Wbg seeks to double internal audit team on the back of significant growth
Having already doubled its headcount to a 21-strong team over the last two years, Wbg, one of Scotland’s leading independent specialist accounting, tax, and audit firms, is actively seeking to double the headcount of its internal audit team once again over the next few years.
The demand for new team members is a direct result of significant growth achieved by the firm’s internal audit division over recent years, including a number of new clients since the start of 2024 yielding a recurring fee income in excess of £500,000.
And recent weeks have seen the division secure places on two newly created frameworks for specialist sectors within which it operates.
These are the Yorkshire Purchasing Organisation, a central purchasing body based in Wakefield, owned and governed by a consortium of county, metropolitan and borough councils in Yorkshire and Northwest England, and the Pagabo framework, which enables effective procurement for public sector organisations across the UK, to provide internal audit services for multi-academy trusts.
Graham Gillespie, partner, and head of internal audit at Wbg, said: “We are the only Scottish independent accountancy practice with audit activity throughout all four parts of the UK.
“Our growth has been realised by our ability to identify and exploit a niche in the market for a firm of our size with the range of qualities we can deliver effectively via a specialist internal audit service.
“Through a series of tender wins, including being awarded landmark slots on the prestigious Department for Education framework, we have earned a reputation for excellence across various specialist sectors, including education and social housing, as well as a diverse range of other public sector bodies. Our conversion rate at tender stage is exceptionally high.”
As a result of this success, Wbg’s internal audit team has promoted Neil Clark and Siobhan Archibald from assistant managerial positions to managers, supporting the firm’s strategic succession planning policy of promoting within the business.
“Due to client growth, we have been able to create career opportunities internally and we fully intend to increase our graduate intake and create further career opportunities within our internal audit team over the years ahead,” said Mr Gillespie.
“As a firm, Wbg’s aim is to grow its turnover from £13m to £30m over the next five years, so we are actively seeking to bolster our human resource across a range of service divisions.
“We’ve already doubled our internal audit team over the last two years and over the next few years we aim to double its headcount again.”
