Bank audit executives urged to be compassionate

The Chief Executive Officer of Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria Ltd, Dalu Ajene, has urged bank audit executives to exercise empathy when carrying out their duties.

This call was made at the 58th quarterly general meeting of the Association of Chief Audit Executives of Banks in Nigeria, themed ‘Being a Human Auditor in a Challenging Environment,’ which was held in Lagos recently.

ACAEBIN is the umbrella body for bank audit executives. It is a sub-committee of the Bankers’ Committee of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

Ajene in his keynote address said that the theme of the meeting was timely given that rapid technological changes, economic uncertainties, and evolving regulatory landscapes mark the current phase of life.

The Standard Chartered Bank boss pointed out that the role of an auditor had always been complex, as it requires not only technical proficiency and an unwavering commitment to ethical standards on the part of practitioners of the profession but also that they could navigate the human aspects of their work.

 “You must understand that behind every transaction, every financial statement, and every compliance check, there are people—people whose lives and livelihoods depend on your diligence, transparency, accountability and integrity. In doing so, you safeguard not only the assets of your banks but also the trust placed in us by our stakeholders, customers, and the broader community. However, beyond the technicalities and regulatory requirements, there lies an essential truth: we are humans auditing for humans.

“Being a human auditor means embracing the essence of empathy and ethical responsibility. It involves recognising the pressures and challenges faced by your colleagues, clients, and other stakeholders. It means fostering an environment where open communication, mutual respect, and professional integrity are paramount.

“In doing so, you build trust, not just in your reports and audits, but in the very institutions you serve. You must therefore acknowledge the inherent challenges that come with the audit profession and the broader environment you operate. It requires you to exercise not just your analytical acumen but also your emotional intelligence,” he explained.

In his welcome address, ACAEBIN Chairman, Prince Akamadu, said the meeting was an opportunity for members of the association to reflect on and explore how they could continue to be effective auditors while maintaining their humanity.

 “Being a human auditor means balancing the rigours of our profession with empathy, ethical judgment, and a commitment to the greater good. It involves understanding the broader impact of our work on people, organizations, and society,” Akamadu declared.

The Director Of Internal Audit Practice at PwC, Saheed Bashiru, highlighted how auditors could identify and respond to emerging risks in a challenging environment.

“As auditors, the leading practices for identifying emerging risks are building emerging risk awareness, documentation of each process, responding, monitoring, and reporting risks in a challenging environment,” he averred.