Global Internal Audit Executives Share Best Practices in Latest Edition of Protiviti's 'Internal Auditing Around the World'

Global Internal Audit Executives Share Best Practices in Latest Edition of
Protiviti's 'Internal Auditing Around the World'
Internal Audit Emerges as the Secret Weapon of Choice for Businesses Facing
Significant Change

MENLO PARK, Calif., Oct. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Companies that can adapt in the
face of significant change, and even take advantage of untapped opportunities,
share one thing in common: They understand the power of their internal audit
departments. Protiviti has captured the secrets and best practices of some of
the globe's more internal audit-savvy businesses in the fifth volume of its
Internal Auditing Around the World series - Profiles of Internal Audit
Functions at Leading International Companies Undergoing Significant Change.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090115/AQTH541LOGO)

In the new publication, Protiviti, a global business consulting and internal
audit firm, tells the stories of internal audit departments that are driving
more effective business operations and improving their companies' bottom lines
during times of great change. The latest volume profiles 11 successful
international companies undergoing such significant changes as restructuring,
mergers and acquisitions, and industry transformation.

"The need to create greater transparency, establish sound corporate governance
and understand risk exposures has never been greater. The most successful
internal audit leaders, like those featured in this guide, have identified
ways to partner more effectively with their boards and management, as well as
provide accountability to key stakeholders such as investors and customers,"
said Bob Hirth, Protiviti executive vice president and head of global internal
audit. "Our new edition of Internal Auditing Around the World is designed to
guide and inspire internal auditors to effect change in their own
organizations by sharing the best practices and key insights of internal audit
leaders in companies like Microsoft, Unilever, and United Health Group among
others."

A complimentary copy of Profiles of Internal Audit Functions at Leading
International Companies Undergoing Significant Change is available from
Protiviti at www.protiviti.com/go/iaaroundtheworld5.

One company featured in the new publication - Continental Airlines - has seen
more than its share of changes in recent years. Faced with the triple threat
of reduced airline capacity, increased industry merger and acquisition
activity, and budget cuts, Steve Goepfert, staff vice president of internal
audit, and his lean team have found ways to succeed while doing more with
less. "Too often, when things get difficult, auditors either stay with the
tried and true, like doing the routine compliance audits, or become distracted
and veer in many different directions," Goepfert said. "To ensure we provide
consistent quality to our constituents, we have re-emphasized the importance
of empowering our team by identifying ways to work smarter."

At Gemalto, the world leader in digital security, the internal audit team has
evolved in recent years, growing from two to eight professionals who have
coped with a merger of equals and the resulting department reorganization.
Their success stems from a different approach to the standard internal audit
work. "We operate as an external audit firm would by conducting an unbiased
and independent evaluation," said Pierre-Arnaud Cresson, the company's
director of internal audit. "We want to perform and be evaluated as an
independent third party, so we measure our hours and keep track of the money
we spend. We also aim to obtain the certification of The Institute of Internal
Auditors to guarantee our auditors' objectivity."

"Four years ago, many organizations were investing more in their internal
audit functions to comply with the internal control requirements of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act," Hirth said. "As this guide shows, internal auditors today
find themselves in a very different place and facing challenges difficult to
imagine just a short time ago. Like our featured companies, those who want to
rise above the challenges have to be willing to adapt to change and look
beyond the standard solutions."

About Protiviti
Protiviti (www.protiviti.com) is a global business consulting and internal
audit firm composed of experts specializing in risk, advisory and transaction
services. The firm helps solve problems in finance and transactions,
operations, technology, litigation, governance, risk, and compliance.
Protiviti's highly trained, results-oriented professionals provide a unique
perspective on a wide range of critical business issues for clients in the
Americas, Asia-Pacific, Europe and the Middle East.

Protiviti has more than 60 locations worldwide and is a wholly owned
subsidiary of Robert Half International Inc. (NYSE: RHI). Founded in 1948,
Robert Half International is a member of the S&P 500 index.

Protiviti is not licensed or registered as a public accounting firm and does
not issue opinions on financial statements or offer attestation services.

SOURCE Protiviti

Kathy Keller of Protiviti, +1-650-234-6252, kathy.keller@protiviti.com