The Team

MEET THE TEAM OF SPECIALISTS AT ASHBY ASSOCIATES

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Ashby Associates was founded in 2009 by our Director, Claire Ashby. 

She recognised the need for high quality internal audit delivered only by senior professionals.

These professionals have the career experience to quickly understand organisations, ask questions that get to the heart of issues and bring insight to provide solutions and advice. 

OUR MISSION

Our mission is to strengthen the resilience of charity and cultural organisations, helping them manage risk, enhance governance and achieve their aims with confidence. We do this through assurance and consulting that is grounded in genuine partnership.

OUR VALUES

  • Collaborative and Supportive

    Collaborative and Supportive

    We work alongside our clients as a critical friend — empathetic, constructive and committed to building long-term relationships based on respect and shared goals. We recognise the real-world challenges faced by non-profits with constraints on resources.  Our style is supportive and proportionate.

  • Integrity and Professional Standards

    Integrity and Professional Standards

    Our clients rely on us for assurance and insight they can trust. We are proud to work to the highest professional standards underpinned by strong ethics and independence and objectivity.

  • Purpose-Driven Work

    Purpose-Driven Work

    Everything we do is underpinned by the belief that resilient, well-governed charities make the world a better place. We’re proud to play a small part in helping them thrive.

  • Social and Environment Responsibility

    Social and Environment Responsibility

    We believe that business should be a force for good. We adopt the principle of 1% for people and planet – contributing 1% of our turnover to environmental and humanitarian causes.

The Ashby Associates Team

Claire Ashby, Ashby Associates
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Claire Ashby

DIRECTOR OF ASHBY ASSOCIATES

  • 30 years’ experience in the Charity and Arts & Culture sector

  • ICAEW Chartered Accountant & Chartered Internal Auditor

  • Trusted advisor to Boards and Management

  • Charity Trustee

Claire is passionate about the positive impact that non-profits organisations contribute to society. Aligned to her core values, she has spent her whole career in the non-profit sector. 

She loves working with organisations striving to make a positive impact, support those in need and bring joy and learning into people’s lives. Her style is warm, curious and constructive.  

  • Her professional standing as chartered internal auditor and fellow of the ICAEW combined with three decades of insight working in the sector, make her a respected and trusted adviser to Boards and management. 

    She leads internal audit programmes for many of the UK’s most valued cultural organisations — including the Southbank Centre, National Theatre, Royal Shakespeare Company and the Royal Ballet & Opera.  She enjoys working with UK charities large and small to bring her experience to help organisations thrive.

    Claire loves nature and is a passionate advocate for environment protection.  She is a trustee and Chair of Finance, Audit & Risk at the conservation charity World Land Trust.  When not working with clients, she can be found on sea kayaking and hiking expeditions in the world’s wild places. 

    Claire is also a panel reviewer for the Chartered Institute of Internal Auditors, undertaking quality reviews of internal audit functions across many sectors. In non-Executive roles, she has served two terms on Arts Council England’s Audit and Performance Committee. 

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Julie Pennington, Ashby Associates

Julie Pennington

SENIOR ASSOCIATE

  • 15+ years’ experience in internal & external audit

  • Former PwC Senior Manager

  • Specialist in financial and operational audits

Julie has spent her career working with complex organisations in a range of sectors.  She enjoys learning about the inner workings of her client organisations – from what makes them successful to identifying opportunities to improve.

As fellow of the ICAEW and former PwC Senior Manager, Julie has technical expertise and insight from companies large and small. 

  • Julie is naturally inquisitive and loves meeting new people.  Her upbringing in the Lake District comes through in her approachable, friendly and down-to-earth style.  She is skilled at helping junior client staff feel at ease on sensitive projects.

    Since 2016, Julie has combined her work with Ashby Associates with a part-time role as Senior Internal Auditor at the National Theatre.  She has a wealth of knowledge of the performing arts sector and works with clients including the Royal Ballet & Opera, Sadler’s Wells and Birmingham Hippodrome.

    Her mix of commercial and charitable experience provides valuable insights into opportunities for improvement, alongside a clear understanding of the practical challenges faced by the not-for-profit sector.

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Our Associates

In addition to our core team, Ashby Associates has an extensive network of specialists who work on a project-by-project basis.  This enables us to ensure our clients have access to the right specialists and expertise for their assignment.

Our network includes senior arts executives, cyber and IT specialists, health and safety auditors and highly experienced internal auditors

Faye Haywood

ASSOCIATE

  • 10+ years’ experience in audit & risk

  • CMIIA-qualified internal audit professional

Faye Haywood is an experienced Internal Audit and Risk professional, CMIIA qualified, with over a decade of experience providing independent assurance across higher education, local government, housing, and the charity sector.

  • She has held senior internal audit leadership roles including at the Wellcome Trust and most recently as interim Chief Audit and Assurance Executive at King’s College London.

    Faye has been recognised for her excellence in the field — winning the Outstanding Team (Third Sector) award at the 2024 Audit & Risk Awards and shortlisted as an Inspirational Leader in 2023.

Jot Bougan

IT & CYBER AUDIT SPECIALIST

  • 30+ years’ experience in IT audit and risk

  • QiCA-qualified and ISACA member

  • Specialist in cybersecurity & data assurance

Jot Bougan has over 30 years’ experience in IT audit and technology risk assurance. He holds the Chartered Institute of Internal Auditors’ qualification in Computer Auditing (QiCA) and is a member of ISACA (Information Systems Audit and Control Association).

  • He has extensive experience providing IT assurance and advisory services across the public, corporate and third sectors, leading engagements in IT audit, cybersecurity, PCI compliance, business continuity and disaster recovery, regulatory compliance, and IT risk management. Jot’s experience in the arts and charity sector includes conducting IT audits for the Royal Shakespeare Company, Breast Cancer Now and Birmingham Hippodrome Theatre.

    Jot has a proven track record of delivering trusted, actionable insights on cyber resilience, data protection and IT governance frameworks — helping organisations strengthen their systems and safeguard their operations.

We’d love to hear about you.

Get in touch and let’s chat about what challenges you’re navigating and how we can help.

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