** Available to start immediately or with minimal notice.
** Ability to manage multiple priorities under tight deadlines.
Role Purpose
Lead and oversee the design, implementation, and delivery of the risk management and internal audit functions across the holding company using a risk-based framework, and manage engagement delivery through external professional internal audit firms. Act as the primary coordinator for risk and audit activities, provide objective assurance and insights to the Internal Audit & Risk Committee (IARC), and ensure effective follow-up on control gaps and high-risk issues.
Key Responsibilities
Risk Management
- Lead the enterprise-wide risk assessment process and maintain an up-to-date risk register aligned with the company's strategic objectives.
- Monitor changes in internal/external risk environment and update risk profiles accordingly.
- Ensure risks are appropriately prioritized and supported with mitigation plans.
- Present risk assessment outcomes and updates to the IARC on a regular basis.
Internal Audit Planning & Coordination
- Develop and maintain a risk-based internal audit plan and multi-year audit calendar for approval by the IARC.
- Coordinate selecting, shortlisting and onboarding external professional internal audit firms to execute audit engagements.
- Ensure audit engagements are scoped, resourced, and executed in accordance with agreed methodologies and risk priorities.
Audit Delivery Oversight
- Oversee the quality, completeness, and timeliness of audit deliverables from external audit firms.
- Provide guidance and support as needed to external firms throughout the audit lifecycle (planning fieldwork reporting).
- Review audit findings, root cause analysis, and recommendations for remediation.
- Coordinate and follow through any investigations.
Reporting & Committee Engagement
- Prepare and present comprehensive risk register reports, internal audit plans, and audit findings to the IARC, including emerging risks and key control issues.
- Communicate audit results clearly with actionable insights and improvement opportunities.
- Respond to committee questions and provide context on audit and risk implications.
Follow-Up & Remediation
- Monitor and track management's progress in closing identified process and control gaps, particularly high-risk items.
- Prepare action taken summaries and reports on overdue actions, highlighting escalations and risk exposure.
- Drive accountability and closure of key control weaknesses.
Governance & Compliance
- Ensure internal audit practices and risk management methodologies adhere to professional standards and best practices.
- Uphold independence of the audit function and ensure objective assurance services.
Stakeholder Management
- Build strong working relationships with executive leadership, business units, and external audit partners.
- Serve as the key liaison between the company, audit committee, and professional internal audit firms.
Qualifications & Experience
Education
- Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Risk Management, or related field.
- Relevant advanced or professional certification such as CIA, CPA, CISA, ACA/ACCA is strongly preferred.
Experience
- 10+ years of experience in internal audit and risk management, preferably with exposure to diversified holding companies or corporate groups.
- Proven experience working independently in a senior/internal audit role and coordinating with external audit service providers.
- Prior experience in the UAE or GCC region.
Skills
- Strong risk assessment, audit planning, and project coordination capabilities.
- Excellent communication and presentation skills, comfortable reporting to board-level committees.
- Ability to work autonomously with strong judgment and influence across stakeholders.
- High proficiency in interpreting business processes, control frameworks, and risk mitigation solutions.
