Sharleen Alberga

In addition to her client service role in the firm, Sharleen Alberga has led the IT Audit & Assurance team at Deloitte Netherlands since October 2024, and works closely with the broader A&A management team to ensure that IT systems remain integral to Deloitte’s Audit services. Sharleen and her teams not only support traditional financial third-party assurance audits, but also provide advice to clients facing the complexities of IT risk management.

Leadership

Sharleen has always taken her leadership responsibilities to heart, and is driven by the principle that “it’s about doing the right thing, no matter how difficult the situation.” That philosophy prompts her to stay connected to all her people on an individual level, even when the numbers run into hundreds. It’s an approach that helps to reinforce her unwavering commitment to integrity and accountability from all who work with her. As she puts it: “I find personal connections, being approachable, and lending an ear when it’s needed are the most important things to bring a strategy to life. They help me to understand everyone’s concerns and aspirations towards succeeding as a team.”

Focus

Sharleen’s expertise lies at the intersection of IT systems and audit – a blend of technical knowledge and advisory skills that allows her and her teams to offer clients both audit and advisory value. On the assurance side, the team audits IT systems, to ensure the veracity of financial data, and to establish compliance with compliance and regulatory standards. This work extends to advising clients on IT risks associated with existing IT set-ups, and also to advising about internal controls during large-scale system implementations. The team can offer system-orientated insights into relevant internal controls over financial reporting in a regulated environment supported by innovative solutions, as well as the overall IT control environment that helps clients manage risk.

Beyond compliance and IT risk management, there’s a commercial aspect to Sharleen’s work too; she helps clients understand that managing IT risks can lead to improved efficiency and effectiveness in their processes. “We don’t necessarily promise huge cost savings upfront, but we show how being in control (supported by use of genAI tooling where possible) can bring value”, she notes. This balance between managing risks and creating business value is what makes her team’s services so essential to clients navigating increasingly complex IT environments.

Results

As regulations and technological demands evolve, Sharleen’s clients increasingly rely on her expertise to navigate changes such as sustainability reporting, genAI and system upgrades. “The requirements for auditing IT systems will only continue to grow”, she says, highlighting the crucial role her team plays in ensuring that clients’ IT frameworks are reliable and secure.

Her dual focus on client service and internal leadership allows her to bring a strategic perspective to both sides of her work. By staying connected to client needs, she can better shape the direction of her team, and by fostering a culture of innovation, openness and support within her team, she ensures that each team member supports clients in ways that best align with their personal strengths.

Ultimately, Sharleen is driven by the belief that Deloitte offers a unique environment for growth. “You can easily consider Deloitte a job for life, as the firm offers scale and variety with constant challenges and opportunities. I’ve never had to look elsewhere.”