Internal audit - what is it really like?
On this page you will find real life accounts from graduates who work in internal audit. These stories will inform you of what it is really like to work in the profession and how rewarding it could be for you.
Graduated: 1998Subject: BA (Hons) Media Studies and American Studies
University: Staffordshire
Lives: Birmingham
Current employer: Birmingham City Council
Job title: Senior Auditor
Interesting fact about Emma:
I have managed to lose 5 stone which I am ecstatic about
How did you first hear about internal auditing?
Having heard good things through the grapevine about a career in internal auditing, I researched the industry as a whole thoroughly to decide if it was an area that I would prosper in. I then applied for an auditing job within Birmingham City Council and I haven't looked back since!
Why did you choose a career in internal audit?
I followed a path into internal audit as it offered me the prospect of developing a career for myself in a dynamic professional environment with like minded people. I was also attracted by the changing image of the profession as it was apparent that young and energetic individuals were leading the industry into a new and prosperous future.
Additionally to this, I wanted to work in an environment which was varied and would enable me to apply the array of skills which I had attained in my recent past (a number of postgraduate awards in legal and auditing areas) and believed this would be a career where this could and would happen.
Why do you believe internal auditing is such a rewarding career?
The opportunity to identify areas throughout the business which can be improved is paramount to any business succeeding and expanding in today's ever changing world and I feel working with managers to highlight these specific areas in a consultancy role like I do at the moment can be rewarding to anyone with a passion for internal audit.
My role also provides a challenge in a number of different ways. Communicating effectively with a wide range of people, whether they be the colleagues in my team or heads of service, allows me to enhance my verbal skills whilst identifying systems and procedures, and asking the right questions to the right people about these, allows me to strengthen my understanding of my business. It is these varied elements of my job which, when achieved, help to make internal auditing an extremely rewarding career.
Do you believe the IIA qualification you gained has helped you with your career in internal audit?
I believe that gaining an IIA qualification has helped me greatly. Completion of the exams was a requirement for my job and many other jobs in the profession now and this has enabled me to gain promotion relatively quickly. Looking back now, I can see how the exams, and preparation that came with it, helped me understand the various, and sometimes challenging, elements of my position.
Case study 2 - Georgia Fleming
Graduated: 2002Subject: MSc Business Management
University: Napier
Lives: Edinburgh
Current employer: HBOS
Job title: Internal Auditor
Interesting fact about Georgia:
I am always looking for fun ways to raise money for my favourite charities. Two years ago I personally
organised a belly-dancing marathon that turned out to be a great success.
How did you first hear about internal auditing?
I joined my current employer as part of the graduate programme for the retail side of the organisation. Whilst it was a fantastic opportunity, it gave me little scope to fully use my talents and enthusiasm that I possessed. On an off chance one day, I attended a training session with a colleague from internal audit and was instantly fascinated by the level of responsibility her role gave her compared to mine. My curiosity about the internal auditing profession led me to apply for position within the department a couple of months later.
Why did you choose a career in internal audit?
My previous experience in a relatively small company meant I had direct involvement in many aspects of the day to day operations, as well as the future strategic direction. Coming from this background, I found the transition to a role where my impact was restricted to a small part of the organisation very limiting. I believed at this point I had to find a role which would allow me insight and involvement in a wide range of issues at strategic level and believed that a career in internal audit would give me this.
Why do you believe internal auditing is such a rewarding career?
The unique aspect to internal audit is that it gives me the chance to have an insight into many different areas of the organisation due to the unrestricted access to information I have within it. This gives me a bird's eye view of what is happening within the company as a whole and allows me to understand fully what we are doing correctly and what we could improve on.
Most importantly it satisfies my continiuous craving for meeting new people, understanding new processes and identifying opportunities that will allow the business to achieve its business goals. The fact that I continue to grow and be challenged in my role on a day to day basis is probably the most rewarding element.
Do you believe the IIA qualification you gained has helped you with your career in internal audit?
The most important thing about my IIA qualification is that it is held with such high regard amongst many employers and thus makes me much more employable in the future. I feel that studying for my qualification has given me more credibility and recognition amongst other auditors.
Case study 3 - Marc Gilfoyle
Graduated: 2006
Subject: BA (Hons) Business Studies
University: Leeds Metropolitan
Lives: Leeds
Current employer: HBOS
Job title: Auditor (Graduate Scheme)
Interesting fact about Marc:
I worked with the Performance Analysis team for the World Cup winning England rugby side in 2003
How did you first hear about internal auditing?
Whilst browsing the HBOS website, I came across a page advertisng roles in internal auditing within the company, It described the kind of work that I would be doing and what I could achieve from a career in internal auditing and I was intrigued at what the profession could offer me. I decided at this point to apply for the graduate scheme in internal audit.
Why did you choose a career in internal audit?
Like many other graduates, when I left university I was still unsure about what specific career I wanted. The only thing that I was sure of was that I wanted a structured training role within a top firm that could allow me to learn and expand the skills that I learnt whilst at university. I decided that through internal audit, I could gain real exposure to the varying divisions within a firm and develop more of an understanding of how they work and where they sit as part of the overall picture.
Why do you believe internal auditing is such a rewarding career?
Internal audit is quite unique in that it offers real responsibility at an early stage of your career. You are always meeting and working with new people, including those much higher up than you in the hierarchy of the business. Internal audit also allows me to travel to many different locations and experience cities and cultures that I haven't experienced before.
All these factors combined ensure that there is no typical routine when working within my internal audit department. Whilst many people in other professions frequently use the phrase 'no two days are ever the same' to describe their working lives and is often untrue, it really is accurate when applied to a career in internal audit.