Building a Better Auditor: Advice for Emerging Leaders

Gather experiences (see the world). Holding a chartered accountancy qualification was my passport to internal audit. Of course, my passport quite literally took me to another country, at the same time. Crossing to the Middle East was an exciting but nerve-wracking adventure. Embarking on a new career in a new country didn't feel intimidating at the time because I just got on with it. If you ever get the opportunity to work in another country, I can’t recommend it enough.

Juggling a new world of internal audit and adjusting to a fresh, vibrant country, as well as defining what life looked like for me, was not always easy. I learned that the balancing act will cause you to fall a few times, but when you get back up, that's also how you learn. I spent my time experiencing a new country, building a career, constantly asking questions, being curious, and seeking to excel any way I could. When leaving my job to move back to the U.K., I felt I had more experience than the time reflects.

Take on leadership roles. Jumping from managing to leading can also be quite a culture shock. No one teaches you this stage because it is something that cannot be taught; it is learned and experienced through growth. You collect little parts of previous managers, experiences, and mentors to build a “you” that is unique. You become accountable for the performance of the function, but mostly, the team that looks to you. That's a heavy weight. 

Having led two internal audit functions in different countries and now steering a technology drive in my current role, I see that the possibilities and opportunities in this career path are endless. We are very fortunate in this profession, as a variety of industries, cultures, and experiences are open to us. There are no other internal stakeholders who can roam free (within reason of course) across the company and meet and see everyone and everything, getting to the heart of how things work. It is truly fascinating.

I am not entirely clear what brought me to these points other than an invisible arrow inside me, pointing my direction forward. I have grown a seemingly strange ability to map a process in front of me, like seeing the matrix, with risks popping up and controls mapping to them. This has come from nothing more than asking questions to seek to understand. I have also been fortunate enough to grow fast with wise, strong, and influential people supporting me.

Be true to yourself. I hope anyone in this role stays true to themselves. I previously attempted to reconfigure my brain in ways others might feel is more corporate or appropriate for work — however, that person is not authentic. They're not fun to be with, and they're not me. Not only will you slide into your usual self and then not be seen as real or trustworthy — you can't be you, and that's the best part of you. If you are somewhere you can't be you, it's not for you.

Conserve your energy. The world is increasingly overwhelming with tremendous choice, but at the same time, the choice feels limited. We often feel pressure, some of which we put on ourselves, that is not equal to the resources we have available to us. So, you need to be smart and sensible about where your energy goes. Your energy, time and focus is valuable, so treat it so.

It is always easier said than done. I often fall into the trap of getting immersed into the speed of the day to day, carrying on, my head glued to a laptop, watching life pass me by without having felt like I have achieved anything. Don't forget to zoom out, take a breath, and remember why we are doing what we do and why it is valuable.

Find your North Star. I would always advise anyone to hold a strong but simple mantra, it helps you focus when the world feels overwhelming. I'll leave you with mine: To leave the place where I am and the people around me better than when I arrived.