Internal audit
The team
Clare Potts – Strategic Manager Audit & Fraud
Clare is a qualified CIPFA accountant with 18 years of experience in local government. She completed her training at Staffordshire County Council and joined Stoke-on-Trent City Council in 2008. Clare has had a range of roles at Stoke including overseeing the Statement of Accounts, being responsible for key financial systems, leading finance transformation projects and providing strategic financial advice to all directorates across the council. She joined the Internal Audit team in January 2018 and has responsibility for Internal Audit, Corporate Fraud, Insurance and Risk Management.
Kyle Mellor – Principal Auditor Technical
Kyle is a career auditor with 18 years internal audit experience. Kyle transferred to the internal audit profession after occupying several successful analytical and quality management roles in the defence sector. Initially qualifying with the IIA and ISACA and more recently CIPFA as an Accredited Counter Fraud Specialist, Kyle has experience of working with RSLs, within private practice and for public sector organisations ranging from regional development agencies to borough councils. Kyle joined Stoke-on-Trent City Council in 2009 and has a passion for technology and the risks and opportunities it presents. Most recently Kyle has led on the development of the audit data analytics strategy to help improve the efficiency and effectiveness of audit processes by making better use of council data to enhance assurance quality and provide business insight.
John Benbow – Principal Auditor Compliance & Risk Management
John is a qualified ACA accountant of 29 years. He completed his training with a local accountant’s firm based in Newcastle-under-Lyme and joined Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s Internal Audit Team in 1996. John has had a breadth of accounting and audit experience including governance, contracts, projects and key financial systems. Working with colleagues he has also undertaken several reviews and investigations during his time at the Authority.
Neil Scott – Auditor
Neil is a qualified CIPFA accountant with 25 years’ experience in local government. He initially worked for Staffordshire County Council as an Accounting Technician before moving to Stoke-on-Trent City Council where he completed his professional training. Neil has worked as an Auditor since 1997 carrying out audit reviews on a diverse range of service areas and directorates across the council. During this time he also completed a successful secondment as an Assistant Accountant in the Adults Social Care Finance Team. Prior to Local Government Neil spent a number of years working in financial roles for a nationalised industry.
Sue Sheldon – Auditor
Sue is an auditor with 21 years of experience in local government, qualified MCIPS and IACert. She had responsibility for procurement and contract management before transferring to internal audit in 2004. Sue has experience of auditing business areas including payroll, HR, creditor payments and assists the Principal Auditor – Technical in data analysis projects.
Darren Chadwick – Auditor
Darren Chadwick has a BTEC qualification in Business, is AAT qualified and currently working towards the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) Certified Internal Auditor qualification (CIA). Darren has 33 years of experience in local government, working in Revenues prior to joining Audit in February 2005. Darren has audit experience in Corporate Finance (Revenues, Treasury Management etc), Adult Social Care (Direct Payments, Residential Care etc), Children and Family’s (Small Group Homes) as well as reviewing Grants, Honorary Audits and providing advice.
Janet Gocmen - Audit Technician
Prior to joining Stoke on Trent Internal Audit Section in 2000 Janet worked in the Private Sector since leaving school mainly financial office based and her last position was an Area Manager for a retail company. During her time in Internal Audit she has specialised in carrying out schools audits (including investigations) and also has experience of auditing leisure centres, markets and car parks.