Laura Soileua CIA, CRMA, CISA, CPA, CFE, CGMA
Chair - IIA North American Board
Laura is the 2021-22 Chair of The Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) North American Board of Directors. In this position, Soileau provides direction for The IIA’s strategic plan in North America and oversees its implementation. She also is Director of Professional Practices on The IIA’s Global Board of Directors.
As North American Board chair, Soileau says she wants to focus on enhancing member engagement by developing a diverse and engaged community, helping peers better connect, expanding opportunities for volunteerism, and encouraging and investing in the next generation of practitioners. Soileau especially wants to support The IIA in further involving and attracting students to the internal audit profession.
Soileau has nearly 20 years of experience in internal audit, and is currently a partner and consulting director with Postlethwaite & Netterville, a professional accounting and consulting firm located in Baton Rouge, LA. She has extensive experience in all aspects of internal audit, from leading internal audit and internal controls assessments and facilitating risk assessments for financial, operational, and technology audits to coordinating with external auditors, overseeing the execution of audit plans, and communicating with senior leadership and audit committees. Her clients have come from a diverse array of organizations in the private and public sectors, including government, higher education, publicly held companies, and professional services. She previously was Audit Manager at International Paper and a commercial finance analyst and senior auditor at Avery Dennison.
Soileau has been deeply involved as a volunteer leader with The IIA virtually since becoming a member in 2000. She has participated at the local, national, and global levels, serving as Memphis, TN, chapter president; the Baton Rouge, LA, chapter board of governors; and as a member of The IIA’s North American Publications Advisory Committee, the Audit Committee, and Internal Auditor magazine’s Editorial Board. As Director of Professional Practices on The IIA’s Global Board, Soileau oversees the International Internal Audit Standards Board (IIASB) and the Professional Ethics and Responsibility Committee (PERC).
Named as one of Internal Auditor magazine’s “Emerging Leaders” in 2014, Soileau has co-authored multiple articles and penned the blog “Solutions by Soileau,” offering insight and advice on daily challenges in the profession. In 2020, she wrote, “Like many others, my range of emotions during the COVID-19 pandemic has varied depending on the day and time. Sometimes even second by second… However, from a professional perspective, if I had to choose one word to describe my daily activities, it would be ‘pivot.’… I've had to change course quickly and refocus my priorities and efforts.” Soileau was a recipient of the magazine’s Outstanding Contributor Award in 2016 and 2017 and also presents regularly on internal audit-related topics.
Soileau earned a master’s in accounting at Louisiana State University, which is part of The IIA’s Internal Audit Education Partnership (IAEP) program, and bachelor degrees in accounting and marketing at the University of Arkansas.
