Ibukun Beecroft
With over 16 years of unwavering dedication at Deloitte, Ibukun Beecroft has carved an inspiring path from intern to partner, a testament to her technical excellence, strategic acumen, and leadership in the field of risk advisory. Her professional journey reflects a deep-rooted commitment to enhancing internal controls, strengthening corporate governance, and advancing enterprise risk management frameworks across diverse industries.
Beecroft’s expertise lies in designing and implementing dynamic internal control systems that not only meet regulatory requirements but also evolve with the complexities of today’s business landscape. She is a strong advocate for aligning internal controls with strategic objectives, emphasizing that adaptability is key in environments characterized by rapid change and uncertainty. Her approach integrates risk insights into decision-making processes, enabling organizations to remain resilient and forward-looking.
Beyond her technical capabilities, Beecroft is widely respected for her leadership and mentorship, particularly her efforts to elevate women in the traditionally male-dominated field of risk advisory. She actively champions inclusive talent development, offering guidance and support to emerging professionals and advocating for more equitable representation in leadership roles. Her work reflects a belief that diversity drives better outcomes, especially in navigating complex risk terrains.
Crucially, Beecroft underscores the importance of securing leadership buy-in when building risk management frameworks. She believes that effective governance starts at the top, and that a culture of accountability, transparency, and continuous improvement must be modeled by senior executives to take root across an organisation.
Beecroft stands as a formidable force in risk advisory balancing technical depth with visionary leadership, and consistently pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in enterprise resilience and governance.
John Tantillo
John Tantillo serves as a Partner in Risk Assurance at PwC US, bringing a wealth of experience and insight to the financial services sector. With a career spanning banking, asset management, insurance, and capital markets, John has become a trusted advisor to leading institutions navigating the ever-evolving landscape of risk, regulation, and performance.
In his role, John leads the delivery of both internal audit and non-audit services for clients across the financial services industry. He is instrumental in helping organizations assess and enhance their risk management frameworks, ensuring that they not only comply with regulatory requirements but also position themselves for long-term resilience and growth.
John’s expertise spans a wide array of domains, including internal audit, Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) compliance, and enterprise risk and control services. His approach is rooted in a deep understanding of both business operations and IT systems, enabling him to deliver comprehensive solutions that address the intersection of financial performance, operational efficiency, and regulatory compliance. Whether it’s guiding the development of risk and compliance programs or designing robust internal control processes, John brings a strategic lens to every engagement.
A hallmark of John’s work is his ability to tailor risk assurance strategies to the unique challenges of each client. He understands that in the fast-paced world of financial services, agility and foresight are critical. He helps clients move beyond traditional audit functions to adopt proactive, data-driven risk management approaches that support strategic decision-making and competitive advantage.
As the financial services industry continues to face increasing scrutiny and complexity, John Tantillo stands out as a leader who not only understands the technical requirements of compliance and control but also the broader business imperatives of trust, transparency, and transformation.
Stephanie Ikolo
Stephanie Ikolo is a risk advisory and internal controls expert whose work sits at the intersection of technology, governance, and strategic leadership. With a background that blends rigorous academic training and years of hands-on experience across industries, Ikolo has emerged as a trusted expert in internal audit transformation, risk management, IT controls, and sustainability strategy.
Her academic journey began at the Federal University of Technology, Nigeria, where she earned a degree in Agricultural Economics, an early indication of her inclination toward systems thinking and structured analysis. She later pursued a Master’s in Management at the University of Hertfordshire in the United Kingdom, deepening her understanding of organisational dynamics, strategic planning, and leadership in complex environments.
Over the years, Ikolohas built an impressive career defined by precision, innovation, and impact. As a Senior Manager in Deloitte Nigeria’s IT and Specialised Assurance unit, she brings sharp analytical insight and strategic foresight to her work with multinational clients. Her role demands more than technical expertise; it requires a visionary mind capable of aligning risk frameworks with business transformation goals, and Stephanie consistently delivers.
She has led enterprise-wide initiatives that have redefined audit efficiency, overhauled IT control environments, and significantly improved system reliability. From customising SOC 2 and SOC 3 reports that delivered millions in audit savings, to designing comprehensive IT governance frameworks that slashed compliance costs, Stephanie’s work has generated measurable impact, often translating into multi-million-dollar cost savings, risk mitigation, and regulatory wins for her clients.
Her approach Is grounded in collaboration and data-driven decision-making. She has introduced intelligent analytics into audit functions, optimised ERP controls, and conducted high-stakes IT security audits all with a clear goal: to make businesses more resilient, more efficient, and more compliant. Stephanie is also deeply invested in organisational sustainability, with a proven track record of aligning corporate goals with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), ensuring that transformation goes hand-in-hand with long-term value creation.
Before rising to her current leadership role, she served as a Senior Associate within the same firm, orchestrating internal audit overhauls that improved audit effectiveness by over 35% and safeguarded millions in potential losses. She was also instrumental in conducting vendor governance reviews, compliance evaluations, and control assessments that strengthened the core operational backbone of the organisations she served.
Ikolo’s impact isn’t confined to financial and technological systems. She is a builder of bridges between global teams, between business and IT, and between strategy and execution. Her cross-cultural leadership and stakeholder engagement skills have allowed her to thrive within complex organisational structures, influencing outcomes across continents and industries.
Earlier in her career, she worked with Petuyor Consulting as an IT Systems Analyst, where she quickly made her mark by implementing robust system architectures, optimising legacy infrastructure, and using analytics tools like Power BI and Google Analytics to generate actionable business insights. Her early work in cloud migration, system design, and stakeholder communications set the foundation for the transformative work she does today.
A recipient of the prestigious 2024 Global Recognition Award for Excellence, Ikolo is also a Fellow of both the Institute of Management Consultants and the Institute of Credit Administration. She holds certifications as a Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA), Project Management Professional (PMP), and Certified Management Specialist (CMS), underscoring her commitment to professional excellence and continuous learning.
Behind her impressive résumé is a professional with an enduring commitment to integrity, innovation, and impact. Stephanie sees risk not as a threat but as an opportunity for transformation. She believes that the future of business lies in building systems that are both intelligent and ethical, both agile and resilient.
In an age where digital disruption and regulatory scrutiny are constants, Ikolo remains a steady hand leading with insight, delivering with precision, and always aiming for transformation that matters.
Farah Faruqui
With over 18 years of experience in risk advisory and financial audit, Farah Faruqui stands as a dynamic force in shaping how organizations manage risk in an increasingly digital world. As a Partner in Risk Assurance at PwC US, Farah brings a rare blend of technical expertise, strategic vision, and a deep understanding of corporate governance to her role—qualities that have made her an invaluable advisor to clients at every stage of their growth.
At PwC, Farah plays a leading role in expanding the firm’s Technology Internal Audit practice. She works closely with a diverse portfolio of clients, from fast-moving pre-IPO companies to some of the world’s largest and most established technology firms. Her mission is clear: to help these organizations navigate complexity, strengthen their internal controls, and build the kind of trust that underpins sustainable growth.
Farah’s expertise spans a wide spectrum, including internal audit outsourcing and co-sourcing, Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) compliance, risk and compliance strategy, corporate governance, and business process optimization. She is particularly adept at translating risk insights into actionable strategies—ensuring that audit and compliance efforts not only meet regulatory expectations but also add real value to business operations.
A cornerstone of Farah’s work is her rigorous approach to enterprise, IT, and fraud risk assessments. She has led the development of tailored internal audit plans that align with each client’s unique risk profile, strategic objectives, and operational realities. Her ability to uncover hidden risks and craft forward-thinking solutions has earned her the trust of senior executives navigating rapidly changing business and regulatory environments.
What sets Farah apart is her focus on transformation. She sees internal audit not just as a control function, but as a strategic enabler—one that can foster innovation, enhance resilience, and support decision-making across the enterprise. Her work is infused with a passion for helping companies build strong foundations for future growth, guided by integrity, insight, and innovation.
Faruqui represents a new generation of risk leaders: deeply technical, unapologetically strategic, and always focused on empowering clients to thrive amid uncertainty.
Abidemi Onibatedo
Abidemi Onibatedo is a rising force in the world of risk assurance, bringing a uniquely multifaceted background to her role at Deloitte. With a career shaped by hands-on experience across systems audits, internal controls, and financial analytics, Abidemi stands out for her ability to translate technical complexity into clear, actionable insights that drive better business decisions.
At Deloitte, Abidemi specialises in Service Organization Control (SOC) 1 and 2 audits, General IT Controls (GITC) deficiency assessments, and quality assurance, domains that demand not only technical depth but also meticulous attention to detail and a strong command of regulatory standards. Her work is rooted in a deep understanding of how systems operate and fail, allowing her to identify vulnerabilities and recommend improvements that enhance both compliance and performance.
What distinguishes Onibatedo is her analytical rigor and communication finesse. She excels at dissecting complex data landscapes, drawing meaningful conclusions, and presenting her findings in a way that resonates with stakeholders at all levels from technical teams to executive leadership. Her ability to bridge the gap between data and decision-making has made her a trusted advisor within and beyond project teams.
Before joining Deloitte, Onibatedo honed her analytical and operational skills in high-impact roles at Boeing and M&T Bank. At Boeing, she worked within procurement cost analysis, navigating the intricate economics of supply chain efficiency in one of the world’s most complex manufacturing environments. Her time at M&T Bank deepened her expertise in business banking analytics, equipping her with a sharp understanding of financial systems, risk modeling, and client behavior.
Together, these experiences have given Onibatedo a rare versatility. She moves fluidly between IT controls, financial systems, and strategic business analysis, always with a focus on integrity, impact, and improvement. Her career is marked by a commitment to learning, adaptability, and a passion for helping organizations manage risk while positioning themselves for long-term success.
Onibatedo represents the next generation of assurance professionals: sharp, dynamic, and unafraid to challenge the status quo in pursuit of excellence.
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