Brittany is a big believer in adding a little whimsy to everyday life. As an Internal Auditor (Specialist) this same curiosity and enthusiasm helps her bring fresh, strategic perspectives to her work. She loves that each day can bring something new, but her one constant is bringing her best every day, with the goal to make someone’s workday a little better. For, Brittany, that’s one of the best parts of the job.

Tell us a little about yourself.

I grew up in Seal Cove, Fortune Bay, and I’ve always had a strong drive to learn and challenge myself, which has taken me from Commerce at MUN through my CPA, CIA, CISA, CFE and AAIA. These days, most of my time is spent with my fiancé and our two young children and my life revolves around making our family life fun and full of experiences – whether that’s travelling, learning to sew and skate, or slowly embracing my inner bayman and spending more time outside.

I’m a big believer in adding a little whimsy to everyday life, so a lot of my time is spent creating traditions and little reasons to celebrate. I’m always working on some home project, planning a trip or finding something new to learn or try.

Describe your role here at Hydro.

As an Internal Auditor (Specialist) my role is to take an independent look at how things are being done, point out where there could be risks, or improvements, and then recommend ways to reduce that risk or make the process better.

Each year I work on several different projects in departments across Hydro. One quarter I could be working on an audit for our Information Systems team and, the next, I could be doing work for our operations team so who I’m working with and what I’m looking at can change quite a bit. But no matter what project I’m working on, it always comes back to the basics of processes, controls, and proactively identifying potential risks. At the end of the day, my team and I have a goal to provide assurance on what is working well and to highlight potential risks so decisions can be made to improve the process.

What made you want to work at Hydro?

My first work term at Hydro really confirmed for me that internal audit was the career I wanted. What I love most about it is that the work never stands still – there’s always something new to learn, a different challenge to take on, or another part of the business to understand. Hydro has supported that curiosity by giving me opportunities to continue learning and developing, and the more I understand the industry, the more value I can bring to my work. I’ve been working with Hydro for five years now, and it’s a place where I’m genuinely happy to come to work every day.

What’s something people may not know about your job?

Something people might not know about is the advisory part of the role. We don’t always come in after the fact to audit something. We can get involved before a new project gets started or a new process is even in place. We can help identify risks, talk through what controls might be needed, or offer a different perspective on something a team is working toward. So sometimes my work is less about looking at what’s already there and more about helping people think through things before they even get started.

What’s the most rewarding part about your job?

Work is such a big part of my life that I want to enjoy it and be proud of what I do. My team and I, we’re not the people keeping the lights on every day, but we are supporting the people who are. Our job is to bring different perspectives, help identify potential risks, and make processes safer, stronger, or easier for the people doing the work.

At the end of the day, our goal is to help. When you put your best into something and can make someone’s workday a little better, to me, that’s one of the best parts of the job.

What’s on the horizon for you?

I have recently been selected to serve on ISACA’s Advanced in AI Audit Practice Analysis Task Force. ISACA is a globally recognized professional association focused on information technology governance, risk, cybersecurity and auditing. The task force brings together nine experienced professionals from all over the world to help shape the knowledge, skills and competencies expected of professionals auditing artificial intelligence.

Through this work, members contribute to ensuring ISACA’s AI certification remains relevant to evolving technologies, emerging risks, and real-world auditing practices. As a part of this opportunity I will collaborate with international professionals, bringing my experience and perspective in internal auditing, technology risk, and governance to discussions that support the continued development of the profession. I’m looking forward to bringing the experience I have gained here at Hydro, to an international forum.