About Charles Financial Strategies
Internal audit belongs at the center of business leadership.
A founder-led advisory firm, started by Dr. Sabine Charles in 2011, that brings the rigor of a large firm and the attention of a boutique to mid-sized and mission-driven audit functions.
Why the firm exists
Audit should be in the room before the problem, not after it.
Internal audit belongs at the center of business leadership.
Across a career in internal audit, risk, governance and executive leadership, Dr. Sabine Charles saw internal auditors too often misunderstood, underused, and brought into the conversation only after issues had surfaced. She founded Charles Financial Strategies to change that.
She has advised senior executives on internal controls, business risk, fraud investigations and operational auditing, and held leadership positions at Citibank, American Express, Deloitte, World Vision International and Touro University.
Today the firm helps audit leaders show what internal audit really is: a function that strengthens governance, sharpens decisions and earns the board's trust.
Credentials
Certified across the work you're assessed on.
Internal audit and assurance
- CIA Certified Internal Auditor
- CRMA Certification in Risk Management Assurance
- CGAP Certified Government Audit Professional
- CHIAP Certified Healthcare Internal Audit Professional
- The IIA's Quality Assessor Certificate Program
IT, security and governance
- CISA Certified Information Systems Auditor
- CISM Certified Information Security Manager
- CRISC Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control
- CGEIT Certified in the Governance of Enterprise IT
Fraud
- CFE Certified Fraud Examiner
Process and leadership
- Six Sigma Green Belt
- EQ-i 2.0 and EQ 360 certified
Education: Doctorate in Business Administration · Master's in Accounting · Bachelor's degrees in Accounting and Economics, and in French and Spanish.
What sets us apart
The rigor of a large firm. The attention of a boutique.
Senior attention, every time
Dr. Charles provides strategic oversight, executive advisory and quality assurance on every engagement.
See our services
Standards first
Our work is built around the IIA Global Internal Audit Standards, so it holds up when an assessor or regulator looks.
Standards & QA
Built for adoption
We pair audit rigor with how people actually work, including emotional intelligence and practical training, so change sticks.
How we modernizeHow we're structured
Founder-led, with specialists when you need them.
Dr. Charles leads every engagement. An associate bench of specialists joins when the work calls for it.
- Data analytics
- AI audit
- Cybersecurity
- Banking
Board of Advisors
Dr. Sabra Brock
Dean, Graduate Business School, Touro University. Former global leadership roles at Citicorp, Colgate-Palmolive, DuPont and Young & Rubicam.
Frank Kiepura, CPA
Financial analysis, reporting and regulatory compliance. Formerly with JPMorgan's Private Equity Group and Citigroup.
John Kwamya
Business transformation executive and Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt.
Alain Charles
Finance professional in financial planning and analysis, P&L and project management.
Speaking
On audit leadership, wherever audit leaders listen.
- Podcast · Guest
Episode 38: Audit Leadership
Listen on Apple Podcasts - Podcast · Guest
Thinking Outside the Box in Audit
Listen on Apple Podcasts - Podcast · Guest
Becoming a Super Auditor
Listen on Apple Podcasts
Dr. Charles also hosts the CAE Roundtable, a small, invitation-based conversation for audit leaders.
Certified business
A certified minority- and woman-owned business.
Select a badge to view the certificate.
Partner brands
TAPA Institute offers certification prep and the Audit Leadership course for individual auditors. Visit TAPA Institute
Leadership/MEQ runs broader leadership development programs built on emotional intelligence. Visit Leadership/MEQ
Start here
Work directly with Dr. Charles.
Book a readiness call and bring the priority that matters most this year.