Duke Leadership Academy Scholars Profile

Leigh Goller

Title: Director, Duke University Audits
Location:
Senior Management Area: Internal Audit
Class Year: 2010

Bio:
As the Director of Internal Audits for Duke University , Leigh Goller is responsible for all financial, operational and compliance audit activities for Duke University and its shared services business units. In her role, Leigh has informed and engaged leadership's focus on key elements of compliance obligations in areas such as conflicts of interest, data security, sponsored programs research, donor relations and financial stewardship. Internal Audit reviews and internal control recommendations help Duke reduce the risks of unintended operational outcomes, financial fraud or misappropriation, compliance violations and governance breakdowns. Internal Audit's outreach and communication initiatives with university leadership help identify opportunities for increasing efficiency and effectiveness of financial oversight, compliance objectives, business management and risk mitigation strategies.

Leigh serves on university-sponsored emerging issue steering committees for global initiatives, research administration improvement and university-wide policy changes. She is also a key member of a team identifying and evaluating opportunities to streamline and reduce costs associated with administrative and business support processes.

Upon joining Duke University in April 2007, Leigh brought with her extensive experience in audit, finance and risk management. Prior to joining Duke, she was a corporate finance officer in public and privately held companies and was a Senior Manager in the business advisory practice at Grant Thornton LLP. While in public accounting, Leigh led national initiatives to develop practical interpretations of COSO's Enterprise Risk Management framework, including implementation and monitoring tools. She began her career performing external audits with Arthur Andersen LLP, specializing in the not-for-profit sector. Leigh is an at-large representative on the Board of Directors for the Association for College and University Auditors (ACUA). She also holds an appointment to the ACUA Faculty. She speaks on topics pertinent to internal auditing, compliance, ethics and the higher education environment. She volunteers in her community as the Treasurer for the York Elementary School Parent-Teacher Association, coordinator for fundraising events and tutor for elementary literacy for the Wake County Public School System.

Leigh is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting. She is a North Carolina CPA, and a member of the AICPA and the IIA. Leigh is also a graduate of Leadership North Carolina Class XII and serves on the Advisory Board for the Department of Accounting at UNC Charlotte.