Perspectives on audit, risk and finance talent

Internal audit provides independent, objective assurance and advice. Beyond checking compliance, it tests whether financial reporting is reliable, assets are safeguarded and fraud is deterred.

The most useful reports are practical: a short list of findings ranked by risk, with owners and dates. Agree the scope with the board or audit committee, then follow up so recommendations are actually closed.

Ask: Which risks could stop us reaching our objectives? Who owns each one? How do we know our controls work? How much risk are we willing to accept? And how quickly would we hear about a problem?

If the answers are unclear, a short risk review is a sensible first step. It gives the board a shared picture and a clear order of priorities.

For senior finance roles, test how a candidate has influenced decisions, handled disagreement and explained numbers to non-finance colleagues. Qualifications and sector experience matter, but so does fit with your people and pace.

Agree what success looks like in the first year before you interview, and use the same questions with every candidate so comparisons are fair.