In 1846 Bromley was appointed to visit the dockyards on a confidential mission, shortly after which he was named accountant to the Burgoyne commission on the Irish famine.
Here the system which he introduced into the accounts had the effect of bringing more than half a million sterling back to the exchequer, and attracted the attention of the House of Commons.
The success with which he had discharged his duties led to his being in 1848 appointed secretary to the commission for auditing the public accounts, in which he introduced improvements which in a great degree remodelled the working of the department.
From this period he was frequently employed on special commissions of inquiry into public departments, including that appointed in 1849 for a revision of the dockyards, and that of 1853 on the contract packet system.
On the outbreak of hostilities with Russia he was appointed accountant-general of the navy, the affairs of which he administered with marked ability and success, and in September 1854 was made a civil Companion of the Bath.