Title
2026-2030 Office of the City Auditor Strategic Plan Review
Presenter:
Natalie Lovell, City Auditor, Office of the City Auditor
Body
Summary:
The Office of the City Auditor will present its 2026-2030 Strategic Plan to the City Council. This is the first formal strategic plan for the Office, outlining the mission, vision, values, long-term focus areas, strategic objectives, and supporting initiatives that will guide the internal audit function over the next four years. The plan is being shared with the Council for informational purposes only; no action or motion is requested.
Background:
The 2024 Global Internal Audit Standards require the Chief Audit Executive (CAE or City Auditor) develop and implement an internal audit strategy. The standards define the strategy as a long-term plan of action that includes a vision, strategic objectives, and supporting initiatives for the internal audit function. The CAE must review this strategy periodically with both senior management and the board, determined for the office to be annually.
The Office of the City Auditor operates independently in accordance with City Code and professional standards. As such, its strategic plan does not mirror or adopt the City’s strategic plan, the Colorado Springs Utilities strategic plan, or the City Council’s strategic priorities. Instead, the Office’s strategic plan is designed to support these entities by strengthening oversight, risk identification, internal control evaluation, and accountability mechanisms.
This first Strategic Plan establishes the foundational capabilities needed to modernize internal audit operations, align with the new Global Standards, strengthen communication and advisory functions, and build long-term talent resilience. The plan is intended to guide the Office’s work from 2026-2030.
Previous Council Action:
There has been no previous Council action on this item. This is the first Strategic Plan developed for the Office of the City Auditor. However, Council has been briefed on the development of the plan through several touch points: October 27, 2025: Initial briefing during the Council lunch as part of the City Auditor’s Required Annual Communication with the Board. The full draft materials were electronically shared with Council the same day and also provided to the City and Utilities Chief Financial Officers (CFOs). March 2026: A refined draft of the Strategic Plan was presented to Council as part of Internal Audit’s 2025 Year-end Review and preparation for a future Work Session. Deliverables were also shared with the City and Utilities CFOs and the Aviation Director.
Financial Implications:
There are no direct financial impacts associated with receiving this presentation. Any future resource needs such as training, technology, or staffing will be integrated into the annual budget process and brough forward separately, as appropriate.
City Council Appointed Board/Commission/Committee Recommendation:
The Audit Committee has reviewed drafts of the Strategic Plan on multiple occasions, including detailed working sessions on September 18, 2025, and again in April 2026. The Audit Committee recommends that the 2026-2030 Strategic Plan be shared with Council.
Stakeholder Process:
Development of the Office of the City Auditor’s 2026-2030 Strategic Plan involved engagement with multiple stakeholders throughout 2025 and 2026. The draft plan, including the initial SWOT analysis, was first reviewed with the Audit Committee on September 18, 2025, followed by a detailed workshop discussion on September 26, 2025. A refined version of the plan was later provided to the Committee in April 2026 for additional review and input.
City Council received an initial briefing on the Strategic Plan during the October 27, 2025, Council lunch as part of the City Auditor’s Required Annual Communication with the Board. The full draft materials were shared electronically with Council the same day and were also provided to the City and Colorado Springs Utilities Chief Financial Officers and the Aviation Director.
Internal Audit staff contributed through discussions and strategy development sessions, ensuring the plan reflects both professional standards and operational realities. As this is the first Strategic Plan, more continued conversation is planned in 2026 as the Strategic Plan is updated for the future.
Alternatives:
N/A
Recommended Action
Proposed Motion:
N/A; informational purposes only
Summary of Ordinance Language
N/A