Lerato Barney, vice president and chief audit officer for The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), will become Princeton University’s next vice president and chief audit and compliance officer. Her appointment is effective Aug. 1.

She will succeed Nilufer (Nilu) Shroff, who previously announced plans to step down from the role at the end of this academic year.

Barney is a risk management leader with more than 20 years of experience overseeing operational, financial and information technology audit programs for Fortune 500 companies and healthcare, banking, food services and consulting organizations.

Since 2022, Barney has managed the audit function at CHOP, a global leader in the advancement of healthcare for children, and she previously led auditing operations at Independence Blue Cross in Philadelphia.

“Lerato Barney is an incredibly talented audit and risk management leader,” said 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.”

As vice president and chief audit and compliance officer, Barney will oversee Princeton’s Office of Audit and Compliance, working with administrative leaders and the Board of Trustees to ensure the strong stewardship of University assets and to safeguard the integrity of operations, information and resources across campus. Barney will report to 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 said. “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.”

In her current role at CHOP, Barney collaborates with the hospital’s executive leadership and board of trustees to protect its organizational value and reputation. She oversees internal audit activities across CHOP, manages the internal audit and data analytics team, strengthens enterprise-wide risk awareness, and identifies opportunities to enhance operational efficiency and financial performance.

She develops the hospital’s annual audit plan, conducting risk assessments across the organization to ensure alignment with overall strategic goals and compliance requirements. In addition, she oversees audit and compliance measures for significant hospital projects, such as the ongoing construction of inpatient and research facilities.

Prior to joining CHOP, Barney held auditing management positions at Independence Blue Cross starting in 2014. Her roles at the leading health insurer included director of corporate and information technology audit, director of corporate audit and manager of internal audit.

Barney’s other professional experience includes auditing and consulting with PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) in South Africa, where she was born and raised, and in the United States. She previously worked as a senior auditor for Yum! Brands, a multinational food services corporation headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky. Barney has led international audits in parts of Europe, Asia and Africa.

Barney is a certified public accountant who earned her master of business administration from the University of Kentucky. She earned a bachelor of commerce from the University of Johannesburg. Her other professional certifications include certified internal auditor, certified information systems auditor and chartered accountant (South Africa).