Earls earns certified internal auditor status

Julie Earls, a staff auditor with the Internal Audit Department, recently obtained the certified internal auditor (CIA) designation from the Institute for Internal Auditors after passing the final test of the three-part certification process.

Earls, who already holds the certified public accountant designation, has been with the UNC Charlotte Internal Audit Department for two years, following three years with the Office of the State Auditor.

According to the Institute for Internal Auditors, “The certified internal auditor designation is the only globally accepted certification for internal auditors and remains the standard by which individuals demonstrate their competency and professionalism in the internal auditing field. (It) is the most highly sought after global certification for internal auditing professionals.”

The first UNC Charlotte auditor to achieve this designation, Earls stated, “While studying for the CIA exam, I greatly increased my knowledge base regarding what internal audit professional standards require of our Internal Audit Department. What I learned reinforced that UNC Charlotte’s Internal Audit Department is doing an excellent job. Because of my exam preparation, I have some new ideas on how to help our department, and the campus overall, improve our operations through communication, continuous learning and collaboration.”