About two‑thirds of internal audit leaders say their budgets will rise in 2026, and 43% plan to increase staff, according to a Sikich survey. Despite the funding boost, the expanding audit remit is outpacing resources, with cybersecurity remaining the top emerging risk at 43% of respondents, up from 41% last year. AI and automation concerns stay steady at 35%, while regulatory compliance concerns rise to 25%.
The survey also highlights a deepening talent shortage: 64% of leaders cite a lack of technical expertise in cyber and AI as the main hiring and retention obstacle, and 43% point to limited time, budget and resources as implementation barriers. Consequently, 82% of audit functions now rely on external partners, and most audit plans now incorporate business resilience, third‑party risk and AI assessments.
Source: Corporate Compliance Insights