A Day in the Life of... An Internal Auditor

• What's your day like upon waking up? 

I start by getting my kids ready for school before heading to the office. There, I dive into emails, update my daily plan, and then focus on executing audit assignments. There after, I make time for the gym or networking activities. Evening is family time, helping my kids with their homework and staying informed with the news. I prioritize rest by 10:30 pm for a fresh start the next day.  

• What’s your morning routine? 

I wake up at 5:30 am, starting my day with personal devotion. After seeing my daughters off to the school bus, I take a moment to read - my current read is "The Saint, the Surfer and the CEO" by Robin Sharma. Then, I drop my kindergarten son at school before heading to work. It's a simple yet fulfilling start to each day.  

• What do you need to plan for work, before you leave home? 

Before I leave home, I ensure I've packed my breakfast and lunch. I also double-check that my phone and gate pass are safely in my handbag. These simple preparations set the tone for a productive day ahead. 

• Take us through your typical day 

Internal Audit core mandate is to provide independent, objective assurance and advisory services to the business with an aim of improving company operations. To give an assurance, an internal auditor carries out various audit procedures in every audit cycle. These include developing of audit plan, risk assessment, test the controls, identification of control gaps and recommendations. 

In a typical day I handle the following tasks: 

1) Risk assessment of the business processes and internal controls in place. 

2) Perform audit walkthroughs with auditees for better understanding of business processes. 

3) Develop test plans and test the design and effectiveness of controls in place. 

4) Document all audit working papers in the audit management tool (Highbond) 

5) Identify gaps in the current business processes and give practical recommendation. 

6) Provide feedback to auditees on areas of improvement. 

7) Present audit report to senior management and offer advisory services. 

8) Follow ups with stakeholders on closure of open audit issues to ensure recommendations are implemented. 

9) Continuous professional development especially on emerging risks in relation to cyber security and Technology, ESG integration, Artificial Intelligence and future of audits, data protection, continuous auditing and monitoring through data automation. 

10) Conduct risk and fraud induction trainings to new staff. 

Internal Audit assignments are performed in teams of two or three staff. I keep track of each member's task status to ensure seamless execution, even in unforeseen circumstances. 

Additionally, during staff transitions, I play a role in preparing quarterly reports for the Audit and Risk Committee board, ensuring continuity and transparency in our department's operations. 

• How does your day end?

My typical workday concludes around 5:30 pm, though occasionally, tight deadlines may require me to stay until 7:30 pm. Before leaving, I conduct a self-assessment to evaluate the day's achievements and note key lessons learned. I also take a moment to plan for the following day, ensuring a smooth transition and preparedness for upcoming tasks.