Jackie Lester

I have a wide range of experience and skills including 24 years of experience working in a large high profile, challenging and pressurised government department in various roles from Administration Officer; Branch Office Manager, Activity Based Costing Consultant and Internal Auditor.

I am a CMIIA qualified experienced and professional Internal Auditor with high standards of honesty and integrity with experience of undertaking a wide range of financial and operational audits. As an Internal Auditor I was able to plan and deliver a portfolio of complex audit assignments ensuring that they were delivered to both IIA standards and to the agreed time standards to enable the audit plan to be delivered.

I am able to work with a minimum of supervision in a team environment. I am highly motivated and have many years’ experience of dealing with confidential information and using tact and diplomacy to get difficult messages across (especially to senior managers).  As a Branch Office Manager at the CPS, I was responsible for the management, monitoring and training and development of a team of 4 staff. I had to ensure all targets were met by effectively organising both my own workload and ensuring my staff members could prioritise work to meet their own deadlines.

I have strong analytical skills including the understanding of different types of data and how to evaluate to support audit findings. I have the ability to grasp complex issues and draw out the information required for effective decision making. This has been demonstrated many times particularly in my work as an Internal Auditor. I work hard to build productive and co-operative working relationships with internal stakeholders at all levels, in particular middle management and senior staff. This ensured the audit work was adding value and helping the business to improve its control environment, governance and risk management. It was also important to have a good understanding of the business with an awareness of the key issues and risks facing it.

I have strong IT skills and have attained IBT3 in evening classes. These skills have been put into practice in all my roles. As an auditor for both the CPS and Hft I was responsible for the writing of reports in MS word and the analysis of data in Excel. I ensured that these were both concise and included all of the relevant evidence in order to support the conclusions. In addition, the reports included recommendations (that I had to agree with management) for the improvement of the system. At Hft the process included a site meeting at the end of each review where I would verbally present my findings.

In addition, I regularly communicated via e-mail to staff at all levels with the need to ensure that I obtain and gave the relevant information whilst portraying a high degree of professionalism. Audit reports were sent to senior management within the organisation and therefore needed to be well presented and accurate in a concise but informative way.

In addition, audits for both organisations are often of a sensitive and confidential nature.  For example, at Hft I had to undertake an investigation into a whistleblowing complaint.  I am highly motivated and committed to producing work to a high standard. My skills as an Auditor demonstrate that I am methodical in my approach with many audit assignments (particularly relating to finance) involving complex data where meticulous attention to detail is needed. My varied roles throughout the years along with the audit assignments that I have carried out have given me a good understanding of all roles within an organisation.

At the CPS I was a member of both the national change project group (which gave advice on the change programme for the CPS) and the Activity Based Costing (ABC) steering group. I was the secretary for the steering group with responsibilities of preparing agendas; chairing meetings and taking and distributing the minutes of meetings. 

I have an HNC in Business Studies and Finance. Modules studied include Financial Planning and Control; Employment Law; Personnel Management and People and Organisations.  I have used these skills in the CPS to help the Area Business Manager with regard to budget planning and the preparation of the Area Business Plan.

Whilst at Hft I was seconded to a project responsible for implementing a new finance and budget management system. This system was being developed by an external consultancy.  I had to work closely with them to ensure that it met business needs. Once it was fully developed, I was responsible for the training of staff at all levels and ensuring that they could effectively use it for the management of their budget and could produce and understand financial management reports.

My current role is a part time administrator at a church and involves flexibility of approach often being available at relatively short notice.  I am willing to work and attend meetings in the evenings or weekends if required.

I am keen to continually increase my knowledge and attain new skills.  I took several online courses during the lockdown, so am more than prepared to work towards obtaining further qualifications.

I have a full driving licence and access to a vehicle at all times.

I have experience preparing agendas and meeting papers, taking and distributing minutes, giving administrative support, keeping records and up to date information. 

I  have excellent organisational, communication and ICT skills.

I am a qualified Internal Auditor to degree level