In the intricate world of corporate governance, the bridge between the Audit Committee and Internal Audit determines whether an organization sails smoothly toward transparency—or flounders in turbulent waters.
Bridging the Gap: Strengthening the Bond between Audit Committee and Internal Audit is both a compass and a chart for those navigating this essential relationship. Drawing on decades of real-world experience, Denise Cicchella illuminates how communication, trust, and shared purpose transform oversight from formality into foresight.
Through vivid metaphor and grounded guidance, Bridging the Gap explores the evolving role of the Audit Committee, the independence of Internal Audit, and the new challenges shaped by technology, regulation, and culture. From handling crises to building confidence, each chapter offers practical strategies for stronger collaboration, ethical leadership, and resilience in the face of change.
Whether you are an Audit Committee member, Chief Audit Executive, board director, or governance professional, this book delivers insight that is both timeless and timely—helping you move from compliance to connection, and from oversight to impact.
Table of Contents:
Chapter 1: The Helm of Integrity Where purpose becomes the vessel’s wheel and accountability begins its steady turn. Chapter 2: Crew and Charter A look at structures, roles, and the living agreements that keep the ship aligned. Chapter 3: The Golden Thread How values, vision, and a shared mission stitch the two teams into one fabric of trust. Chapter 4: Voices from the Watchtower The art of speaking up, the courage to report what others would rather ignore, and the safety nets that make honesty possible. Chapter 5: The Moral Compass at Work Ethics as navigation; how committees and auditors avoid drift when storms gather. Chapter 6: The Conscience of the Board Why the audit committee must be the steady heartbeat of integrity within the organization. Chapter 7: Harmony on the High Seas Communication as music; how rhythm, timing, and tone keep the voyage smooth. Chapter 8: Briefings on the Bridge Reporting, dashboards, and the quiet choreography of information that guides decisions. Chapter 9: Sinking or Swimming Failures, missteps, case studies, and the lessons rescued from the depths. Chapter 10: Coming Into Dock Preparing for meetings, structuring agendas, and crafting conversations that matter. Chapter 11: Reflections from the Bridge Oversight maturity, performance evaluations, and the learning loops that refine the craft. Chapter 12: Reading the Waters Risk intelligence, environmental scanning, and seeing what others miss before it rises on the horizon. Chapter 13: Storm Sirens and Smooth Sailings Responding to crises, celebrating resilience, and knowing when to tighten or loosen the sails. Chapter 14: Navigational Wisdom Board culture, committee dynamics, and the subtle leadership that steadies a fleet. Chapter 15: Lighthouse of Accountability Transparency, external communication, and shining a safe beam without revealing sensitive cargo. Chapter 16: Beyond the Horizon The future of oversight, technology’s tide, and preparing for the next era of governance courage. Appendix - ESG Transparency Checklist.
About the Author :
Denise Cicchella has spent her career where courage meets clarity, steering organizations toward stronger governance with a blend of insight, empathy, and unwavering integrity. A seasoned auditor who cut her teeth in construction sites, boardrooms, and the unpredictable wilds of real-world oversight, she has become a trusted voice in internal audit, fraud prevention, and organizational leadership.
Her work is rooted in truth telling, bridge building, and empowering teams to speak with purpose. As CEO of Auspicium and a respected trainer, speaker, and author, she helps leaders sharpen their thinking, strengthen their systems, and rise to the responsibilities that shape ethical organizations.
Denise brings a storyteller’s heart to a profession often starved for narrative, weaving practical experience with the poetry of possibility. Her writing reflects a life spent walking the line between risk and resilience, always with an eye toward lifting others.
When she is not teaching, writing, or coaching, she can often be found behind a camera, chasing light; in the quiet of nature, listening for new metaphors; or encouraging others to find their own voice and use it with courage.
