Amanda “Jo” Erven is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), a Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), and the President and Founder of Audit. Consulting. Education. LLC. Jo’s firm specializes in progressive internal audit, risk, and ethics consulting along with providing impactful Continuing Professional Education (CPE) courses to organizations.

Jo is a full-time, accounting faculty member at Metropolitan State University of Denver as well as the Director of Internal Audit Education for the University. As Director, Jo is actively developing and marketing an undergraduate and graduate Risk Assurance and Advisory certificate for students.

“Jo is honest, bringing high integrity to all she does. She has the courage of her convictions and is one that always does the right thing. She takes responsibility for her actions and believes in meeting or exceeding her commitments. Her behavior and results-oriented approach forms the foundation upon which people can place their trust.”

Jo’s educational background includes both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in accounting from the University of Georgia. She started her career in public accounting at one of the Big Four firms, experienced a traditional accounting role at a multinational oilfield services corporation, and directed an internal audit function at an international financial services organization.

Jo’s professional experience includes advising management on a multitude of strategic initiatives, while providing ongoing recommendations for process and control improvements. She has designed SOX and other compliance programs, implemented audit management software suites, and has performed and managed financial, operational, and compliance audits for a multitude of industries, including oilfield services, agriculture, cannabis, transportation, insurance, retirement, investment, healthcare, higher education, and government. She has extensive risk identification, assessment, and mitigation experience and focuses her efforts on what is critical for future organizational success.

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Jo pushes the envelope of traditional assurance and advising practices. She believes internal auditors should no longer be reactive and should focus on proactive, real value-add activities. Her trademarked approach to internal audit, Total Quality Auditing® (TQA) was published in both book and workbook format. She provides in-person and virtual TQA trainings and developed a Certified Total Quality Auditor (CTQA) designation that has been earned by internal auditors across the globe.

Personally, Jo is known for her proactive nature as well. After finding out she was positive for the breast and ovarian cancer gene mutation (BRCA1), Jo underwent multiple preventative surgeries, including a full hysterectomy and a double mastectomy. She believes knowledge is power and encourages others to take action in their personal lives. Jo’s second book, Your Road. Your Choices., begins with a look at her story and exploring how we can each choose to embrace adversity. She delivers keynote presentations on our life choices, which have been called an “epic experience.”

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Jo is a member and ethics instructor for the Colorado Society of CPAs as well as an active member of the Institute of Internal Auditors and the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners. On a personal note, Jo is a volunteer with Susan G. Komen Colorado and Join The Flock, Inc., organizations supporting breast cancer survivors and thrivers.

One of Jo’s favorite professional honors was receiving a “Woman to Watch” Leader of Note award by the Colorado Society of CPAs (COCPA) in conjunction with the Association of International CPAs (AICPA) for her work in the Accounting/Auditing profession as well as her community support efforts and mentorship of others to achieve their personal and professional goals.

In 2023, Jo was also selected as one of the COCPA’s Everyday Heroes and Heroines honored at the CPAs Make a Difference Gala.