About Us.
About Littlechild & Haley
Littlechild & Haley is a specialist internal audit, risk, governance and assurance consultancy supporting organisations across the UK.
We provide outsourced and co-sourced internal audit, External Quality Assessments, technology assurance, governance reviews, assurance mapping, risk management support and coaching.
Our work is independent, senior-led and focused on helping organisations manage risks to success.
Founded by Chartered Internal Auditors Donna Littlechild and Paul Haley, we bring over 50 years of combined experience to our work. We combine traditional assurance expertise with innovative approaches including Success-Centred Assurance™, LH-AURA™ and Audit4Good™.
Why we exist
We did not create Littlechild & Haley because the market needed another audit firm. We created it because organisations deserve assurance that helps them succeed.
Too often, assurance becomes focused on process rather than purpose. Reports are produced but not always acted upon. Control weaknesses are identified but underlying causes remain unresolved. Committees receive information but remain uncertain about future confidence.
We believe assurance should be clearer than that.
It should help organisations understand risk, strengthen governance, improve resilience and make better decisions.
That belief became the foundation of our Success-Centred Assurance™ philosophy.
"We wanted to build a firm that doesn’t just serve clients but truly partners with them to create lasting resilience and peace of mind. With Littlechild & Haley, our clients know they have a trusted adviser by their side, always ready to see what’s coming over the horizon."
– Paul Haley, Co-Founder
Our Story
Littlechild & Haley emerged from an unexpected career crossroads that provided the opportunity to create the assurance consultancy we always believed should exist.
Rather than simply moving on to the next corporate role, we chose to build something different: a consultancy founded on independence, built around relationships, and focused on helping organisations understand and manage risks to success.
Looking back, what first appeared to be a setback became the catalyst for creating the firm we had always wanted to build.
Donna and Paul recognised a growing need for dedicated, independent assurance across governance, risk management and internal controls. Their complementary strengths—Donna’s focus on governance and Paul’s expertise in risk management and internal controls—laid the foundation for a business centred on specialist expertise and close client relationships.
With five decades of combined experience, they set out to bring clarity to complex risk environments. Headquartered in Cardiff, Littlechild & Haley draws on the region’s skilled professionals to support public and private sector organisations across the UK.
Today
Today, Littlechild & Haley supports organisations across healthcare, government, housing, education, utilities, financial services, charities and the wider public and private sectors.
Our clients range from small organisations seeking specialist support to complex organisations managing significant risk, governance and regulatory responsibilities.
As we continue to grow, our mission remains simple: helping organisations manage risks to success.
Explore our client experience, framework appointments and Innovation Suite.
Ethos
- The Why: We are passionate about providing insightful assurance to protect and enhance client organisational value across all Three Lines.
- The How: Utilising passionate, professional expertise deploying best practice Standards and Frameworks, coupled with Technology, and centring on strong relationships because “It’s all about People”.
- The What: Governance Assurance, Risk Assurance, Internal Controls Assurance.
Our Values
Simplicity
We believe in streamlined processes that make risk management clear and accessible, empowering clients to focus on growth.
Service
Passion
Trust
Perseverance
Meet The Team
Donna is a Chartered Member of the Institute of Internal Auditors, holds the Qualification in Audit Leaadership and is a Member of the Business Continuity Institute. She also holds an ILM Diploma in Leadership and Management. Over her career, Donna has driven innovative solutions to complex challenges, from developing risk-based approaches, audit plans and methodologies to creating and modernising business continuity systems.
Donna is also a Visiting Lecturer and CIA coach on the Internal Audit Master’s course at Business City University, where she inspires and mentors the next generation of audit professionals. This role reflects her dedication to advancing the internal audit profession and sharing her knowledge to build future leaders.
A natural leader and mentor, Donna excels in building strong relationships and cultivating teams that embody excellence and trust. Her hands-on approach ensures clients achieve their objectives while embedding robust governance and resilience into their operations.
Paul is a passionate advocate for risk management and business resilience, with expertise across a range of sectors & industries. His ability to identify and mitigate risks has earned him a reputation as a trusted advisor and thought leader, frequently speaking at industry events, and sought after as a Non Executive Director & Audit Committee member.
Committed to building lasting relationships, Paul believes in trust, integrity and People as the foundation of success. His dedication to excellence and client success has made him a respected figure in the industry.
His career started in general Internal Audit with the largest local authority in the country prior to a focus on IT Internal Audit with a number of professional services organisations both small and Top 10 firms leading on the delivery of IT audit to Public Sector organisations.
He joined Littlechild & Haley to support investment and growth of our IT Audit and Advisory services across the UK. Neil is responsible for directing the IT internal audit and advisory service delivery to clients across sector groups which consists of the public sector, utilities, not-for-profit, education, housing and organisations operating in the financial, banking, retail and commercial sectors.
