Alumni Stories
“I’ve got that UC connection”: How auditor James Yeo will help shape the University’s practices
From campus “res” to internal auditor – alumnus James Yeo graduated with a Bachelor of Applied Economics in 2013 – he’s now returning to provide internal audit services to support the University’s governance and activities.
Growing up on the family farm near Leeton, in the Riverina region of New South Wales, James always found it important to be connected to community.
“My mum and dad instilled a good work ethic in my sister and I,” says James. “I wanted to find a career path to help drive improvement and change in the community.”
As a certified internal auditor, James has been able to make a meaningful impact, particularly in the government sector. “The most rewarding audits I’ve been involved with have been for large government programs where you could potentially improve the program experience for thousands of program recipients, as well as for the employees administering them – it makes you feel that your work matters.”
Back when it came to choosing a university, UC’s location – four hours from home – and the diverse courses offered were key factors for James. He was also influenced by UC’s good reputation in his local area. “I knew that it was going to provide an enjoyable student experience,” he says.
James lived on campus (“on res”), where he enjoyed all that Canberra had to offer – like local Brumbies games and other sporting events – along with the ability to visit home and the surrounding regions on weekends.
As a keen sportsperson – James is a regular parkrunner– he initially commenced degrees in Nutrition and Exercise Science, and Physical Education, while choosing to take some economics elective units as well. Throughout his studies, he also worked part-time at the then-on campus Commonwealth Bank branch and as a residential assistant on campus.
Studying economics clicked so well for James that his lecturers suggested he consider a different career pathway. So in 2011, he transferred courses to an applied economics degree in the Faculty of Business, Government and Law.
“I’m still very thankful to my professors,” says James. The UC academics who advised him included Professor Phil Lewis, Professor Ben Freyens, Assistant Professor Craig Applegate and Professor Emerita Anne Daly from the Faculty’s Canberra School of Politics, Economics & Society.
James, who graduated in 2013, credits UC with teaching him the skills that he went on to use at a “Big Four” consulting firm, and now at Canberra-based professional services firm BellchambersBarrett.
The degree gave me a comprehensive understanding of economics, business and government, which is particularly important in Canberra.
“It certainly sharpened my writing and analytical skills, and it helped with my ability to think critically, particularly about policy issues. These are all core skills that I apply now as an internal auditor.”
James admits that many people are mystified by what internal auditors do. In a nutshell, internal auditing helps an organisation improve its practices.
“It’s an independent and objective service that assesses and improves the effectiveness of governance, risk management and controls,” explains James.
“It provides recommendations for management to implement – this helps drive change and improvements. In the case of UC, it can ultimately help UC toward achieving the objectives of the Connected strategy.”
The audit reports will be presented to UC’s Audit and Risk Management Committee, which reports to the University Council. BellchambersBarrett was recently awarded a contract as UC’s internal audit collaborative service partner, and James will lead the delivery of services.
“Every day as an internal auditor can be different because we can be asked to review a wide range of different activities in an organisation,” says James. “One day you could be understanding whether financial transactions have been processed correctly, or how large and complex procurements have been undertaken.
“The next day you might be reviewing how projects and programs are being delivered, and the next you could be carrying out different types of workshops with staff.”
Thinking back to his uni days, James experienced both a strong connection to the Canberra community, and the cultural immersion that came from meeting students from across the globe.
“The culture of the residence was fun, with lots of students from nearby regional areas, and from all over the world too. A lot of the people who I met continue to be part of my life to this day, including my wife, and other close friends who spend time with our family of four.”
He’s now looking forward to experiencing UC from a different angle.
I’m looking to spend time on a weekly basis at UC. It’s advantageous that I used to be a student, but there’s always more to learn. It's only through talking to staff and immersing yourself in the culture that you get real understanding.
In his new role, James hopes to enhance the projects and programs that led to his positive experiences as a student.
“I hope our work continues to support the work that UC is doing, particularly with its compliance requirements and its focus on the student experience, and supports UC staff in their various contributions to the university,” he says.
Story by Larissa Fedunik, photos by Tyler Cherry. Graduation photo supplied by James Yeo.