Purpose of the Role
The Internal Audit Senior Manager / Associate Director is a senior leadership role within the Financial Services Internal Audit function, responsible for leading and delivering risk-based internal audit and regulatory assurance engagements within a banking and financial services environment. The role is focused on strengthening the bank's governance, risk management, and internal control frameworks, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements, and providing independent, value-added assurance to senior management and the Audit Committee.
Key Responsibilities
Audit Leadership & Execution
- Audit Planning & Delivery: Lead and manage multiple concurrent internal audit and regulatory assurance engagements, including end-to-end audit planning, fieldwork execution, reporting, and issue validation, ensuring completion within agreed timelines and resource plans.
- Risk-Based Auditing: Conduct enterprise-wide and business-level risk assessments to define audit scope and priorities, with particular focus on key banking risks such as credit, market, liquidity, operational risk, IT and cyber risk, f inancial crime, data governance, and ESG-related risks.
- Quality & Methodology: Review and approve audit work programs, working papers, f indings, and final reports to ensure compliance with IIA Standards, internal audit methodology, and regulatory expectations applicable to financial institutions.
- Advisory & Insight: Provide clear, practical, and risk-focused recommendations that enhance internal controls, business processes, and governance across banking operations, while maintaining audit independence.
Stakeholder Engagement & Business Partnership
- Senior Stakeholder Communication: Act as a key point of contact for senior management, executive leadership, and Audit Committee members, communicating audit results, thematic risks, and control weaknesses in a clear and concise manner.
- Relationship Management: Build strong, collaborative relationships with business heads, risk management, compliance, and regulators to support effective issue resolution and promote a strong risk culture.
- Strategic Contribution: Contribute to the ongoing development of the Internal Audit function by identifying emerging banking risks, enhancing audit coverage, and supporting annual audit planning and strategy.
Business Development & Market Presence
- Drive growth of existing accounts and originate new business opportunities
- Lead and support proposal development, solution structuring, and client presentations.
- Represent the firm as a market ambassador, developing strong networks within the business and risk community.
- Contribute to strengthening the firm's brand and positioning in the Internal Audit and Risk Advisory market.
Team Leadership & Development
- People Management: Lead, coach, and develop internal audit team members, providing technical guidance, feedback, and performance management aligned with professional standards.
- Resource Management: Allocate audit resources effectively based on skills, experience, and risk priorities to ensure high-quality audit delivery and optimal team performance.
Required Qualifications & Skills Experience
- 12 – 15 years of experience within financial institutions, including leading complex audits, managing teams, and regular interaction with senior management and Audit Committees.
- Experience in big 4 or Risk advisory consulting is highly preferred.
- Financial Services Expertise: Strong experience in banking operations, regulatory frameworks, and supervisory expectations is essential.
Education & Professional Certifications
- Education: Bachelor's or Master's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related discipline.
- Professional Certifications (Required / Highly Preferred): CIA, CPA, ACCA, CISA, or equivalent professional certification relevant to financial services internal audit.
Core Competencies
- Technical Expertise: Strong knowledge of internal audit practices, risk management, internal control frameworks (COSO), and banking regulations.
- Leadership & Judgment: Proven ability to lead teams, exercise sound professional judgment, and challenge stakeholders constructively.
- Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present complex audit issues to executive and board-level audiences.
- Analytical Thinking: Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret complex data and translate it into meaningful audit insights.
