Internal Audit Placement Student EMEA Review

Throughout my placement year, I have supported internal audits conducted on a monthly basis (excluding December and January). I have been actively involved and led in fraud discussions with senior management, helping to build a deeper understanding of fraud risks across different areas of the business.
I participate in process understanding meetings to enhance my knowledge of key processes within the different business units and scoped areas, and I am responsible for documenting this information clearly. I have also supported, and at times contributed to, the development of testing steps, which has been valuable for my technical development.
In preparation for audits, I assist in creating leadsheets to improve efficiency for the team while on-site. During audits, I support testing activities, often being assigned a workload similar to, and sometimes exceeding, that of senior team members. This level of responsibility has accelerated my learning and development.
I have had the opportunity to work on both remote and on-site audits, including travel to Romania for one week and Manchester for two weeks. These experiences have been highly rewarding, contributing to both my professional growth and personal development.
During audits, I have presented in status meetings with auditees, which has helped to build my confidence and strengthen my presentation skills. I am able to perform testing independently and engage directly with auditees to ask questions and gather evidence. For more complex testing areas, I proactively engage with managers and senior team members to ensure a clear understanding and accurate conclusions.
I produce comprehensive workpapers for each test, which has given me a strong sense of progression, from initially finding the process challenging to now being confident in delivering high-quality outputs. I have also supported the review of workpapers completed by other team members, further enhancing my technical understanding.
In addition, I have contributed to training newer team members and supporting guest auditors during audits, helping them integrate into the team and understand audit processes effectively.

Took on a high level of responsibility, independently completing a volume of testing comparable to senior team members
Reviewed workpapers of newer team members to support quality and reduce manager review time
Engaged directly with auditees, leading discussions independently
Contributed to building and drafting testing steps independently

My self-confidence and ability to communicate effectively with others have grown significantly, particularly in professional settings. I have also developed strong presentation skills through regular exposure to stakeholder interactions.
Over the course of my placement, I have gained a much deeper understanding of audit and risk, alongside building a strong foundation in the manufacturing industry and its associated financial processes. I have also developed a broader business awareness, including insights into how engines are produced, supported by opportunities such as giving tours of the Darlington Engine Plant.
I have gained valuable exposure to different working styles and approaches to management, which has helped me better understand how to adapt and collaborate effectively in varying environments. Additionally, I have achieved a Six Sigma Yellow Belt, further strengthening my process improvement mindset.
I have also taken part in project opportunities outside of internal audit, allowing me to broaden my understanding of other areas within finance. The hands-on, immersive approach to training has been particularly effective in accelerating my development, supported by more structured training sessions delivered during quieter periods to deepen my knowledge in specific areas.

Received strong support from both managers and senior team members throughout the placement
Even newer graduates on the team have contributed positively to my development
The team fosters an open and supportive environment where no question feels too small, making it easy to seek guidance and continuously learn

Everyone is very friendly and approachable, and many people you interact with have been at Cummins for decades, which really reflects how positive and rewarding it is to work here. Employee Resource Groups exist e.g. Women's Empowerment Network. EEEC is a program ran to give back to the local community. All employees must do 4 hours every year (this is during work hours!).

I really enjoyed my placement—I met so many great people and formed strong friendships. I’ll genuinely miss the time spent with my team and managers. The opportunities this placement offers are excellent, particularly in terms of personal development, future career prospects, and travel. I couldn’t recommend it more highly to anyone considering joining Cummins, especially the Internal Audit team.

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