Lerato Barney, who currently holds the position of vice president and chief audit officer at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), has been appointed as the new vice president and chief audit and compliance officer at Princeton University. Effective August 1, she will succeed Nilufer (Nilu) Shroff, who is stepping down at the end of the academic year.
Barney has over 20 years of expertise in risk management, focusing on overseeing operational, financial, and information technology audit programs across various sectors, including healthcare, banking, food services, and consulting. Since 2022, she has led the audit functions at CHOP, an organization committed to advancing children’s healthcare. Her prior experience includes managing auditing operations at Independence Blue Cross in Philadelphia.
“Lerato Barney is an incredibly talented audit and risk management leader,” stated Executive Vice President Katie Callow-Wright. “She is also a curious and innovative thinker, a collaborative partner and a talented manager. Lerato brings stellar credentials, integrity and a broad range of experiences in complex organizations. I couldn’t be more thrilled to welcome her to the University community.”
In her new role at Princeton, Barney will lead the Office of Audit and Compliance, collaborating with administrative leaders and the Board of Trustees to uphold the integrity of operations and resources at the university. Her responsibilities include reporting to Executive Vice President Callow-Wright and to the chair of the Board of Trustees’ Audit and Compliance Committee.
“I am truly honored to join Princeton University, an institution whose commitment to prepare students for lives of service, civic engagement and ethical leadership deeply resonates with my own values,” Barney remarked. “With my background in audit and risk management, I am excited to support the University’s strong foundation of accountability and transparency. I look forward to partnering across campus to help ensure that Princeton’s operations continue to reflect the excellence and ethical leadership that define its legacy.”
Barney’s responsibilities at CHOP involve collaborating with executive leadership and the board of trustees to safeguard the organization’s value and reputation. She manages internal audit activities, leads the internal audit and data analytics team, and strengthens risk awareness across the enterprise. Additionally, she identifies opportunities to enhance operational efficiency and financial performance while also overseeing audit and compliance measures for major projects, such as new facility constructions.
Her professional journey prior to CHOP includes various management roles at Independence Blue Cross and auditing and consultancy work with PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) in both South Africa and the United States. She also served as a senior auditor for Yum! Brands and has led international audits across Europe, Asia, and Africa.
Lerato Barney is a certified public accountant, holding a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Kentucky and a bachelor’s degree in commerce from the University of Johannesburg. Her professional credentials further include being a certified internal auditor, a certified information systems auditor, and a chartered accountant in South Africa.
