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ERFA groups

Our regular ERFA groups are a popular format and significantly contribute to achieving our association’s goals.

Networking through ERFA groups

We launched our ERFA groups to grow people’s networks and encourage mutual exchange. There are currently eight groups across Switzerland that are divided by industry, field and language. The groups take the form of regular meetings and conferences, and are an opportunity to discuss and, in some cases, collaborate on specific projects. Participants can also ask questions and raise queries, which are discussed in the group and which the group works together to resolve.

Anchor: german-speaking

ERFA groups in German-speaking Switzerland

Banking

Objectives
Regular exchange of information between heads of audit
Discussions with relevant stakeholders, especially the regulators responsible
Training platform with industry-specific and work-relevant conferences for employees of affiliated members
Collaboration with bank representatives on the IIAS Board on various advocacy activities
Network for building professional relationships and socialising with colleagues and like-minded people
Activities
Date Event Location Information
03.05.2023 Leitertagung Zurich Learn more
29.09.2023 Mitgliedertagung Zurich Registration not yet available
Contact
Walter Seif
Zürcher Kantonalbank
Adress: Neue Hard 9
Postcode: 8005
City: Zürich
Phone: +41 (0)44 292 22 06
Email: walter.seif@zkb.ch
Board of Directors
Daniel Dal Santo, Head of Internal Auditing, Raiffeisen Gruppe
Ralph Dicht, Chief Audit Executive, Julius Baer
Felix Hänle, Head of Auditing, Basler Kantonalbank
Stefan Lutz, Chief Auditor, Credit Suisse Schweiz
Jan Blöchlinger, Head of Auditing, UBS Switzerland

Data analytics and data science

Objectives

The Data Analytics and Data Science dialogue group is aimed at data analytics managers and data science managers who work in internal auditing at blue-chip companies based or headquartered in Switzerland in sectors such as finance, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, consumer goods and industry.

The aim of the group is to share knowledge in the field of data analytics and data science for internal auditors (best practice, presentation of findings, skills and talent management, modern tools and approaches, use cases).

The language of communication is English and we welcome colleagues from French-speaking Switzerland, Ticino and German-speaking Switzerland.

Activities
Date Event Location Information
07.02.2023 Data Analytics / Data Science in Audit (Online Meeting) Virtual Registration closed
24.08.2023 Data Analytics / Data Science in Audit ZKB Zurich Registration not yet available
Contact
Dr. Robert Stephan Zergenyi

Head of IT Audit Experience Group

Objectives

Discussions on current internal IT auditing topics

Participation is by invitation only. Interested parties who are responsible for an internal IT audit should contact andreas.unternaehrer@vontobel.com

Activities
Date Event Location Information
20.04.2023 Head IT-Audit SwissLife Zurich Learn more
16.11.2023 Head IT-Audit Zurich Registration not yet available
Contact
Andreas Unternährer
Bank Vontobel AG
Adress: Gotthardstrasse 43
Postcode: 8022
City: Zürich
Phone: +41 (0)58 283 54 35
Email: andreas.unternaehrer@vontobel.com

 

Publicly contracted internal auditing

Objectives

The objectives of the dialogue group are sharing knowledge and further education. We meet annually for a conference on a current topic. The dialogue group is professionally supported and advised by a sounding board whose members are established technical experts in auditing. As a dialogue group, we can also position ourselves on current topics.
The dialogue group facilitates practical exchange between internal auditors and publicly-contracted auditors. This includes auditors from the federal administration, the cantons, cities and from publicly-contracted companies such as higher education institutions, hospitals and foundations.
The head of the dialogue group exchanges information and coordinates with the working group Professional Association of Financial Controls of German-speaking Switzerland and the Principality of Liechtenstein. Auditors from publicly-contracted institutions can participate in seminars held by the professional association. The announcement of and registration for these seminars is done via the professional association.

Activities
Date Event Location Information
04.05.2023 Interne Revision mit öffentlichem Auftrag Solothurn or online Learn more
Contact
Regula Durrer
Regula Durrer, head of the dialogue group ‘Publicly contracted internal auditing’, Swiss Federal Audit Office

Adress:

Monbijoustrasse 45

Postcode:

3003

City:

Bern

Phone:

+41 (0)58 463 10 52

Email: regula.durrer@efk.admin.ch

 

Contact person for the annual conference
Alessandro Manferdini, Eidgenössische Finanzkontrolle
Phone: +41 (0) 58 461 44 96
Mob.: +41(0) 79 480 03 62
Email adress: alessandro.manferdini@efk.admin.ch

Transformation and digitalisation

Objectives

Like many other areas, the world of auditing is changing. Technological innovations are changing the way we work in addition to the requirements for internal auditing, not just in terms of assistive technology, but also with regard to work processes, auditing procedures and employees’s skills.

The Transformation and Digitalisation dialogue group seeks to promote the broad, cross-sectoral exchange of experiences on these topics. Its target group is managers in the audit field and, where available, those responsible for transformation and digitalisation in internal auditing. It does not just focus on purely technical aspects: it also encourages holistic discussions that look at the effect of this transformation on people, technology and processes in its entirety.

Activities
Date Event Location Information
03.05.2023 Transformation & Digitalisierung Basel Registration not yet available
09.11.2023 Transformation & Digitalisierung Zurich Registration not yet available
Contact
Andreas Caflisch
Züricher Kantonalbank
Adress: Neue Hard 9
Postcode: 8005
Location: Zürich
Phone: +41 (0) 44 292 93 91
Email: andreas.caflisch@hotmail.com

 

Insurance

Objectives

The Insurance dialogue group is made up of specialists and managers in internal auditing within the Swiss insurance industry. In particular, the dialogue group promotes the exchange of experiences, the formation of opinions on current issues of relevance to audit, and the transfer of industry-specific auditing knowledge among its members. In addition, the dialogue group supports the Institute of Internal Auditing Switzerland (IIAS) with contributions on current auditing topics. Discussions take place on a personal level among its members, as well as at two annual specialist conferences and a conference for heads of audit.

Activities
Date Event Location Information
27.03.2023 Tagung zum Thema Nachhaltigkeit Zurich Registration to stephan.riedle@zurich.com
19.05.2023 Leitertagung Zurich Registration not yet available
21.09.2023 Tagung Versicherungen Basel Registration not yet available
Contact
Stephan Riedle
Zürich Versicherungs-Gesellschaft AG
Adress: Mythenquai 2
Postcode: 8002
City: Zürich
Phone: +41 (0)44 628 28 28
Email: stephan.riedle@zurich.com

 

Industry

Objectives

Internal audit teams in the industry field are currently facing and resiliently adapting to an increasingly complex economic environment, evolving regulations, un-precented markets disruptions, including resource shortages and new technologies.
The Industry, Trade, Transportation and Media group promotes cooperation, networking, and exchange on sector key topics and emerging themes of interest among internal audit professionals operating in Switzerland.

Activities
Date Event Location Information
19.06.2023 Kick-off event Zurich Registration not yet available
Contact
Daniele Federici
Landis+Gyr Group
Adress: Alte Steinhauserstrasse 18
Postcode: 6300
City: Cham
Phone: +41 (0)41 935 62 18
Email: daniele.federici@landisgyr.com

 

Anchor: french-speaking

ERFA groups in French-speaking Switzerland

Banking (French-speaking Switzerland)

Objectives
Main objective is to participate at the regional level at the implementation of the objectives of the IIAS. Within this context IIA Bancaire Romand organises conferences and working meetings, in principle twice a year, for the heads of internal audit (members of their teams are also invited to participate at least once a year).
Activities
Date Event Location Information
04.05.2023 80ème Réunion du Groupement Bancaire Romand Lausanne Registration not yet available
09.11.2023 81ème Réunion du Groupement Bancaire Romand Lausanne Registration not yet available
Contact
Panayotis Pournaras
Union Bancaire Privée
Adress: Rue du Rhône 96-98
Postcode: 1211
City: Genf
Phone: +41 (0)58 819 32 29
Email: panayotis.pournaras@ubp.ch
Board of Directors
Natasha Camo, Banque Lombard Odier & Cie SA, T: +41 22 709 19 72, Mail: n.camo@lombardodier.com
Pascal John Banque Pictet & Cie SA, T: +41 58 323 24 43, Mail: pjohn@pictet.com
Philippe Levy Banque Cantonale Vaudoise, T: +41 (0)21 212 17 23, Mail: philippe.levy@bcv.ch
Laurence Michellod Union Bancaire Privée, UBP SA, T: +41 58 819 37 03, Mail: laurence.michellod@ubp.ch
Jean-Louis Oehen, Mail: jlo.aoc@icloud.com
Monique Seiss Baudry, Banque Cantonale de Genève, Directrice Responsable de l'Audit interne, T: +41 (0)22 809 20 30, Mail: monique.seiss.baudry@bcge.ch
Philippe Vaudaux, Senior Manager Global Private Banking Audit, HSBC Private Banking Holdings (Suisse) SA, T: +41 (0)58 705 5222, Mail: philippe.vaudaux@hsbcpb.com

Collectives Publiques Latines

Objectives

The primary aim is to allow auditors working in the public sector to share their experiences. With this in mind, the Groupe des Collectivités Publiques Latines has set the following objectives:

Organising an annual conference on current issues in the field;
Sharing useful contacts and information on the Group's website and/or LinkedIn group;
Publishing useful information for internal auditors working in the public sector.
Activities
Date Event Location Information
06.10.2023 Périmètre, économicité et autres défis de la mission d’audit Fribourg Registration not yet available
Contact
Grégoire Demaurex
Swiss Federal Audit Office
Adress: Monbijoustrasse 35
Postcode: 3003
City: Bern
Phone: +41 (0)58 463 10 88
Email: gregoire.demaurex@efk.admin.ch

 

Board of Directors
Audrey Büttikofer Barbillon, Head of Internal Audit, City of Fribourg
Yann Cyril Wyss, Internal Auditor, Federal Department of Foreign Affairs
Maxime Chrétien, Head of Financial Control, City of Geneva
Nicolin Thierry, Inspection des finances du canton du Valais
Mirko Lanzi, Head of Internal Audit, Ticino Hospital Authority
Laurent Dussoliet-Berthod, Audit Director at the Court of Auditors, Canton of Geneva

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