Internal Audit Manager

Empowering Africa's tomorrow, together…one story at a time.

With over 100 years of rich history and strongly positioned as a local bank with regional and international expertise, a career with our family offers the opportunity to be part of this exciting growth journey, to reset our future and shape our destiny as a proudly African group.

Job Summary

The Audit Manager – Strategic Risk is responsible for leading and executing internal audits primarily focused on strategic risk which is defined as the risk that the Group's strategic decisions and related execution activities may be inadequate to protect its competitive position and ability to generate sustainable shareholder value. The incumbent may also be required to assist with audits in other risk types, depending on the audits included in the annual plan.

The role ensures that governance, risk management, and control processes are effective and aligned with organisational objectives and includes providing an independent review of adherence to the relevant Policies and the effectiveness of the control environment. Additionally, the Audit Manager is accountable for the quality of audit work performed and for driving the efficiency and effectiveness of the audit team.

Job Description

Audit Planning

• Participate in the 6+6 audit planning cycle; provide input by taking into account the risk and control profile, business strategy and emerging risks affecting the business.

Assurance

• Plan the delivery of assigned audits to a high quality and in line with Key Performance Indicators as per the methodology. This will include adequate resourcing scheduling, meeting key deliverables in terms of audit timelines and review of audit work to confirm that the minimum requirements as per methodology are met.
• Perform thematic and enterprise-level risk assessments to identify key strategic risks

• Provide assurance on the effectiveness of the strategic risk management processes which include the following:

• strategy setting and review processes

• execution against strategy
• technology and people management processes
• scenario analysis and stress testing

• risk appetite and profile

• Monitor external trends and regulatory developments impacting strategic risk.

• Manage the execution of Design Effectiveness Testing (DEA) and Operational Effectiveness Testing (OET) of the audit team in line with methodology requirements and as per the requirements of the QA scorecard.

• Ensure audits and issues assurance within Key Performance timelines and resource budget

Leadership and Management

• Mentor and coach less experienced team members by providing guidance around the methodology and audit process, and manage the teams that assigned to the audit effectively by delegating audit work to empower each individual team member
• Develop a high performing team by embedding formal performance development and informal coaching. Encourage frequent knowledge sharing between team members

Teamwork

• Support IA management team to identify, attract, develop and retain talent on an ongoing basis.
• Engage proactively with Internal Audit colleagues during assignments and request technical assistance where required and based on knowledge of business areas, provide guidance to other auditors and peers by sharing best practice so that their work meets and sometimes exceeds quality standards.

Relationship Management

• Present effectively at stakeholder meetings and forums (e.g.: Risk and Governance Forums etc.) by sharing knowledge and information, including methodology, standards, changes and new developments, with business stakeholders on an ongoing basis, and develop and maintain relationships with accountable stakeholder management on each audit.
• Build effective relationships with CoE counterparts and fully engage them during audit reporting

Reporting

• Use business knowledge to assess evolving risks, write high quality reports with observations which are insightful, address the root cause, have agreed actions that fully mitigate the risk, support the Issues Assurance process and require no further audit work to support them

Knowledge Management

• Continuous upskilling on both technical and other core competencies.
• Keeping up to date with industry trends, regulatory changes and professional standards
• Develop an in-depth knowledge of the methodology, by attending training sessions and using knowledge gained during audits, use this proactively in executing audit activities.
• Based on knowledge of business areas, provide guidance to other auditors and peers by sharing best practice so that their work meets and sometimes exceeds quality standards

Qualifications & Experience

• At least a Bachelor's degree in Finance, Actuarial, Risk Management, Accounting, or related field.
• Minimum 3 years of internal audit or risk management experience, with at least 1 year in a managerial role.
• Strong knowledge of strategic risk management, corporate governance, and internal control frameworks.
• Excellent analytical, communication, and stakeholder management skills.

Education

Bachelor`s Degrees and Advanced Diplomas: Business, Commerce and Management Studies (Required)

Absa Bank Limited is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. In compliance with the Employment Equity Act 55 of 1998, preference will be given to suitable candidates from designated groups whose appointments will contribute towards achievement of equitable demographic representation of our workforce profile and add to the diversity of the Bank.

Absa Bank Limited reserves the right not to make an appointment to the post as advertised