Redefining audit: Why Alice Hopper thrives at Byrd + Link
What makes an audit career truly rewarding? For Alice Hopper, Senior Audit Manager at Byrd + Link, it’s the people-first culture. Collaboration, flexibility, and a true commitment to work-life balance define her experience at the firm.
“Byrd + Link is breaking the mould, moving away from traditional audit stereotypes to be much more forward-thinking,” Alice explains.
“We like to be approachable and straight-talking with our clients, and build strong working relationships. It’s about genuinely working as a team and having good work-life balance.”
A culture of support and collaboration
At Byrd + Link, teamwork isn’t just a buzzword — it’s the foundation of daily working life. “Everyone’s voice is heard and welcomed,” Alice says.
This supportive culture ensures that both successes and challenges are shared. “Recently I had a meeting that ended with great feedback for me and the firm, and the whole team celebrated,” Alice recalls.
“Equally, when things don’t go as planned, the team is there to listen and support you; make you laugh if you need to.”
Little moments during the workday — especially during busy periods such as September’s audit rush — help reinforce this team spirit. Byrd + Link’s leadership plays a big part in setting the tone.
“Even when your day is full of deadlines and pressure, there's always a joke, a laugh, probably some cake from Vicky. You arrive in the morning and someone — often Russ — is making hot drinks for the team. Those things may seem small, but they build that whole-team ethos.”
This prioritisation of care and teamwork benefits Byrd + Link’s clients as much as its staff.
“We're all working towards the same goals and care about our work and each other. We help each other out and pull together to maintain quality client service and work-life balance.
Working in a supportive environment means I enjoy my work so I can give more of myself to the job. It allows us to focus on making sure the audit experience we’re providing to clients is the best it can possibly be.”
Real work-life balance
In a field often associated with long hours and high stress, Byrd + Link’s approach to work-life balance is refreshingly different.
“In this industry, people sometimes cancel dinner plans or miss family moments to meet work deadlines — I’ve been there myself,” Alice notes. That’s not the case at Byrd + Link.
For Alice, this means more time for family and friends. “Last year, my niece and nephew really wanted me to attend their mid-week school sports day, and Russ and Vicky encouraged me to go. There’s a lot of flexibility.”
Byrd + Link’s leadership actively manages workloads to avoid burnout, reviewing available hours across the team before accepting new deadlines or clients. “Capacity planning is at the forefront. We have weekly meetings to review our workloads and what’s realistic. Vicky and Russ are growing the firm, but not at the expense of work-life balance.”
And far from reducing productivity, reasonable hours enhance it. “If you’re consistently working really long days for weeks on end, tiredness makes you slower. Working fewer — but still full-time! — hours actually makes you more efficient, not to mention healthier.”
Byrd + Link understand that while work is important, we all have lives outside of work. They’re committed to ensuring work-life balance happens in practice and doesn’t go out of the window when we’re busy.
Having good work-life balance makes me better at my job because I can bring my best self to work, and I can be fully present in my personal life too.
Personalised professional growth
Professional development at Byrd + Link isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach. “We’re encouraged to make our own CPD plans and explore what we’re genuinely interested in,” Alice says. “I really enjoy working with not-for-profits and charities, and that’s an area we’re looking to expand.”
Beyond formal learning, there’s plenty of informal professional development, from participating in strategic meetings to mentoring from Byrd + Link’s leadership on tackling specific challenges.
“We’re always encouraged to think: where do I want to be in a year, five years, ten years? And Byrd + Link wholeheartedly supports us in taking the steps needed to get there.”
Adding value through expertise
Specialising in audit gives Byrd + Link a unique edge. “We focus solely on audit — day in, day out. So we can really hone our processes to provide a tailored service for each client while also meeting audit standards. We’re continually improving,” says Alice.
Strong client relationships are central to Byrd + Link’s approach. “Building close working relationships with our clients is really important to us. I want to understand our clients’ aims, challenges and passions, and I really enjoy interacting with them.
“We don’t just walk in once a year and conduct their audit — we’re available year-round to provide advice, answer queries, and help improve their systems and controls.”
This combination of accessibility and expertise helps Byrd + Link go beyond statutory audits alone to deliver deeper value to clients.
Living up to the promise
Having worked with Byrd + Link’s leadership before, Alice wasn’t surprised at how consistently the firm lives its core values — but she still deeply appreciates it.
“Everything Russ and Vicky said they were building wasn’t just talk. We see those values in practice every day — such as collaboration, openness, and caring about people — and it reaffirms why I joined Byrd + Link.”
For anyone considering joining the Byrd + Link team, Alice’s advice is simple: “Go for it.”
“All those promises you hear in job ads about teamwork and work-life balance? At Byrd + Link, they’re real — and that has a huge impact on you as an individual and on the quality of your work.”
Looking to join our dynamic and supportive team?
Visit our Why Work for Us page to discover what makes Byrd + Link a great place to work.
We are always looking for talented individuals to join us. Check out our current vacancies or send your CV to admin@byrdlink.co.uk for future opportunities.