How abstract thinking and personality can make a huge difference.
Robyn Houghton, Senior Internal Auditor at NFU Mutual is a great example of the problem-solving mentality that exists within our Internal Audit team. Having reluctantly left for personal reasons, she has been welcomed back into the team and is thriving in her role. We recently sat down with Robyn to hear more about her work, the support she receives, the relationships she builds, and how the move towards a more consultative approach to Internal Audit at NFU Mutual aligns with her ambitions for the future.
Why did Internal Audit appeal to you?
I used to work at a Big 4 consultancy where I was introduced to Internal Audit. What struck me immediately about an Internal Audit role at NFU Mutual, was the importance of building great relationships across the business. Of course, you do that with external audit roles, but it felt different and better here, especially when I realised that I was going to be able to see the workings of all the departments. For me that was exciting and eye-opening. I quickly realised that I could help my colleagues, and also see which areas of the business might appeal to me in the long-term.
What influenced your decision to rejoin NFU Mutual after leaving?
The ambition and vision for Internal Audit. I left for relocation reasons but came back as I could see the long-term view of Internal Audit and I was really excited by it. I’ve always worked hard at the relationship side of my job, and I could see how the move towards a more consultative approach to Internal Audit would match my experience and skills. I also came back for the team. I work with some incredible people, and I knew it was the right move.
You’re now a Senior Internal Auditor. What does that involve?
At the moment, a lot of my work is with our Underwriting team where I’m building strong relationships with the Underwriting Managers across the division. Having these relationships creates a lot of trust which helps massively.
At the start of every year, we all get together to work on the strategy and then we create the roadmap for planned Audits. Those relationship skills help, especially when you’re working with a function that needs additional support. Our role is to help them improve, not hinder them and take precious time away.
What do you see as the key skills for working in Internal Audit at NFU Mutual?
I definitely think you have to be curious. You need to have that desire to want to probe and discover what the answer is. You’ve got to be able to forge strong relationships not only within the team, but with people at every level in every function across NFU Mutual. You also need to have an appetite for learning. And with that comes the humility and personality you need to be able to ask the seemingly obvious questions.
Finally, even though this can seem like quite a data-driven analytical world, one of the key qualities you’ll need is emotional intelligence. We’re often working with people who might be under pressure, so we need to be able to read them, listen to them and work with them in a way that doesn’t distract them from their day-to-day work.
What does a ‘typical’ audit look like?
Well, we carry out about 40-50 planned Audits every year against our set strategy and objectives. With the planning, discovery, analysis and reporting, these can take up to 50 days to complete. But then there are others which can take just a couple of weeks of work. The answer is that some are big, some are small, but all are important and every one of them is fascinating.
Internal Audit at NFU Mutual seems to be on the cusp of growing. How exciting does the future look?
I think the future is incredibly exciting. I came back because I totally buy into the mutual model and the team are brilliant. But I could also see that Waseem Ahmed, our Group Head of Internal Audit has a clear vision and an appetite to build our profile and grow our reputation across the business. This means our aim is to be the ‘go-to’ destination for problem-solving and consultative advice. For me, that’s super-exciting!
What are your ambitions with NFU Mutual?
I’ve recently completed the Chartered Institute of Insurers (CII) qualification, and after that I’m hoping to start the Mentoring Programme. The learning and development here is so good, and you can pick exactly the courses that match your ambitions. In terms of work, I love risk-based work, so I’m going to keep exploring that option.
Ultimately, I don’t have a fixed plan, or path in mind, but I know that with the growth and ambition of the team, opportunities will come along. The future looks good!
Interested in Internal Audit? Why not take a look at our current vacancies or register for job alerts. We look forward to hearing from you.