Key Takeaways:
- DTCC was named a winner of Protiviti’s Audit Innovator Award for the second time, earning distinction in the Audit Trailblazer category.
- The recognition was given for DTCC”s sustained, multi year approach to modernization within internal audit.
- Protiviti’s Audit Innovator Awards recognizes organizations that are not simply adapting to change but actively shaping how internal audit delivers value to leadership and stakeholders.
Innovation in internal audit is no longer a “nice to have.” It has become a strategic imperative. As market infrastructure grows more complex and technology reshapes the risk landscape, internal audit functions are being called on to deliver deeper insight, greater transparency and more forward-looking assurance. Against that backdrop, The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (DTCC) has once again been recognized for leading the way.
Reshaping the Risk Environment Through Innovation
DTCC has been named a winner of Protiviti’s Second Annual Audit Innovator Award, earning distinction in the Audit Trailblazer category. The recognition marks the second time DTCC has received this honor, underscoring the organization’s sustained commitment to transforming how internal audit operates not just within DTCC, but across the broader financial services industry.
“Winning the Audit Innovator Award for a second time reinforces DTCC’s role as a leader in modernizing internal audit at a moment when the profession is under increasing pressure to evolve,” said Aadesh Gandhre, DTCC Managing Director and General Auditor. “As artificial intelligence, automation and advanced analytics reshape the risk environment, audit teams must balance technological fluency with human judgment, professional skepticism, and sound governance.”
Established by Protiviti, a global consulting firm, the Audit Innovator Award recognizes organizations that are not simply adapting to change but actively shaping how internal audit delivers value to leadership and stakeholders. The award is supported by The Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA), and this year’s winners were announced at the 2026 IIA Great Audit Minds (GAM) conference.
A Trailblazer in Internal Audit
DTCC was recognized as an Audit Trailblazer for its sustained, multi year approach to modernization within internal audit. Protiviti cited DTCC’s work embedding scalable analytics into core audit activities, applying intelligent document processing and graph-based anomaly detection, and providing real-time visibility to leadership through dashboards. These capabilities allow DTCC’s internal audit function to move beyond traditional, point in time reviews toward more continuous, data-informed insight helping leaders understand risk more clearly and earlier.
“Innovation has moved from aspiration to imperative for internal audit,” said Anthony Pugliese, President and CEO of The IIA. “As AI reshapes the risk landscape, the profession needs practitioners who pair technological fluency with the human judgment and ingenuity no algorithm can replace. The leaders recognized through this program are not just adapting to change; they are driving it. The IIA is proud to support the Audit Innovator Award and inspired by what these winners demonstrate about the future of the profession.”