AFB Practice Roundtable: Priorities for Internal Audit Planning for 2026

As internal audit teams develop their audit plans for the coming year, AFB is convening an in-person roundtable discussion in partnership with BDO to explore which topics and assurance priorities members should consider in their 2026 plan.

We are grateful to AFB member firm, Scotiabank, for hosting this roundtable.

Why attend?

Internal audit is increasingly expected to contribute to the development of a firm’s strategy and resilience. Led by experts at BDO, the discussion will focus on what topics internal audit should consider prioritising, as well as the scope of areas to include within the 2026 plan.

There will be opportunities for discussion with other attendees as well as BDO. AFB will circulate an agenda and a series of questions to attendees in advance, which will be used to aid discussions.

The Chatham House Rule will apply to this event to encourage open dialogue and discussion.

There will be breakfast and networking from 08:30 before the roundtable discussion commences at 09:00.

Please note that capacity for the roundtable is limited to 30 members and one person per member bank.

Who should attend?

The roundtable is aimed at representatives from Internal Audit functions.

Facilitator

Sam Cornish, Partner

Sam is a Partner in BDO’s Financial Services Internal Audit team based in London. For almost 20 years, he has been working in, and providing audit services to, a variety of clients in the banking and asset management industries. Sam helps clients by providing outsourced Internal Audit assurance, specialist co-sourced internal audit skills, and transforming internal audit departments to be fit for the future. See Sam’s full biography here.

Logistics

Fee:         Included in AFB membership (no fee)

Format:    In person at Scotiabank, 201 Bishopsgate, London, EC2M 3NS

Date:        Tuesday 4 November 2025

Time:        09:00 – 10:30 (arrivals and breakfast from 08:30)

If you would like to submit any questions or have any specific areas that you would like the session to address, please email secretariat@foreignbanks.org.uk. You will receive the joining instructions for this in-person roundtable a week before the event.