Strong team culture in a highly regulated environment
Pros
Internal Audit's work is meaningful and provides strong exposure across risk, technology and operations. Audits tend to focus on areas that truly matter from a regulatory and risk perspective, so you're not just checking boxes. There is a genuinely strong team culture. Colleagues are competent, collaborative, and willing to help, with a good mix of experience levels that make it a solid environment for learning. There is also clear investment in employee development. Managers often have regular career discussions, and there are ongoing efforts around training, including newer areas like AI tools and capabilities. Recognition is present, and people are generally acknowledged for strong performance. Overall, it's a strong place to build audit fundamentals, gain exposure to innovation initiatives, and develop credibility within financial services / internal audit.
Cons
Internal Audit's workload is consistently high, not just during peak periods. It's common to juggle multiple audits with overlapping deadlines, alongside continuous monitoring and other responsibilities, which can make it difficult at times. Processes can be very documentation heavy and sometimes feel rigid, which is expected in a highly regulated environment but can reduce efficiency. A significant amount of time can go into formatting, reviewing and aligning work papers to methodology. Some workflows remain manual, which adds to the overall pressure and limit efficiency.
