C-suite and other executives see artificial intelligence (AI) – which includes generative AI and machine learning – as the emerging technology that poses both the top risk (44.7%) and the top opportunity (35.9%) for their organizations’ internal controls environments in the year ahead, according to a new Deloitte poll.

1. Emerging Technologies in
Transformations Drive the
Need for Evolving Internal
Controls
Deloitte poll results
September 2023

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Methodology
1,890+
C-suite and other executives were polled
online during a Deloitte webcast titled
“Assurance by design: Finance
transformation controls readiness” on May
25, 2023. Answer rates differed by question.
In some instances, immaterial amounts (e.g., +/-
0.1%) have been added to or removed from the
“Don’t know/not applicable” answer responses to
bring results to 100% total for each question.

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8.3% 8.8%
19.3%
22.2%
32.0%
As-needed (e.g., during a
transformation effort, in
response to new
technologies like
generative AI)
36.4% of all respondents review and adjust
internal controls more than annually
How often does your organization review and make adjustments to internal controls?
Don’t know / not applicable = 9.4%
Votes received: 2,482 C-suite and other executives
Weekly Monthly Quarterly Annually

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Votes received: 2,630 C-suite and other executives
Which poses the greatest challenge for your organization's internal controls environment during
transformation efforts?
Don’t know / not applicable = 17%
Inconsistency or absence of reviewing internal controls
alongside transformation
Effectively leveraging the transformation to modernize
and automate the internal control environment
The absence of a robust methodology process for
managing/developing internal controls to support
transformation efforts
Shortage of staff appropriately skilled to effectively
implement internal controls in line with transformation
objectives
13.7%
22.2%
23.1%
24.0%

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Votes received: 2,390 C-suite and other executives
Which emerging technology do you think will pose the greatest risk to your organization's internal
control environment in the next 12 months?
Don’t know / not applicable = 25.8%
Artificial intelligence, including
generative AI and machine learning
Intelligent automation
Quantum computing
Blockchain 5.8%
6.7%
17.0%
44.7%

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Votes received 1,890 C-suite and other executives
Which emerging technology do you think will provide the greatest opportunity to your organization's
internal control environment in the next 12 months?
Don’t know / not applicable = 20.6%
5.2%
9.4%
28.9%
35.9%
Artificial intelligence, including generative AI and
machine learning
Intelligent automation
Quantum computing
Blockchain

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25.4%
7.5%
52.0%
No – but there are plans to
hire a chief controls officer
or equivalent in the next 12
months
No – and there are no plans
to hire a chief controls
officer or equivalent
Yes – we have a dedicated
chief controls officer or
equivalent
Votes received: 2,590 C-suite and other executives
Does your organization have a chief controls officer (e.g., an individual focused on internal controls
management, transformation, and governance)?
Don’t know / not applicable = 15.1%

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Media Contacts
Christine Oh
Public Relations
Deloitte & Touche LLP
chrisoh@deloitte.com
Taylor Graham
Public Relations
Deloitte Services LP
tagraham@deloitte.com

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Copyright © 2023 Deloitte Development LLC. All rights reserved.
The statements in this report reflect the aggregation of poll responses and are not intended to reflect facts or opinions of any entities. All data, charts and statistics referenced and presented, as
well as the representations made and opinions expressed, unless specifically described otherwise, pertain only to the participants and their responses to the Deloitte poll. The information
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