Chief Audit Executive J. Michael Peppers

J. Michael Peppers is Chief Audit Executive for The University of Texas System. He oversees the internal audit function of more than 100 professional staff for a university system that provides education, health care, and research at thirteen academic and health institutions. It has over 260,000 students, 160,000 employees, 2.1 million hospital days, 11.7 million outpatient visits, an annual operating budget of more than $33 billion, $4.8 billion total research, and a $79 billion endowment. Over a 35-year career that began in public accounting, Mike has led progressive internal audit activities at major not-for-profit organizations in higher education and health care. He has held numerous volunteer board and leadership positions. He was the chairman of The Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) Global Board of directors in 2017-18, speaking to and engaging with internal audit colleagues on six continents. He was a board member of the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) and chairman of the IIA North American Board. Notably, he chaired the IIA International Internal Audit Standards Board during its historic revision of the Global Internal Audit Standards issued in 2024. Mike was an inaugural recipient of the IIA’s Global Internal Audit Legacy Award in 2025. He was inducted into the IIA American Hall of Distinguished Audit Practitioners and is a recipient of the IIA Victor Z. Brink Award for Distinguished Service and the Association of College and University Auditors Outstanding Professional Contributions Award. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accountancy from the University of South Florida.

J. Michael Peppers, CPA, CIA, QIAL, CRMA