About Us

In April 2018, the “Office of Enterprise Risk and Assurance” (ERA) portfolio was created to integrate the previously separated Enterprise Risk Management and Internal Audit functions of the university in order to deliver greater value by coordinating these important functional areas. UBC created a new Chief Assurance and Risk Officer (CARO) position to oversee this new unit and provide the leadership to build a best-in-class integrated enterprise risk and assurance function that would serve as a strategic partner to management and support the Board of Governors in fulfilling their risk oversight responsibilities. 

As part of the transformational journey to build a best-in-class unit, the scope and nature of the internal audit function has expanded from a traditional department primarily focusing on financial risks, to a risk-based progressive function covering a large spectrum of risks and key strategic initiatives. The internal audit function has been renamed to “Internal Assurance” to reflect its broadened and elevated mandate; however, the discipline of internal audit remains embedded into all of our assurance activities.

ERA is staffed by a team of highly-skilled and certified risk, assurance and administrative professionals. To safeguard independence and objectivity, the CARO reports functionally to the Audit Committee of the UBC Board of Governors and administratively to the Vice-President, Finance and Operations.

ERA Strategic Plan

Vision

Advancing a culture of risk-informed decision-making that empowers the UBC Community to contribute to the university’s success.

Purpose

Partnering with the community to provide trusted and impactful risk and assurance insights to enhance and protect UBC as a thriving institution.

Values

  • Excellence
  • Respect
  • Accountability
  • Integrity
  • Academic Freedom

Core Focus Areas

Thriving People

Develop a high-performing team that is fully equipped and supported to deliver valued risk advisory and assurance services.

Strategic Partnerships

Build and sustain effective internal and external partnerships to maximize impact and advance the university’s risk culture.

Premiere Service Delivery

Create best-in-class, integrated Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) and Internal Assurance (IA) services to advance UBC’s ability to deliver strategies through risk-informed decision-making.

For further information, please refer to the Office of Enterprise Risk and Assurance Strategic Plan 2019 – 2024 Highlights.