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Introducing Students to a Career in Internal Audit

Accounting offers a range of career opportunities beyond the conventional routes of accountancy and external audit. Helping students understand the different roles within the profession, including internal audit, was the focus of Ngee Ann Polytechnic's “Diverse Careers in Accounting – Internal Audit, External Audit & Corporate Secretarial Services” sharing session held on 4 November 2026.

Emily Lai, Partner and Head of Business Risk Services at Grant Thornton and Governor of IIA Singapore, represented the internal audit profession at the session. Drawing on her experience, she shared her career journey and what led her to choose internal audit, giving students a practitioner's perspective of the profession and the opportunities it offers. Her sharing covered how internal audit differs from external audit, the roles and responsibilities of internal auditors, and the value of internal audit in helping organisations strengthen their governance, risk management and internal controls. Beyond providing assurance, internal auditors offer insights that can help organisations identify areas for improvement, address emerging risks and support better decision-making. Emily also highlighted the range of career opportunities available in internal audit. The work spans different business functions and industries, offering professionals opportunities to develop a broad understanding of how organisations operate, the risks they face and how they can improve. This gave students a wider view of the profession and the possibilities it offers beyond traditional accounting roles.

The session also covered external audit and corporate secretarial services. Derek How (Partner & Head of Audit and Corporate Tax at RSM Singapore ) spoke on “More Than Numbers: The Many Hats of an External Auditor”, sharing insights into the varied responsibilities and roles of an external auditor. This was followed by Bernice Lau's (Associate Director at RSM) session, “Behind Every Boardroom: The People Who Keep Companies Running”, which introduced students to the work and contributions of corporate secretarial professionals. The programme concluded with a fireside Q&A, where students had the opportunity to put their questions directly to the speakers, seek clarification on the different career paths and gain further insights into the demands of working in these fields. The interactive discussion allowed students to engage with the speakers beyond the formal presentations and learn more about the opportunities and considerations involved in pursuing each career.

The sharing provided students with a broader perspective of the accounting profession and an opportunity to consider the different career pathways available to them. For internal audit in particular, greater exposure to the profession helps students understand its contribution to organisations and the opportunities it offers as a career.