The Internal Audit team

Bron is the Head of Internal Audit and responsible for the statutory provision of internal audit work for the whole of the Combined Authority.

"The Combined Authority is one of the most interesting organisations I’ve worked for, given the huge breadth of responsibilities it has for the West Yorkshire region. No two days here are ever the same, which makes for a very stimulating and fascinating working life.

There is a great offer at the Combined Authority in terms of development. The Internal Audit Team has participated in the apprenticeship programmes and we are keen to grow our team into leadership roles through programmes such as Amplify and Solace. We are very much focused on succession planning for our growing team and responsibilities."

Farhan is one of the Principal Internal Auditors in the team and has responsibility for supporting the Head of Internal Audit to deliver the risk based internal audit plan.

"The team has grown over the last couple of years and between recent new recruits who are starting their careers in audit, to those with significant experience, a good balance has been achieved to allow for succession planning, sharing of knowledge and expertise, and working together to achieve delivery of plans and objective. Hopefully we can further strengthen the team as the organisation continues to grow.    

The Combined Authority is committed to developing its people and it is a great place to develop skills and gain exposure to significant programmes of work such as Mass Transit, Bus Reform to name a few."

Amy works as Senior Internal Auditor and is predominantly focused on audit and assurance of the devolved Adult Skills budget, including the Adult Skills Fund and Free Courses for Jobs.

"The office being centrally located in Leeds is great and a ‘hot desk’ setup across the office provides the opportunity to meet and sit next to colleagues from other teams and directorates.

The Combined Authority supports an agile working approach. I’m an ‘early bird’ and working flexibly allows me to work when I am most productive and take downtime. As a non-driver, the annual MCard, which provides free train and bus travel throughout West Yorkshire, is a great benefit too."

Tom works as a Senior Internal Auditor and provides an independent opinion on the effectiveness of the Combined Authority’s risk management, governance and control framework. 

"Having lived in West Yorkshire all my life, I love seeing the development and projects we are helping support and carry out across the region. It is a really exciting place to work, helping those around us.

I’ve only been in my role at the Combined Authority a month, but in this time I’ve loved sharing ideas and plans with the team and discussing how we can help the organisation. Being comfortable and able to share ideas and collaborate with others is one of the best things about this job."

Eileen works as one of the Principal Internal Auditors in the team and has responsibility for providing assurance for the Adult Skills budget.

"The Combined Authority is keen to develop their employees. I am currently completing an Internal Audit Professional Apprenticeship (Level 7). 

The MCard gives us free bus and rail travel across West Yorkshire, allowing me to save a lot of money. The Staff Network Groups are a great way to meet people in the Combined Authority who I wouldn’t ordinarily see from day to day.

We work flexibly and have hybrid working arrangements which is useful when life throws you that curve ball that you weren’t expecting."

Luke recently joined the Combined Authority as a Senior Internal Auditor. He works on providing audit and assurance of the devolved Adult Skills budget, as well as helping to deliver the audit plan.

"The thing I enjoy the most about working at the Combined Authority is the people. There is a great culture in the team and across the organisation which makes it a really enjoyable place to work. In addition to the culture, the work is hugely varied. No two days are the same, and likewise, no two audits are the same. Keeping us all on our toes!

There are numerous benefits to working at the Combined Authority. Being a born and bred Yorkshireman it’s a great honour to play a role in helping to improve the lives of the people and communities in West Yorkshire.

The flexible working arrangements are another big positive. Employees can adapt their working patterns to suit their personal lives. The hybrid working options provided, allows me the flexibility to balance my professional and personal life, and the freedom to choose where and when I work most effectively."

Jackie works as a Senior Internal Auditor carrying out risk-based audits across the organisation to support delivery of the Internal Audit Plan. 

"I left early retirement to join the Internal Audit team because of the positive things I had heard. I planned to stay for just six months, however I am still here over two years later. The Combined Authority is a vibrant and diverse organisation which actively promotes Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.

Working from home became the norm during the pandemic, but the Combined Authority has now embraced this flexibility into its agile working policy. It means most staff can work in a hybrid way, where working from home is coupled with days in the office to suit individual circumstances as agreed with your line manager. Flexi-time is also an option for most staff."

Felicity works as a Principal Internal Auditor and has responsibility for overseeing the Anti-Fraud and corruption aspects of the service.

"I enjoy the variety of work at the Combined Authority. Not only in the audit work due to the different types of projects and services the Combined Authority offers to the community of West Yorkshire, but also, variety in where I can work from whether that be at home, in the offices in Leeds or out and about auditing at our front-line service delivery sites.

The team are really supportive of each other. We have regular team huddles and team social events. If you need help with a challenging task there is always someone who would be able to help you or point you in the direction of the information needed to complete it. The team is vibrant, diverse and has a true sense of fun."