Robert Cottrell
“I have to say, that before I started at the Audit Commission, I didn’t really have any idea what an Auditor did! I assumed I would just be checking numbers all day, but I couldn’t have been more wrong. There’s so much to the job, and whilst being numerate is really important, you actually need to be pretty personable as you are always out on site, talking to different people. I’ve learnt a lot of new stuff since joining, for example, last week I was out on the road doing ‘asset testing’, which is basically making sure the buildings clients say they have, actually exist! There’s also a lot of pre-audit activity which goes on as well, which gives you an understanding of the whole picture of an audit – something which makes you realise just how big the remit of the Audit Commission is – how far it reaches. That gives me a great sense of job satisfaction knowing I’m part of something significant as opposed to on the private sector treadmill, churning out results. On top of that, we get some really great training and development here, which was very important to me and it’s also a unique, relaxed atmosphere in which to work as well. My mission? Well, when I started, it was to complete my graduate training successfully. Mission Accomplished – although of course – this is just the beginning.”
