Compliance and Internal Audit: The difference. Internal audit and complaince are both very essential functions in any bank. In recent years they have risen in importance. However, compliance and internal audit serve two different roles in a bank. Compliance VS. Audit 1. What is compliance? What are the objectives of compliance? Why have compliance? 2. What is internal audit? What do internal auditors do? Why have internal audit? WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BOTH?