Internal audits

Tom Meeks

Tom is the Head of Internal Audit at Price Bailey, leading the firm’s internal audit service across all sectors. He has developed a significant presence within the education sector and is one of the country’s leading experts, offering advice that is comprehensive and pragmatic in both pre-emptive and responsive ways, depending on the needs of his clients.

Tom’s expertise also extends across the wider Not‑for‑Profit and charity sector. He has supported numerous charitable organisations with governance reviews, risk management assessments and strategic advisory work, helping boards strengthen their oversight and meet increasingly complex regulatory expectations. His balanced, practical approach ensures charities receive assurance that genuinely supports both compliance and mission impact.

Alongside his professional work, Tom has dedicated considerable time to volunteering as a trustee for several local multi‑academy trusts. This hands‑on experience has given him deep insight into the education landscape and strengthened his appreciation of the critical role that governance and strategic direction play in the success of any organisation.

Tom has also served as an advisory non‑executive director, supporting chairs and trust boards in enhancing their governance structures. His combined experience across audit, governance and strategic leadership enables him to provide balanced, informed and effective guidance to clients.

Louis Hobart

Louis has worked across a diverse range of industries throughout his career and is passionate about helping clients achieve their goals. As a portfolio manager, he oversees a broad and varied client base spanning multiple sectors, including academy trusts, charities, and other Not‑for‑Profit organisations. His ability to quickly understand the needs of different stakeholders allows him to build strong relationships and deliver tailored, meaningful support.

With significant experience in both internal and external audit roles within the education sector, Louis brings valuable insight and practical understanding to his work. He enjoys applying this expertise to help clients navigate challenges and reach their objectives.

In addition to his professional responsibilities, Louis serves as a trustee for a local charity. This role gives him first‑hand awareness of the opportunities and challenges facing the Not‑for‑Profit sector and further strengthens his appreciation of effective governance, financial sustainability, and community impact. His trustee experience complements his audit expertise, enabling him to provide well‑rounded, pragmatic advice to clients across all areas of his portfolio.

India Payne

India is an integral member of our education team, bringing a wealth of experience and expertise to her role as portfolio manager for clients across both internal and external audits in the education sector. Her keen attention to detail and understanding of the complexities within educational finance ensure that our clients receive tailored, effective support in all aspects of audit and assurance.

India has established herself as a trusted point of contact for our Academy Schools client base. She manages our dedicated Academy Helpdesk, providing timely guidance and solutions for technical queries and operational challenges faced by academies. Her proactive approach fosters strong client relationships and ensures that queries are resolved efficiently. Recognising the ever-evolving nature of the education sector, India manages our technical updates and webinars. These sessions are designed to keep clients informed of the latest regulatory changes, best practices, and sector developments.

India’s passion for supporting educational institutions is reflected in her dedication to professional development, both for herself and her clients. She regularly participates in sector-specific training and forums, ensuring that her advice is current and her support is robust.

India also manages our internal audit work on Annual Governance and Accountability Returns, ensuring that audits are delivered in accordance with regulatory requirements. Her detailed understanding of assurance processes and governance expectations supports clients in meeting their statutory obligations with confidence.

Becki Russell

Becki joined Price Bailey in September 2025, bringing with her around five years of experience as an outsourced internal auditor and financial consultant within the education sector. During this time, she supported a wide range of academies, special schools and multi‑academy trusts, developing strong technical knowledge of governance, risk management and compliance. She has extensive experience conducting assurance reviews, compliance testing, policy assurance and advisory work in line with the Academy Trust Handbook and wider sector requirements.

Becki is AAT‑qualified, holds a degree in Accounting and Finance, and is currently working towards her Chartered Institute of Internal Auditors (CIIA) qualification, demonstrating her commitment to continued professional development and technical excellence. Her background in internal audit and financial consultancy—combined with her analytical approach and sector‑focused insight—enables her to provide practical, well‑informed guidance to clients, and since joining Price Bailey she has become a valued member of the team, contributing her experience to client portfolios and helping to strengthen our service offering across the education sector.

Liv Jones

Liv joined Price Bailey in January 2024 and works exclusively within our Internal Audit department. Since joining, she has contributed to a broad portfolio of clients across the education sector and a diverse range of Not‑For‑Profit organisations. Her experience spans core internal audit work as well as more bespoke reviews designed to address specific risk areas unique to each client.

With a keen analytical approach and a strong understanding of control environments, Liv is particularly interested in audits that require tailored methodologies, whether assessing governance frameworks, operational processes, or emerging risks within specialist organisations. Her ability to adapt audit programmes to meet the nuanced needs of each client ensures that her work adds tangible value and supports effective risk management.

Liv is AAT‑qualified and is currently working towards her Chartered Institute of Internal Auditors (CIIA) qualification, reflecting her commitment to continuous professional development and technical excellence.