Why The Audit Leader Forum™ Exists
Being an audit leader can be tough.
Whether you’re managing your first team or leading the entire audit function, it’s easy to get caught up in daily tactics and lose sight of the big picture.
The Audit Leader Forum™ (ALF) gives you a safe space to connect with peers, talk about real challenges, and share practical solutions.
You’ll engage in real conversations — not theory — with audit professionals who understand your world.
What You'll Experience
🗣 Real Conversations with Real Leaders
Join live discussions where everyone contributes.
- Talk openly about challenges and successes
- Share experiences, best practices, and checklists
- Hear how others navigate the same issues you face
You’ll appreciate the realness of our conversations and the helpfulness from colleagues on every call.
👥 Peer Networking and Support
Build meaningful relationships with other audit professionals.
It’s a safe space to share your thoughts and explore any topic you feel comfortable discussing — from leadership development to board communication.
📋 Practical Tools and Best Practices
Walk away from each session with tools you can use immediately:
- Checklists and frameworks from experienced leaders
- Practical strategies for managing people and priorities
- Real-world ideas to sharpen the saw
🧭 Strategic Thinking Beyond the Day-to-Day
It’s easy to get pulled into daily audit tasks.
The ALF helps you take a step back, think strategically, and focus on the future — where audit is heading and how you can lead it there.
💬 One-on-One Coaching Conversations
Get private support with personalized one-on-one calls.
You’ll receive direct advice on navigating leadership challenges, career growth, and strategic decisions.
✅ 24 Hours of CPE Each Year
Strategic
Mastering the Art of Strategic, Influential and Authentic Audit Leadership
Innovative
Driving Change and Excellence in Internal Audit Leadership
Visionary
Shaping the Future of Internal Audit At Your Organization To Increase Your Value
🚀 Join the Audit Leader Forum Today
Take your audit leadership to the next level.
Engage in real conversations, gain fresh perspectives, and sharpen your saw alongside other audit professionals.
🌟 What Members Are Saying
"I've been officially promoted to the audit leader role to head the Internal Audit department at my company... Couldn't have done it without you! My growth during the last six months since I found the Audit Leader Forum™ has been nothing short of incredible!" - CAE, Real Estate Company
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"The insight I got from this one group call was worth the entire annual investment!" - CAE, Insurance Company
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"I really appreciate the updates and best practices I get with the Audit Leader Forum™. With my busy schedule, it is so nice to get notified about updates that I don't have time to keep on top of with the pressures of leading my team." CAE, Manufacturing Company
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“The most vexing and challenging issues about being an audit leader are usually more about the ‘Executive’ part of the title and less about the ‘Technical’ part of the title. I love the practical leadership advice and training shared in the group.” - CAE, Regional Bank and Insurance Company
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"A big benefit I get from the Audit Leader Forum™ is the leadership tool kit. There's a lot of great information there. That's what I'm getting out of the Audit Leader Forum, and it's what I think other audit leaders could get out of it as well." CAE, Public Transportation Agency
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"I found the lessons from other CAEs so valuable. As a newer CAE it helped me effectively get advice and many different perspectives from others who have done the job." CAE, Mortgage Company.
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"I like hearing the different perspectives and issues others are dealing with. It helps me understand better what is going on in my world and see things with different eyes." CAE, Social Media Company
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"I love this group and the people we've pulled together. I love that there's stability and continuity to it, so that I feel comfortable opening up and sharing with others." - CAE, University System
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“I have met and gotten to know some audit leaders in this program solely via recurring Zoom calls yet feel like I can contact any of them for a confidential chat. That has been priceless.” - CAE, Regional Bank
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Pre-Requisites: Audit Leaders (Manager, Director, VP, CAE)
Field: Auditing
Delivery Method: Self Study and Live Virtual
CPE Hours: 24 hours per year
Format: Live Zoom Calls, Video and Audio Recordings, Resources and Tools
Curriculum
- 2024-09-18 Assurance vs. Advisory Work, Balancing ERM Responsibilities, Staffing Considerations, Being Disruptive (82:58)
- 2024-12-18 AI Use in Internal Audit and Measuring the ROI of AI (72:38)
- 2025-03-19 Transitioning to New Organization, Strategy and Relationship Building (61:38)
- 2025-06-18 Model Risk Audits, Communicating with Audit Committee, Independence for Internal Audit (67:06)
- 2025-09-17 Improving Annual Risk Assessments and AI Use in IA Teams (72:57)
- 2025-11-06 Changing Annual Performance Reviews for New Audit Standards and Best Practices (36:42)
- 2025-10-01 Getting Ready to Roar Book
- 2025-09-17 GAO AI Resources
- 2025-08-01 New IIA Topical Requirement Out for Exposure - Organizational Behavior
- 2025-07-22 Deloitte's Strategic AI Governance Map
- 2025-05-22 Audit Committee Survey and Next IIA Topical Requirement
- 2025-03-10 IIA Pulse Report
- 2025-02-03 EY What Audit Committees Should Prioritize, Cybersecurity Topical Requirement Webinar
- 2024-10-17 AI and AI Governance at JPMorgan Chase
- 2024-09-10 Cyber Topical Requirements Answers
- 2024-08-22 CAQ AC Oversight in the Age of Gen AI
- 2024-05-24 OCC Enforcement Letter Comerica
- Advisory Services Guidelines for Internal Audit (30:27)
- AI in Internal Audit Others Are Using Now (39:55)
- Asking Questions Instead of Giving Advice (5:00)
- Before, During and After the Audit Committee Meeting (159:55)
- CAEs and Executive Presence
- CAE Summit #1 (61:30)
- CAE Summit #2 (52:19)
- Delivering Difficult Messages (4:58)
- Getting Your Budget Requests Approved (6:37)
- How to Position Internal Audit as an Advisory Go To
- Independence of IA, Succession Planning (57:34)
- Keys to Unlocking Relevance and Adding Value
- KPIs for Internal Audit Strategy (25:40)
- Lead Your Team Well (4:08)
- Maintaining Relevance
- Outsourced vs Co-Sourced Internal Audit (19:48)
- Reducing Management Push Back in Audits (17:39)
- Respect for Internal Audit (4:19)
- Smaller Audit Shops, Building Relationships, Asking Better Questions (57:22)
- "Taking" Time Management (5:58)
- The IIA's Three Lines Model (3:42)
- Tips for More Effective Audit Committee Meetings (16:06)
- Traditional Internal Audit Is Dying (6:42)
- Auditors Communicating Like Executives (32:17)
- Becoming a Trusted Advisor #1 (31:28)
- Becoming a Trusted Advisor #2 (32:29)
- Becoming a Trusted Advisor #3 (29:33)
- Habits: Brain Habits (16:00)
- Habits: Identity (15:33)
- Habits: Self Integrity (16:07)
- Habits: Subconscious Reprogramming (19:35)
- Influence: Overview (8:24)
- Influence: Authority (10:54)
- Influence: Consensus (8:19)
- Influence: Liking (15:51)
- Influence: Reciprocity (9:08)
- Influence: Scarcity (8:10)
- Managing Stress and Anxiety in Audit Teams and You (32:48)
- Mindset: Thinking vs Feeling (16:22)
- Mindset: Personal Responsibility (7:14)
- Mindset: Life Interpretations (9:14)
- Mindset: Mindfulness (9:30)
- Ninja Phrases and Questions (28:35)
- Resiliency (11:35)
- Resiliency: Always Look on the Bright Side of Life (3:35)
- Resiliency: Laughter (8:02)
- Resiliency: Moving Up the Emotional Scale (9:02)
- Resiliency: Music and Movement (7:58)
- Resiliency: Relationships (8:38)
- Using the "Get out of BED" Model (61:33)
- CAE Lessons with Mike Joyce (36:56)
- CAE Lessons with Frank Clark (45:28)
- CAE Lessons with Julio Tirado (43:22)
- CAE Lessons with Tom Harris (35:46)
- CAE Lessons with Bruce Turner
- CAE Lessons with Imran Zia
- CAE Lessons with Steve Goepfert
- CAE Lessons with Larry Harrington
- CAE Lessons with Frank Coleman
- CAE Lessons with Sohail Saleem
Your instructor
Jason Mefford brings to the Audit Leader Forum™ a dynamic blend of passion and deep expertise in internal audit, risk management, and compliance. His career is highlighted by pivotal roles such as Chief Audit Executive, Chief Risk Officer, Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer, and Chief Information Security Officer, coupled with his experience as a board member. Through his practical approach, Jason simplifies complex concepts and empowers Chief Audit Executive (CAE) members, audit committees, and professionals in the field to effectively navigate the organizational minefield with a transformative blend of technical and interpersonal skills.
A recognized authority in the governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) domain, Jason's commitment to excellence in leadership and education has earned him accolades including the Rising Star in Corporate Governance from Yale University and a Fellowship with the Open Compliance & Ethics Group (OCEG) Think Tank. His passion for continuous learning is evident in his teaching style – engaging, relatable, and focused on real-world application. Jason's dedication to the profession extends beyond the classroom, inspiring a generation of audit leaders to drive change and achieve new heights in their careers.