GRC Modernization: Building a Future-Ready Risk & Compliance Function
From Accounting Matters by Embark
May 7, 2026 · 38 min · Episode 89
About this episode
This episode discusses the modernization of governance, risk, and compliance functions to adapt to today's organizational environment.
Most GRC functions were built a decade ago in response to SOX or a single risk event. The world has changed. The function often hasn't. In this episode, Embark's Adam Olsen is joined by Managing Director Allison Bradshaw to break down what it actually takes to modernize governance, risk, and compliance for the environment organizations are operating in today. In this episode: Why siloed GRC functions create blind spots, audit fatigue, and hidden costs that far exceed what shows up on a budget line What an integrated GRC model looks like in practice: common risk taxonomy, shared technology, and coordinated activities across all three lines of defense How to make the business case for modernization, including the 20 to 30 percent cost reduction organizations typically see when duplication is eliminated Technology enablement beyond the platform: continuous controls monitoring, workflow automation, and real-time integration with your ERP and source systems How modern GRC transforms SOX from a seasonal sprint into a year-round process, with a real-world example of an $800K compliance budget getting restructured Where AI fits into GRC today: risk identification, anomaly detection, and…
People in this episode
Host: Adam Olsen
Guest: Allison Bradshaw
Topics covered
- GRC modernization
- risk management
- compliance
- technology enablement
- organizational culture
- cost reduction
Keywords
- GRC
- risk identification
- compliance monitoring
- audit fatigue
- cost reduction
- AI in GRC
- risk-intelligent culture
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Embark
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