Internal Audit
John Lazarine, Chief Audit Executive, leads the Internal Audit FIT. As part of the integration journey, Lazarine has mobilized working groups within this FIT to identify quick wins, generate recommendations, prepare implementation plans, and chart integration priorities on a roadmap that will shape the future operating model.
Integration Updates
Update
Date
Internal Audit – March 2026
- Service Delivery Working Group – Integrated the fiscal year 2026 risk assessments and internal audit plans for the academic and health campus and submitted combined plan to UT System for approval. Established expectations for coordination with UT System Internal Audit, Institutional Compliance, Legal, Information Security and other assurance providers.
- Standardization Working Group – Compared legacy audit methodologies, frameworks, and risk assessment models from academic and health campus. Completed analysis to identify process and procedure gaps, redundancies and opportunities for standardization. Developed a single audit methodology aligned with IIA standards, UT System expectations and risk tolerance including process flow for completing audits, templates for audit management software and follow-up process for open audit.
- Roles & Culture Working Group – Established regular meetings to ensure clarity, alignment and provide updates and opportunities for questions and answers. Conducted assessments to improve teamwork and developed plan for growth and development of combined team.
- Governance & Strategy Review Working Group – Established new integrated Audit Committee. Created an Internal Audit organizational structure that ensures consistency and alignment with the President’s Cabinet. Received approval for consolidated Internal Audit and Audit Committee charters from the academic and health campus and Internal Audit Strategic Objectives from the new Audit Committee. Harmonized the Internal Audit mission, vision and values. Established KPIs and department goals shared with the entire team.
Internal Audit – November 2025
- Functional Integration Team (FIT) launched, members include Kimberly Weber, Sam Babajide, Paul Tyler and Laura Buchhorn.
- Four working groups have been established to focus on key priorities:
- Service Delivery: articulate how internal audit services will be delivered and communicated across the integrated institution by identifying and evaluating processes, workflows, and protocols.
- Roles & Culture: evaluate internal audit’s organizational structure by reviewing team roles, assessing skills and compensation, and recommending any realignments needed to support integration.
- Standardization: develop a unified audit strategy by standardizing audit tools, systems, and templates for consistency.
- Governance & Strategy Review: develop a unified audit strategy by identifying relevant policies, governance bodies, and regulatory requirements affecting Internal Audit, as well as defining metrics and reporting standards for the integrated audit function.