Internal audit: business risk services

Jake Wombwell-Povey is an internal auditor, business risk services, at Grant Thornton UK LLP. He studied management - international business economics at the University of Manchester. He is an ACA trainee.

The truth is, I didn't really know what I was getting myself into when applying for business risk here. I always knew I wanted to learn heavyweight financial skills, but I didn't know I was destined for internal audit.

My job

I work with a huge range of organisations, reviewing their internal systems and identifying risks that impede them from achieving their objectives. Day to day, I undertake management interviews and on-site fieldwork to investigate the controls and operations that are in place, and write up reports based on my findings. I have performed reviews on a large variety of cases from corporate governance, anti-bribery and risk management to fundraising, marketing and graduate employability. Job highlights include developing a range of vital business skills and adapting them to fit the particularities of each client. I’ve been exposed to every department imaginable, and am building new relationships almost every day.

Qualification training

It can be hard juggling commitments in the role. Training for my ACA qualification is tough and requires prolonged commitment, but as I keep telling myself, if it was easy it wouldn’t be worth doing!