Internal Audit

The Internal Audit function supports the mission of the City of Boulder by promoting transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement across the organization. Internal Audit provides assurance and advisory services that help departments strengthen internal controls, enhance operational efficiency, and improve risk management practices that support the city’s overall goals.

The vision of Internal Audit is to earn and maintain the trust of city leadership, employees and community members through work grounded in integrity, respect, professionalism and excellence.

Internal Audit supports internal city operations and reports administratively to the Chief Financial Officer and functionally to the Internal Audit Committee.

Internal Audit work is conducted in accordance with the International Standards for the Professional Practice of Internal Auditing issued by the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA). These standards guide the planning and performance of audit work to obtain sufficient, appropriate evidence that supports findings and conclusions aligned with the audit objectives.

Audits evaluate key internal controls, identify risks, and highlight opportunities for improvement. They are not intended to review every transaction or process in detail. Recommendations reflect identified risks and are designed to help management strengthen processes, improve efficiency, and reduce vulnerabilities.

Internal Audit maintains professional certifications and ongoing continuing professional education to stay current with auditing, internal control, and fraud examination practices.

The Internal Audit Policy, dated 2003, was revised and approved by the City Manager on June 11, 2026, which establishes authority for the Internal Audit Charter and the city’s audit governance structure.

The Auditor will report functionally to the Internal Audit Committee and administratively to the Chief Financial Officer.

Internal Audit Committee

The purpose of the Internal Audit Committee is to provide oversight, structure and support for the Internal Audit function. This Committee is comprised of city leadership. The Internal Audit Committee:

• Approves the Internal Audit Charter.
• Receives communications from the Auditor on the performance of the internal audit program relative to its plan and other matters.
• May make inquiries of management and the Auditor to determine whether there is inappropriate scope or resource limitations.
• The Internal Audit Committee will approve the yearly risk-based audit engagement plan.

Audit Committee

The purpose of the Audit Committee is to provide independent review and oversight of the City of Boulder's financial reporting processes, internal controls and the council-appointed independent financial auditors. This Audit Committee has a minimum of three members, with two members appointed from members of the Council and one member an outside financial expert appointed by Council. The Audit Committee:

• Reviews the annual comprehensive financial report and independent auditors report
• Supports oversight of the contract with the independent financial auditor

A high-quality, transparent annual audit plan is essential to meeting the mission of the Internal Audit function at the City of Boulder. Developing the plan is an ongoing process that includes gathering input from city departments, reviewing past audit results and assessing organizational risks.

The internal auditor conducts independent audits of city departments to help mitigate the identified risk in order to enhance efficiency and effectiveness, reduce cost and improve quality of services.

Internal Audit welcomes employee and community suggestions that may help improve the City of Boulder’s operations. Suggestions are reviewed as part of the annual planning process and relevant ideas may be incorporated into future engagements.

Ideas and suggestions can be sent to internalaudit@bouldercolorado.gov

Public audit suggestions may result in improvements in internal controls, operational processes, resource stewardship or overall service delivery.