Employee Spotlight: A Day in the Life of an Internal Audit Director

From strategic conversations with leadership to navigating an evolving risk environment, no two days look the same for Farm Credit East Internal Audit Director and young professional, Daquan Holmes. Read on to understand a typical week for an internal audit director, the value in collaboration, and how his work helps support a safe and sound organization for the long term. 

The Role of Internal Audit 

As Director of Internal Audit at Farm Credit East, Daquan works to help the organization proactively identify risks and improve processes before issues arise. He works across the association to help teams understand risk, strengthen internal controls and ensure governance remains effective in a constantly changing environment. From partnering with different departments to thinking through complex organizational challenges, his work plays an important role in supporting the long-term strength of the association.  

While “audit” can sometimes carry a negative perception, he emphasizes a different approach rooted in partnership and perspective. “A lot of people hear ‘audit’ and think we’re coming in to say something’s wrong,” Daquan shared. “But really, we’re trying to understand processes and help people think through risk and efficiency from a different perspective.” 

The Value in Collaboration 

Daquan most enjoys the variety in his day-to-day. In a typical week, his work includes connecting with teams across the association, supporting audit engagements, and participating in strategic conversations about improving processes and operations. 

One thing many people don’t realize about internal audit is how collaborative and advisory the role truly is. Rather than simply identifying issues, Daquan and his team work closely with others to build practical and sustainable solutions. 

“We’re here to help,” he said. “We don’t need the perfect answer — we need what’s actually happening. Then we work across departments to connect the dots and think through how something in one area could impact another downstream.” 

For Daquan, the most meaningful moments come when his work helps the organization move forward after identifying a gap or challenge. Instead of focusing on what went wrong, it’s about finding a solution, documenting it and making sure it doesn’t happen again. That’s when the work really matters. 

Growing as a Strategic Leader

Since joining Farm Credit East, Daquan has grown from a Senior Internal Audit into a leadership role, building both technical expertise and strategic perspective along the way. 

“I started more as an executor who was just doing the work,” he said. “Now it’s about thinking strategically, having the right conversations and helping guide decisions across the organization.” 

Outside of work, Daquan stays active and connected to athletics. A former NFL cornerback for the Green Bay Packers, he now officiates football and track from youth competitions to Olympic-level exhibitions with a focus on mentoring younger athletes. 

Daquan equates his connection to sports and team-driven mindset to becoming a better manager and leader at Farm Credit East.  

Supporting a Strong Future 

At the end of the day, Daquan is motivated by the bigger picture and the impact his work has across the association. 

“We might not always be customer-facing, but what we do helps protect the organization,” he explained. “We’re making sure we’re building something sustainable and that’s what really matters.”