The IAD’s motto “In Atramento” (translated from Latin as “In the Black”) refers to Black Friday, stemming from the shift to profitability during the holiday season. Black Friday was the period when retailers went from being unprofitable, or “in the red” to being profitable, or “in the black,” at a time when accounting records were kept by hand and red ink indicated loss and black ink indicated a profit.

Although government’s goal is not to produce a profit, having its funds balanced is a positive and admirable objective, particularly in this day of cutbacks in governmental services, lay-offs and budget deficits. The performance and oversight operation that is internal audit effectively contributes to achieving that goal.