Prior to joining Northern Trust in Chicago Mir Fahad Iqbal Mir was looking for an established company that offered flexibility and a good work-life balance, and he found it. As an audit professional, Mir helps Northern Trust to improve our risk management, internal controls and governance processes. His responsibilities include developing and executing audit plans, reporting audit findings to senior management and managing a global team of audit professionals.

Describe your role at Northern Trust

I’m working as an Associate Director within Audit Services.

As an audit professional, I help the bank to improve risk management, internal controls and governance processes. I’m responsible for developing and executing audit plans, reporting audit findings to senior management, managing a global team of audit professionals, collaborating with internal stakeholders and external stakeholders (e.g. regulators).

Describe your team

I have an excellent team of audit professionals located in Ireland, UK, Philippines and Chicago. They bring a wider range of perspectives, experiences, and thought processes to the table, leading to improved audit quality.

Take us through how you ended up at Northern? What brought you to Northern Trust?

I made my move to Chicago from the Middle East to support my wife during her career as a physician.

Prior to this role, I worked with one of the Big 4 accounting firms and a global power investor and generation company within their internal audit & risk management function. When I moved here, I was looking for an established company that offered flexibility and a good work-life balance considering my spouse was undergoing medical residency training and we had a 1 year old son at that time.

Based on my research and meetings with the audit management team during the interview process, I realized that Northern Trust was a company which could support my personal and professional goals.

As the next step in my career progression, I'm aiming to further develop my technical and leadership skills by taking on more complex projects and spearheading important department wide initiatives.

What are you most proud of in your career at Northern Trust so far?

I’m really proud of the professional growth opportunities provided to me by Northern Trust during last 5-6 years and the steps I have taken to upskill.

When did you realize that Northern Trust was a good fit for your career?

When I saw that leaders in Northern Trust provide equitable opportunities for growth and professional development to all partners. I  do really like Northern Trust’s culture and the supportive environment.

What technology/technologies have you been excited to work with here at Northern Trust?

Northern Trust has been investing in the latest technologies within all business units and corporate functions including Audit.

I have the opportunity to work on market leading applications like TeamMate for audit management,  Tableau and PowerBi for data analytics and Tempus for scheduling and project management.

What has surprised you most about life at Northern Trust so far?

The incredible level of collaboration across different teams globally.

How do you create a balance between work and home?

I enjoy spending time with my family, we love to travel and have our travel bucket list planned out for the next few years.

My wife and I are also foodies, so we love exploring different restaurants/cuisines. In the end, quality time spent with family is what I prioritize outside of work. Other than that, I enjoy playing soccer and cricket with my boys.

What would you say to someone considering a career at Northern Trust? 

If you are able to find a role at Northern Trust which fits your career objectives and professional goals, definitely consider Northern Trust, you will have no regrets!

Fast Facts

Name: Mir Fahad Iqbal

Role: Associate Director

Business Unit: Audit Services

Geographic Location: Chicago

Education: BBA, MBA, CIA, ACCA

Hometown / where are you living now: Home town: Karachi, Pakistan. Currently, living in Lombard, IL USA

What are you reading / podcast recommendation: Podcast: The Dave Ramsey Show

Comfort food: Biryani (Traditional Pakistani dish made with rice, chicken or goat/lamb and spices)

Best advice you’ve received: “Resist the urge to compare yourself to others”

Describe Northern Trust in one word: Inclusive

Careers at Northern Trust

e

Come find your greater at Northern Trust. Review our open roles here.