Jamming with Jason Mefford

In this week's #jammingwithjason episode I speak with Frank Coleman about lessons he learned from being a CAE. We discuss various topics including: having think skin, getting a horizontal spread of experience, not losing your cool, and two sides to every story. We also discuss the HR side of being a CAE and how to surround yourself with a great team and dealing with change. So much wisdom from Fra...

Many of you are familiar with ERM, but do you know ESRM? ESRM affects the broadest spectrum of organization, from government, corporations and NGOs, to schools and universities, to entertainment and leisure, casinos and hotels, from oil & gas giants to technology companies and multinationals. Pretty much everyone has to deal with this aspect of #riskmanagement. In this #jammingwithjason #internala...

There are some common problems and mistakes holding most #chiefauditexecutive back from elevating #internalaudit in their organizations, and moving into executive presence where they are perceived as a #trustedadvisor. In this #jammingwithjason #internalauditpodcast I discuss these mistakes and how #CAE can take action to move their career and the profession of internal auditing forward. If you ar...

In this week's #jammingwithjason #internalauditpodcast I'm going to let you in on a little secret. Many of you are playing the game of your career without much help. The problem is, others in your organization are getting help, which means you are playing at a big disadvantage. I'm not talking about a lack of resources or struggling to get budget and support. It's about getting yourself the traini...

In this #jammingwithjason #internalauditpodcast I discuss some things you can do to become a better leader ... one who your people love, and one who gets the most out of their teams. Practical tips you can start applying today that will make a HUGE impact on your ability to lead. Wondering about the title? It's from a song in "White Christmas." What does the movie "White Christmas" have to do with...

If you'd like to avoid terrible advice, cognitive biases, and poor decisions this episode is for you. We've all made some these mistakes that have lead to poor decisions, but we have the opportunity using behavioral economics and neuroscience to become a truly wise decision maker. I'm joined by Dr. Gleb Tsipursky known as the Disaster Avoidance Expert, who has over 20 years of experience dramatica...

The fact is, fewer than 90-95% of people actually follow through with and accomplish their new year's resolutions. The reason: they don't do the things necessary to create new habits, or break old habits. In this episode of #jammingwithjason #internalauditpodcast I dive into 5 things you can do this year to make sure you accomplish more in 2020 and make it an amazing year. You'll hear about: - hav...

The ACFE reports that about 40% of frauds are uncovered from tips to a whistleblower hotline, while internal audit only uncovers about 15% of frauds. While detecting fraud is not internal audit's primary purpose, one is still left to wonder why internal audit doesn't find more fraud, especially since one of the first questions from management is "why didn't audit find this?" Jason Mefford is joine...

In this week's episode I speak with Larry Harrington about lessons he learned from being a CAE. We discuss various topics including: personal branding and your career development plan, benefits of being in roles outside of internal audit, developing and maintaining strong relationships with management, getting a seat at the table, and investing in yourself. So much in this episode. In fact, there...

In this week's episode I speak with Steve Goepfert about lessons he learned from being a CAE. We discuss various topics including the difference between being a Chief Auditor, and being a Chief Audit Executive; what it really takes to be a CAE; how to provide those moments of head snap (you'll have to listen to learn more); how to prove and communicate the value internal audit provides; and not ge...

In this week's episode I speak with Imran Zia about lessons he learned from being a CAE. We discuss how management wants to see internal audit as a partner and trusted advisor. How integrity, courage, likability and trust help you get to that status. We also discuss how to become the CEO of your own career development and that by spending time learning you business and industry is one of the bigge...

If you are like most internal auditors, you've probably experienced feeling ignored or under appreciated by management, and it doesn't feel very good at all. We do have an opportunity to become more aligned with the key objectives of our organization, provide more value and feel confident and valued. In this week's episode of #jammingwithjason I discuss a few of the many things you need to do to s...

Are you making conscious decisions each day to get where you ultimately want to be? Conscious or un-conscious, you are making decisions everyday of your life that have gotten you to exactly where you are. If you don't like where you are, it's time to make some new decisions. In this episode I share some decisions I've made in my life and how they relate to "Why I Do What I Do," steps you can take,...

Certifications are a necessary part of developing your professional career. Without them, you risk being held back in your career earning potential, and promotion possibilities. In today's job market, certifications are becoming more and more important ... but often they can take 1 to 2 years (or more) to obtain using archaic methods typically used to limit the number of people who can obtain the...

As auditors we tend to be a very serious group of people. In our attempt to appear competent and professional we often switch over into the boring, robot-like realm ... a place that gives rise to much of the auditor stereotypes. In this episode we discuss how humor and creativity can actually make us better auditors and more effective in our job, plus we have a lot more fun doing the work. I'm joi...

Internal audit and compliance perform similar, but distinct functions. Both groups need to work together to help ensure compliance with the most important laws and regulations and help organizations avoid significant fines, penalties, and repetitional risk. As part of your risk assessment procedures, you need to be scanning what's happening to other organizations and where governments are focusing...

Even though we have been using the term "risk-based auditing" for over 20 years, many internal audit groups have not really implemented it ... and many mis-understand the concepts behind it. In this episode I explain the challenges and opportunities facing internal audit as a profession and why moving to a truly risk-based approach is the opportunity for us to overcome those challenges. I also dis...

There are quite a few myths and misconceptions surrounding budgets, but three that I find to be very harmful to individuals and organizations. Listen in to this episode to learn how you can avoid the pain of believing these fake numbers and misconceptions. To connect with me on LinkedIn, here's my profile info: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonmefford/ . Send me a personalized connection request a...

Much of your professional success and personal happiness depends on getting others to say ​"YES" to you. That is why it is crucial for you to not only understand, but put in practice the principles of influence, or you will be ignored and hear "NO" a lot. Understanding the principles of influence allows you to ethically leverage human psychology and increase your opportunity to hear that magic wor...

In this episode of our Lessons from a Chief Audit Executive (CAE) series, I speak with Bruce Turner about his career, his most recently released book: "New Auditor's Guide to Internal Auditing," his next book he is writing for team leaders, and how he is giving back in his third act of life to the profession of internal auditing. I had the privilege of working with Bruce on "Sawyer's Internal Audi...

Let's face it. Internal audit can be a very stressful job, which is why on this episode we discuss yoga and breathing as tools to help center yourself, reduce your stress, and increase your productivity as an auditor. You may be asking: "how can yoga help me be a better auditor?" Listen in and you will find out the answer, along with practical tips for how you can do little activities during the d...

There are various roles internal audit can play in major system implementations and one of the most common is post-implementation reviews. Some things can't be changed, or are very expensive to fix, after a go-live. Instead of coming in and bayoneting the wounded at the end of the project, there are several other approaches we can take that actually provide much more value to the organization. Tom...

Ultimately you are the one responsible for your career advancement. Recent surveys show employers are investing less in the training and development on their employees (e.g. 80% of employees state their employer does not offer training, and 86% of workers feel their manager is not skilled in developing employees). Ouch! The truth is, what got you to where you are now, won't get you to where you wa...

Are you a trusted advisors in your organization? You may think so, but do the executives in your organization actually perceive you as a trusted advisor? Most auditors have not reached this status, and instead feel frustrated or ignored. In this episode I'll discuss a framework you can use for determining where you are currently, and what it would take for you to get to trusted advisor status. And...

It's easy to focus our attention on shiny objects since everyone is talking about them and they just seem sexy. Elephants in the room are rarely sexy, but can represent a much bigger risk to your organization, and are often ignored or overlooked. In this episode you will hear how to determine if you are spending your time chasing shiny objects, or focusing on the elephants in the room. How does th...