Internal audit has traditionally been positioned as an independent assurance function focused on compliance, control effectiveness, and regulatory adherence. While this role remains essential, it offers limited strategic value to executive finance management in environments characterized by uncertainty, complexity, and heightened performance expectations. As the responsibilities of executive finance leaders expand beyond reporting and control toward strategic decision-making and value stewardship, the relationship between internal audit and finance requires fundamental redefinition. This article examines the transformation of internal audit into a strategic partner of executive finance management. It argues that internal audit can contribute meaningfully to executive finance leadership by enhancing governance quality, decision discipline, and risk intelligence without compromising independence. Rather than participating in management decisions, internal audit influences the conditions under which financial decisions are made, enabling more informed and accountable executive judgment. Drawing on finance leadership, corporate governance, and internal audit literature, the study develops a conceptual framework for audit–finance partnership grounded in strategic alignment and accountability. The analysis highlights how internal audit supports executive finance management through evaluation of decision frameworks, transparency of assumptions, and integration of risk considerations into financial strategy. Particular attention is given to the behavioral and cultural dimensions that shape the effectiveness of this partnership. The article also explores organizational and regulatory constraints that may limit the evolution of internal audit toward a strategic partnership role. It concludes by outlining future directions for internal audit–finance collaboration, emphasizing the implications for executive finance leadership and board-level oversight. By reframing internal audit as a strategic partner rather than a compliance function, this study advances the finance governance literature and offers a leadership-oriented perspective on how audit functions can support sustainable financial decision-making at the executive level.
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