Providing quality, flexible services
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Our expertise, your success
In an increasingly complex regulatory environment, finding a partner who understands your unique challenges is vital. At Validera, we combine deep technical expertise with a flexible, client-first approach to deliver clarity and confidence. From comprehensive audits to data privacy and cyber security support, we empower your organisation to mitigate risk and achieve sustainable growth.
Audit & Assurance
In a world of evolving risk, Validera delivers tailored assurance through insight and collaboration. We transcend standard compliance with rigorous, data-driven communication, safeguarding your integrity and providing the high-level assurance necessary to mitigate risk and achieve your long-term strategic objectives.
Audit Expertise You Can Trust
Lee Glover
Lee is an FCCA-qualified accountant and Director at Validera, where he leads the firm’s Internal Audit practice.
Lee began his career within the in-house internal audit function of a FTSE 100 organisation and has since built more than 20 years’ experience delivering internal audit, governance and risk assurance services across a wide range of sectors.
As Chief Audit Executive for many of Validera’s clients, Lee works closely with boards, audit committees and senior management to provide independent assurance while helping organisations strengthen governance, manage risk and improve operational performance. He is recognised for his ability to identify key issues, articulate risk clearly and deliver pragmatic, commercially focused recommendations that support organisations in achieving their strategic objectives.
Lee believes the most effective internal audit functions are built on strong professional relationships. His collaborative approach enables him to work alongside clients as a trusted adviser, helping them better understand risk, enhance controls and deliver sustainable improvements.
A respected voice within the profession, Lee is a past Chair of the ACCA Internal Audit Panel and remains actively involved in the internal audit community. He regularly presents at conferences and professional events, speaking on topics including internal audit, governance, risk management and organisational resilience.
Outside work, Lee enjoys travelling, spending time with family and friends, and has a lifelong passion for cars. Having previously competed in navigational rallies, he now prefers the quieter enjoyment of maintaining and driving classic and performance vehicles.
He is a firm believer that internal audit plays a pivotal role in organisational success.
Rob leads Validera’s specialist Social Housing internal audit team. A qualified FCCA accountant, and recognised social housing expert, he has specialised in internal audit for 25 years, most of which at one of the top ten accountancy firms in the UK, where he held leadership roles including UK Head of Social Housing. Rob is passionate about supporting the social housing sector; he also serves as a Board Member and Trustee of a small Registered Provider.
Rob acts as Chief Audit Executive to a range of Validera’s not-for-profit and social housing clients, and is recognised for his professional, pragmatic approach. He works closely with his clients, guiding them to identify issues, understand root causes and improve how they are governed and managed for the benefit for their customers. Rob is a recognised voice in the internal audit community and serves on the ACCA UK Internal Audit Panel.
Outside of work, Rob enjoys walking in the Shropshire countryside, running in all weathers and is a keen home cook.
Robert Hanley
DfE Funding Assurance
DfE funding rules change fast, and getting them wrong can mean clawback. Our team includes former FE practitioners and active DfE contractors who’ve managed ILRs themselves, so we spot compliance risks early and give you straight-talking, practical assurance you can act on.
DfE Funding Assurance Expertise
You Can
Trust
Karl Bentley
Karl leads Validera’s specialist Funding Assurance team. He’s a recognised mainstay in further education and skills funding assurance, having worked in FE and Skills for over 29 years, 20 of these in audit and compliance.
Karl is well-known throughout the FE sector and subject matter expert in funding assurance, to the level that the funding body often asks for his assistance and expertise. He has worked at a provider managing Apprenticeship provision including MIS, funding and quality, government funding body (Learning Skills Council) working on high profile investigations, funding policy and the management of funding audit contracts, and was at RSM for many years prior to joining Validera. His experience is centered around delivering funding assurance, consultancy and supporting internal and external audit teams navigating the FE and Skills funding landscape. He has worked on several high-profile investigations for the funding bodies as well as providing assurance services for a cross section of clients.
Karl is a regular speaker at a variety of workshops and conferences across the FE and Apprenticeship sector including Educationscape, AoC, AELP, UVAC, and City and Guilds specialising in funding and data compliance and assurance. He also provides input to the development of the PDSAT software that is a key element of the assurance approach and is part of the DfE Funding Audit forum offering support and advice on the delivery of funding assurance.
When not pouring over ILR data and training plans, Karl can either be found following his home ice hockey team, Coventry Blaze, catching his favourite punk and hardcore band on tour, scouring the racks of record stores for grail records or in vintage toy shops trying to reclaim his youth.
IT & Systems
In an era of digital dependency, Validera provides sophisticated IT assurance. We move beyond basic security to deliver rigorous, system-wide insights that safeguard your infrastructure, mitigate cyber risk, and ensure your digital architecture fully supports your long-term strategic objectives.
IT & Systems Expertise
You Can
Trust
Steve Connors
Steve leads the IT, Cyber Security and Information Governance practice at Validera, providing independent assurance, governance, risk management and advisory services to organisations across the public and private sectors. His team delivers IT audit, governance and risk management services, while also supporting external audit engagements through SOX Section 404 IT controls testing.
Since 2014, Steve and his team have been delivering independent assurance engagements, including SOC 2 Service Auditor Reports and ISAE 3402/SSAE 18 attestations, for clients across financial services, fintech, channel marketing and the automotive sector. The practice also provides specialist advisory services covering information and technology governance, cyber security, data privacy, third-party assurance, AI governance, digital transformation and business process improvement.
Steve is a Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) with extensive experience helping organisations align business objectives with cyber security, information risk and privacy requirements. He works with organisations across a broad range of industries, including transportation, education, financial services and government, supporting them in strengthening governance, improving resilience and meeting regulatory and stakeholder expectations.
An internationally recognised thought leader, Steve is the author of ISACA’s How to Audit GDPR White Paper, the ISACA GDPR SME Audit Program, and the ISACA CCPA Audit Program. He also authored Privacy by Design and Default – A Primer, published by ISACA, and has written extensively on topics including digital privacy, information governance and the legal aspects of computer evidence.
Steve is a regular speaker at national and international conferences and works closely with leading professional bodies, including ISACA and ACCA, to develop and deliver executive and practitioner training programmes in cyber security, data privacy, information governance and emerging technologies.
Outside work, Steve enjoys travelling, cycling, riding his motorcycle, walking his two dogs, hiking in the Lake District and spending time with family and friends. Like Lee, he has a lifelong passion for cars.
Other Services
Beyond core audit, Validera provides a comprehensive suite of specialist advisory services, giving your organisation resilient, compliant frameworks aligned with your broader goals:
- Risk Management
- Governance
- Compliance
- Data Privacy
- Information Governance
- Supply Chain
- Fraud Awareness, Training & Investigation
- Process Improvement
Sectors we specialise in
Public Sector
Providing independent assurance across the UK public sector, leveraging insider expertise to ensure compliance, transparency, accountability, and achieve Value for Money.
Regulated
We provide the high-level assurance required to navigate Regulatory frameworks, strengthening the control environment that protects your assets and stakeholder confidence.
Not-for-Profit / Third
We safeguard your mission and reputation by ensuring monies are accounted for, protecting trust through tailored audits that focus on front-line impact.
Corporate & Commercial
We transform risk into a competitive advantage for businesses, delivering senior-led insights that streamline operations, protect assets, and support confident, high-stakes decision-making.