Director of Internal Audit (UAE National)

About the role

An organisation is looking for an experienced Director of Internal Audit to lead its internal audit function, strengthen governance and controls and provide independent assurance to senior management and the Audit Committee. The ideal candidate has strong experience in government, semi-government, regulated or large complex organisations, with exposure to enterprise risk, governance, compliance, financial and operational audits. The role is open to UAE nationals.

Key responsibilities

• Develop and execute the annual and multi-year risk-based internal audit plan.
• Lead financial, operational, compliance, governance and performance audits.
• Evaluate the adequacy and effectiveness of internal controls, risk management and governance frameworks.
• Present audit findings, risk observations and recommendations to senior management and the Audit Committee, and monitor closure of findings.
• Review high-risk areas such as procurement, contracts, finance, HR, IT and operations, and support fraud-risk reviews, investigations and special assignments.
• Assess compliance with internal policies, government regulations, delegated authorities and applicable standards.
• Coordinate with external auditors, regulators and other assurance providers, and maintain internal audit methodologies, policies and quality standards.
• Lead, mentor and develop the internal audit team, promote a culture of governance, accountability and ethics, and support senior leadership with insights on emerging risks.

Required profile

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, Audit or a related discipline.
• 10-15 years of experience, preferably in a government, semi-government, public-sector or highly regulated organisation.
• Proven experience leading risk-based audits and reporting to senior leadership and Audit Committees.
• Strong knowledge of governance, enterprise risk management, compliance and internal control frameworks.
• Ability to manage multiple audits and high-priority assignments, with strong leadership and stakeholder management skills.
• Preferred: CIA, CPA, ACCA, CA, CISA or equivalent; knowledge of IIA Standards, COSO and ERM; experience with audit-management systems, data analytics and risk-based audit tools.