Position Title
General Manager, Internal Audit
Function / Department
Internal Audit
Reports to
Functionally: Audit Committee of the Board | Administratively: Chief Executive Officer
Direct Reports
Audit Manager(s), Senior Internal Auditors, Internal Auditors, IT / Data Analytics Auditors
Grade / Band
General Manager
Location
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
JOB PURPOSE
Lead independent and objective assurance and advisory function, providing the Board — through the Audit Committee — and executive management with risk-based assurance on the effectiveness of governance, risk management, and internal control. The role safeguards the independence and objectivity of Internal Audit, drives conformance with the Global Internal Audit Standards (GIAS 2024), and strengthens control environment in support of its strategic objectives, governance maturity, and capital-markets readiness where applicable.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Audit strategy & planning. Develop and maintain a risk-based annual and multi-year audit plan aligned to the enterprise risk profile and strategy; secure Audit Committee approval; ensure the function is adequately resourced and skilled.
- Assurance delivery. Direct the execution of financial, operational, compliance, IT, and governance audits across, ensuring engagements are evidence-based, well-supervised, and reach sound, defensible conclusions.
- Independence & objectivity. Protect the independence of the function and the objectivity of auditors; escalate any impairment to the Audit Committee; ensure management owns the remediation of findings.
- Reporting & follow-up. Report significant findings, root causes, and agreed management actions to the Audit Committee; assess the sufficiency of management responses; track and independently validate the timely closure of audit observations.
- Audit Committee secretariat. Administer the Audit Committee: agendas, meeting packs, minutes, and the annual meeting calendar; ensure alignment with applicable corporate governance regulations (e.g., CMA).
- Quality Assurance & Improvement Program (QAIP). Establish and maintain the QAIP, including ongoing and periodic internal assessments and periodic External Quality Assessment (EQA), driving conformance with GIAS 2024.
- Governance & standards. Own and periodically refresh the Internal Audit Charter; ensure conformance with the GIAS, the Code of Ethics, and applicable regulatory expectations.
- Advisory services. Provide consulting and advisory input on the design of controls and governance without assuming management responsibility or impairing future independence.
- Combined assurance & stakeholders. Coordinate with external auditors, regulators, and the second line to optimize assurance coverage and avoid duplication.
- People leadership. Recruit, develop, and retain audit talent; manage performance; embed continuous professional development and relevant certification.
- Technology & analytics. Advance the use of data analytics and audit / GRC tooling to improve coverage, efficiency, and insight.
KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
- Approved audit plan completion rate.
- Percentage of audit observations closed within agreed timelines, validated by Internal Audit.
- QAIP maturity and External Quality Assessment (EQA) conformance rating.
- Audit Committee and executive stakeholder satisfaction.
- Quality of engagement files (supervisory review, evidence, rating consistency).
- Team certification, capability, and retention metrics.
QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE
- Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related discipline.
- 10+ years of progressive audit experience.
- Demonstrated experience building or leading an Internal Audit function; exposure to listed or IPO-track environments is advantageous.
- Deep working knowledge of the GIAS, risk-based auditing, and applicable corporate governance regulations (e.g., CMA), including listing / governance requirements where relevant.
PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATIONS
- Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) strongly preferred.
- One or more of CPA / CA / ACCA, CISA, CFE, CRMA — advantageous.
CORE COMPETENCIES
- Independence, integrity, and professional skepticism.
- Strategic and analytical thinking; sound judgement on materiality and risk.
- Leadership, influence, and the ability to challenge constructively at Board and executive level.
- Clear, credible communication — written and verbal.
- Standard-driven mindset and commitment to quality.
