7 customisable OKR examples for Internal Audit
What are Internal Audit OKRs?
The Objective and Key Results (OKR) framework is a simple goal-setting methodology that was introduced at Intel by Andy Grove in the 70s. It became popular after John Doerr introduced it to Google in the 90s, and it's now used by teams of all sizes to set and track ambitious goals at scale.
Formulating strong OKRs can be a complex endeavor, particularly for first-timers. Prioritizing outcomes over projects is crucial when developing your plans.
We've tailored a list of OKRs examples for Internal Audit to help you. You can look at any of the templates below to get some inspiration for your own goals.
If you want to learn more about the framework, you can read our OKR guide online.
Building your own Internal Audit OKRs with AI
While we have some examples available, it's likely that you'll have specific scenarios that aren't covered here. You can use our free AI generator below or our more complete goal-setting system to generate your own OKRs.
Our customisable Internal Audit OKRs examples
You'll find below a list of Objectives and Key Results templates for Internal Audit. We also included strategic projects for each template to make it easier to understand the difference between key results and projects.
Hope you'll find this helpful!
1. OKRs to enhance internal controls for a zero-deficiency internal audit
Enhance internal controls for a zero-deficiency internal audit
Train all relevant personnel on the updated internal control processes
Identify personnel requiring updated controls training- Schedule training sessions for identified personnel
- Conduct evaluation post-training for effectiveness
- Successfully pass the internal audit with zero major findings
- Conduct pre-audit checks to identify potential issues
- Regularly review and update company policies and procedures
- Train staff on audit procedures and expectations
- Implement 100% of internal control recommendations from the previous audit
- Review past audit's internal control recommendations
- Create an implementation plan for all recommendations
- Carry out the implementation plan effectively
2. OKRs to enhance pre-audit inspection for REV Vistex controls efficiency
- Enhance pre-audit inspection for REV Vistex controls efficiency
- Effectively implement at least 3 improvement suggestions by the end of the quarter
- Execute strategy and track progress
- Identify improvement suggestions from stakeholders
- Develop implementation strategy for suggestions
- Identify 10 potential efficiency improvement areas in the Vistex controls testing process
- Analyze current Vistex controls testing process thoroughly
- Identify repetitive steps and potential automation opportunities
- Study error rates and uncover their causes
- Reduce issues discovered during actual audit by 20%
- Increase education and training on audit requirements
- Implement regular self-audits to identify potential issues
- Strengthen internal controls to improve accuracy
3. OKRs to prepare a perfect and precise financial statement
- Prepare a perfect and precise financial statement
- Implement a double-verification system for transaction recording by the end of the quarter
- Identify suitable double-verification technology options
- Roll out double-verification system
- Develop implementation and training plan
- Achieve 100% on-time internal financial reporting with no errors for three consecutive months
- Automate reports using reliable financial software
- Train staff on accurate and timely data input
- Implement a rigorous financial data review process
- Ensure 0% discrepancies in monthly intra-department financial audits throughout the quarter
- Implement stringent checks on each financial transaction
- Regularly review internal audit processes
- Provide comprehensive training on accurate reporting
4. OKRs to achieve 100% productivity in financial statement preparation
- Achieve 100% productivity in financial statement preparation
- Increase financial statement preparation speed by 20% without errors
- Implement automated accounting software for faster data processing
- Streamline and simplify the financial reporting process
- Conduct regular training on accurate and quick data entry
- Implement an effective workflow to process all financial reports within schedule
- Implement regular check-ins to monitor progress
- Establish clear deadlines for all financial report processes
- Assign specific tasks to designated team members
- Attain absolute accuracy in 95% of prepared financial statements, as assessed by audits
- Establish comprehensive training for finance team
- Implement strict quality control in financial reporting
- Conduct regular internal audits for immediate correction
5. OKRs to ensure precision in financial statement generation
- Ensure precision in financial statement generation
- Extend internal audit process to cover all financial transactions by 15%
- Implement extra training for thorough audits
- Add 15% more transactions to audit checklist
- Increase audit team size for additional oversight
- Train accounting team on latest financial standards to enhance compliance by 20%
- Identify key updates in recent financial standards
- Conduct interactive training sessions for accounting team
- Prepare comprehensive training materials
- Implement innovative accounting software to reduce errors by 30%
- Research and identify innovative accounting software options
- Purchase and install chosen accounting software
- Train staff in using the new software
6. OKRs to complete the Financial Statement promptly
- Complete the Financial Statement promptly
- Streamline the auditing and approval process by 15%
- Implement automated systems to expedite the auditing process
- Reduce approval stages and unnecessary checks
- Train staff to increase proficiency in audit procedures
- Reduce errors in financial reporting by 20%
- Provide ongoing accounting training for staff
- Implement stricter internal audit protocols
- Invest in automated financial reporting software
- Increase efficiency in data collection and processing by 30%
- Streamline data validation and consolidation processes
- Train staff on efficient data management strategies
- Implement automated systems for data collection and processing
7. OKRs to improve the efficiency and accuracy in account maintenance
- Improve the efficiency and accuracy in account maintenance
- Introduce an automated system for 70% of transactions to boost productivity
- Train staff in using the automated system
- Identify transactions suitable for automation
- Select and purchase suitable automation software
- Reduce accounting errors by 20% through meticulous tracking and cross-checking
- Use accounting software for precise tracking and calculations
- Establish process for peer review before finalizing reports
- Implement regular internal audits to identify patterns of errors
- Improve professional knowledge by completing two accounting additional courses
- Enroll in two selected accounting courses
- Regularly attend and complete courses
- Research course options related to accounting enhancement
Internal Audit OKR best practices to boost success
Generally speaking, your objectives should be ambitious yet achievable, and your key results should be measurable and time-bound (using the SMART framework can be helpful). It is also recommended to list strategic initiatives under your key results, as it'll help you avoid the common mistake of listing projects in your KRs.
Here are a couple of best practices extracted from our OKR implementation guide 👇
Tip #1: Limit the number of key results
Having too many OKRs is the #1 mistake that teams make when adopting the framework. The problem with tracking too many competing goals is that it will be hard for your team to know what really matters.
We recommend having 3-4 objectives, and 3-4 key results per objective. A platform like Tability can run audits on your data to help you identify the plans that have too many goals.
Tability's audit dashboard will highlight opportunities to improve OKRsTip #2: Commit to weekly OKR check-ins
Setting good goals can be challenging, but without regular check-ins, your team will struggle to make progress. We recommend that you track your OKRs weekly to get the full benefits from the framework.
Being able to see trends for your key results will also keep yourself honest.
Tability's check-ins will save you hours and increase transparencyTip #3: No more than 2 yellow statuses in a row
Yes, this is another tip for goal-tracking instead of goal-setting (but you'll get plenty of OKR examples above). But, once you have your goals defined, it will be your ability to keep the right sense of urgency that will make the difference.
As a rule of thumb, it's best to avoid having more than 2 yellow/at risk statuses in a row.
Make a call on the 3rd update. You should be either back on track, or off track. This sounds harsh but it's the best way to signal risks early enough to fix things.
How to turn your Internal Audit OKRs in a strategy map
Your quarterly OKRs should be tracked weekly in order to get all the benefits of the OKRs framework. Reviewing progress periodically has several advantages:
- It brings the goals back to the top of the mind
- It will highlight poorly set OKRs
- It will surface execution risks
- It improves transparency and accountability
Spreadsheets are enough to get started. Then, once you need to scale you can use a proper OKR platform to make things easier.
Tability's Strategy Map makes it easy to see all your org's OKRsIf you're not yet set on a tool, you can check out the 5 best OKR tracking templates guide to find the best way to monitor progress during the quarter.
More Internal Audit OKR templates
We have more templates to help you draft your team goals and OKRs.
- OKRs to improve user navigation and orientation on the website
- OKRs to achieve exceptional sales performance as a Hotel Sales Director
- OKRs to enhance efficiency in executing repetitive Service Desk tasks
- OKRs to streamline marketing campaign processes for improved efficiency and consistency
- OKRs to improve the accuracy and efficiency of our tax and accounting processes
- OKRs to enhance workflow efficiency and productivity
OKRs resources
Here are a list of resources to help you adopt the Objectives and Key Results framework.
- To learn: What is the meaning of OKRs
- Blog posts: ODT Blog
- Success metrics: KPIs examples
What's next? Try Tability's goal-setting AI
You can create an iterate on your OKRs using Tability's unique goal-setting AI.
Watch the demo below, then hop on the platform for a free trial.