Latin America's Audit Moment Has Arrived

The arrival of Vision 2035 marks a turning point for internal audit in Latin America and the Caribbean. This is more than a professional milestone—it's a pivotal, region-defining moment that demands a focused, regionally informed response.

The IIA's Vision 2035 research drew on perspectives from audit leaders and stakeholders worldwide. Its findings are universal in their direction — the profession is transforming, technology is reshaping assurance, and strategic advisory is replacing compliance policing. But the speed, the sequence, and the specific challenges of that transformation look different depending on where you are standing.

Latin America and the Caribbean show strong contrasts. Major financial centers in Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, and Chile have advanced audit teams working at global standards, using analytics and handling complex regulations. Meanwhile, many other organizations in the region face challenges like limited access to tech talent, changing regulations, and governance cultures that are still building the trust needed for internal audit to become a true strategic partner.

These contrasts do not disqualify the region from Vision 2035. If anything, they make the framework more urgent and more relevant. The maturity model at the heart of the Vision 2035 implementation approach is explicitly designed to meet organizations where they are — not where a benchmark says they should be.

Latin American audit leaders must recognize Vision 2035 as an immediate priority. The organizations they serve are already embracing AI, entering digital ecosystems, and managing unprecedented risks. The transformation is not on the horizon—it is already reshaping the region.

In our upcoming presentation, The Audit Function of 2035, I bring a perspective rooted in more than a decade of working directly with audit functions across Latin America and the Caribbean. The implementation roadmap I present was built with the realities of this region in mind — practical, scalable, and actionable, regardless of where your function currently stands on the maturity spectrum.

Latin America's audit moment is here. The real question now is who will take the lead.