In The Spotlight: Tom Crowson
“The whole premise of internal audit is to add value to the organisation and, by extension, to the communities we serve.”
Hi Tom! Can you tell us when you joined the council, and what you were doing beforehand?
I started at the council in January 2023, after graduating from Warwick University with a degree in History in July 2022. I moved to Aylesbury after getting an offer for this role, but I worked in a couple of places before that — notably the giant KFC and Wetherspoons — so this is my first professional job.
I joined as a graduate trainee for Internal Audit, and the council put me on the Institute for Internal Auditors’ (IIA) qualification called the Certified Internal Auditor. It’s a three-exam course that usually takes between 12 to 18 months… and I did it in 11! I got a total of 21 days’ study leave and the council paid for the workshops and exams. My line manager, his line manager, and her line manager had all done the qualification at some point, so that helped settle my nerves. They’ve all been very supportive. I’ll be fully qualified in January and need a further two years’ experience.
It’s quite a big leap from History to Auditing! What made you decide to pursue this as a career?
Traditionally — certainly, in the private sector — most firms have looked for candidates with finance or business backgrounds, maybe even an MBA. But there’s a trend recently of employers looking for degrees outside of finance, and almost all of them list a background in either law, history, or both. That stood out to me. The job spec encouraged me to apply because it listed report-writing, analytical skills, and research as essential criteria, which are attributes I possess.
I did some background research on the council, and I liked the idea of working in the public sector and for a local authority. The skills you gain are so transferable. One quote that’s always stuck with me is from Richard Branson, who said: “Train people well enough so they can leave, treat them well enough so they don’t want to.” And I think the council does a really good job of that.
What does your role involve?
As an Internal Auditor, my primary role is to identify what we call “findings.” These findings often highlight opportunities for improvement in data management practices, where policies may need to be established or better adhered to. In essence, we identify areas where controls can be strengthened to enhance the organisation’s effectiveness.
Our team has a lot of visibility across different services. Part of the challenge is approaching areas that I have very little knowledge of and talking to people who often have decades of experience. But one of the benefits of working for Internal Audit is that it provides a fresh pair of eyes to the service area or a process. And what could be fresher than someone straight out of university?
What’s the most rewarding thing about your job?
The whole premise of internal audit, as outlined in our audit charter and supported by the Public Sector Internal Audit Standards (PSIAS), is to add value to the organisation and, by extension, to the communities we serve. I like to believe that many of my reports have driven real change within the organisation. Although I haven’t been here very long, I have seen some of my recommendations being acted upon, which is incredibly rewarding.
My team has also done an excellent job of motivating me. They often point out, “Hey, look, this is something you’ve contributed to,” which is very encouraging.
And finally, what are your aspirations for the future?
Bucks has been incredibly supportive of my goal to become a Certified Systems Information Auditor (CISA). There’s been talk of assisting me to figure out if that’s something I want to do through work shadowing, which the council encourages. So that’s a long-term goal, at least!
Looking for a new role? Check our current council vacancies here: https://jobs.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/
