My journey into Internal Audit was serendipitous, and over the past 15 years, my career has encompassed a diverse array of sectors. From practice (Big 4) to the public sector and finally to financial services, including banks such as Santander, BNYM, FNZ Wealth Management and MUFG.  I’ve had the privilege of managing teams and multiple audits across different geographies and operational areas. I’m currently working as an Independent Consultant at Grant Thornton within the Agile Talent Community focused on Anti-Money Laundering and Financial Crime reviews. Consulting affords me the flexibility to work around the needs of my family as well as providing me with the technical breadth of work I desire and a wide range of clients. 

In addition to my professional endeavours, I place great value on contributing my skills in a voluntary capacity. I’ve been involved in various mentoring schemes and I’m a school governor for a multi academy trust secondary school. I also serve as a board trustee for a leading Cancer Charity. The skills I’ve honed through internal audit have underscored the importance of robust governance and risk mitigation. Armed with this knowledge, I’m able to challenge and provide strategic direction effectively. My audit journey has been both enriching and fulfilling, shaping me into the professional I am today.

My Journey

Upon completing my degree in Marketing and International Business, I found myself sending out numerous applications for graduate marketing training programs. The process was lengthy, and It was during this time that a temporary opportunity arose at PwC, where I joined their global technology solutions team as a commodity and IT Approver.

In this role, I interacted with several partners and directors working in audit, who encouraged me to pursue an ACCA accounting qualification. My background in International Business proved advantageous for this endeavour, and I did a U turn from marketing to eventually secure a graduate training position in Deloitte’s Internal Audit Public Sector team. 

My initial audits were diverse, ranging from reviewing financial systems for local and central government to secondary schools, hospital residences, garbage disposal units (!) and even cash reconciliation processes at the shop and ticket office at the beautiful and renowned Royal Botanic Kew Gardens. These varied experiences solidified my understanding of key risks, controls, and anti-fraud measures. The audits were designed to enhance efficiency and effectiveness, with the government seeking greater transparency to demonstrate accountability in the use of public funds and the delivery of public services.

Following this, I transitioned into Financial Services. My first assignment involved auditing Santander retail branches across the UK, after which I moved to the Bank of New York Mellon. Here, I spent most of my career learning about custody banking and Investment Servicing and management delivering and managing a range of risk-based audits. One of the pivotal moments was a position I secured managing an audit team at MUFG as the country went into lockdown during the Covid pandemic. It wasn’t just adapting to remote working but also a change of business culture and different working practices being a Japanese bank.

Why Internal Audit? 

Internal audit has been a great career because there are so many transferrable skills to be developed and the opportunity to gain a profound understanding of various business areas and cultures in a relatively short period of time. There is something quite exciting about being able to analyse information and facts to help identify improvement areas.  It empowers you to build relationships with business management to add value to an organisation when you can help to shape their governance and risk management frameworks. My audit journey has certainly shaped my management approach and ability to manage challenging situations, from discovering significant control weaknesses in processes, to receiving many contentious responses and push back on audit reports (no matter now skilfully or diplomatically prepared). 

Also, the chance to lead and manage teams fosters the growth of leadership skills and insights in business culture. This career path is not just about auditing; it’s about growth, learning, and making a difference in the business world.

Challenges and Opportunities 

The auditing landscape is evolving rapidly, driven by technological advancements such as AI, modifications in regulatory frameworks, and the emergence of new business risks. ESG factors are increasingly becoming a priority for global organisations, mirroring a shift in stakeholder expectations towards sustainable and ethical business operations.

Opportunities harness data analytics to bolster ESG and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I) initiatives. However, auditors face the challenging task of integrating traditional auditing methods with these new approaches. As someone who has seen the more traditional audit approaches evolve, there is a real need for auditors to strike a balance between interpreting data, navigating complex processes, and diverse organisational cultures, all while leveraging data analytics, addressing cybersecurity concerns, and managing emerging audit risks. 

Being part of the Internal Audit profession during this transformative period is exciting, as it offers the chance to be at the forefront of these exciting changes.