Brent Olson

Brent Olson leads NREL's Office of Internal Audit (OIA).

The purpose of OIA is to provide independent, objective assurance and consulting services designed to add organizational value, improve NREL’s operations, and review allegations of fraud, waste, and abuse.

OIA helps NREL accomplish its objectives using a risk-based, systematic, and disciplined audit approach to evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of governance, risk management, and internal control processes. Using this approach, OIA provides independent and objective assurance to the U.S. Department of Energy and the Alliance for Sustainable Energy Board that NREL is complying with requirements and appropriately stewarding and safeguarding the budgetary and physical assets entrusted to NREL by the Department of Energy and other customers.

Olson has more than 25 years of multi-industry experience conducting and overseeing external and internal audits, including strategic, financial, operational, compliance (grant and subcontract), information technology, performance, and construction audits. Olson has also completed quality assessment reviews for many organizations to assess their internal audit functions' conformance with the Institute of Internal Auditors International Standards for the Professional Practice of Internal Auditing.

Prior to joining NREL, Olson’s audit roles included working for public accounting and consulting firms, including KPMG and EY and with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General. Olson has frequently served as instructor or presenter for internal audit and risk management topics, including fraud awareness, prevention, and detection, and implementing the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission's 2013 Internal Control Framework, Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government (the "Green Book").

Olson holds a bachelor of science degree in business administration from Northern Michigan University. Olson earned his Certified Public Accountant, Certified Internal Auditor, and Certified Fraud Examiner designations.