizations, boards, and management on how to maintain, correct, revise, or improve their operations; and

WHEREAS, internal auditors can investigate, identify, and amend processes that may otherwise present risk of inappropriate reporting and even fraud to promote accountability, productivity, and the improvement of management controls in public and private entities; and

WHEREAS, Internal Audit Awareness Month is an opportunity to acknowledge the efforts and contributions of internal auditors to the success of organizations and the global economy at large; and

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Abigail D. Spanberger, Governor, do hereby recognize May 2026, as INTERNAL AUDIT AWARENESS MONTH in our COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, and I call this observance to the attention of all our citizens.