How to supercharge your career as a Director in Internal Audit

16/04/2018 by Andy Winterburgh

As an ambitious Director in Internal Audit you may be considering how best to get to the next stage in your career. In the last in our series of career advice for internal auditors looking to accelerate their career we asked 7 high profile Internal Auditors Leaders what advice they would give to any Directors looking for the next step.

Here are their 7 top tips for anyone looking to transition to the next level.

1. Ensure you collect a broad range of experiences from general leadership and management responsibilities to some detailed specialist skills, advises Paul Day, Chief Auditor at Lloyds Bank.

2. Adaptability and resilience are the key attributes for Internal Audit leaders says Valeria Locatelli, Chief Internal Auditor at M&G Investments. Brexit, GDPR and increasing regulatory expectations call for leaders to be able to flex their audit plan and strategy to the changing environment and manage their teams through ambiguity.

3. Matt Rigby advises that as a Director he would advise a focus on people. Grow and develop them, always seek out people that want your job and can take it from you as it will push you forward. We all rise together.

4. Focus on the big picture and what you might be missing, advises Alison McFayden, Group Head of Internal Audit at Standard Chartered Bank.

5. Just say it how it is, and straight away says Steven Sanders, Managing Partner, Group Internal Audit at Bank of Ireland UK Plc. Auditors can be very good at wrapping things up in immense detail, overcomplicating and dragging things out way longer than necessary. Focus on just giving your opinion in the most effortless way possible.

6. Networking and focusing on relationship building not just with stakeholders but also your team is the advice that Demi Agrotis gives. There are many benefits to networking, she says. For example, it can open new doors to new opportunities and expand your support network by gaining different perspective and advice on key matters impacting you as well as making your more visible and accessible.

7. Sally Clark advises any Directors to network, find sponsors, get a reverse mentor, get involved and make an impact in your business and profession. Ensure you are curious, develop your leadership and find your purpose.

And as a final piece of advice from Martin O'Malley, Chief Auditor at Old Mutual Group, for any Internal Auditor looking to develop their careers is to resist the temptation to follow the path of least resistance. Internal auditors that succeed are the ones who have the courage and do not need hierarchy to operate as leaders. 

If you are a Director looking to progress your career and want to talk to a recruiter who understands the market get in touch with Hybridge today.

Read all the interviews in full just click on this link Here.

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