Top watchdogs inside many companies bark louder these days.

They are known as chief audit executives, or CAEs, and they assess the effectiveness of corporate controls, risk management and governance processes. As boards worry more about cyberattacks, regulatory compliance and personal liability, these executives are gaining clout and commanding higher pay.

CAEs are becoming more visible in part because directors are playing a bigger roles in selecting, evaluating and rewarding internal audit chiefs. In North America, about 83% of those executives report to their employer’s full board or audit committee, according to a 2016 report by the Institute of Internal Auditors, a professional association. That’s up from 76% in 2013. Read More