Head of Quality Assurance – Sharia Audit

About the role

The Head of Quality Assurance will support the Group Head of ISAG in delivering Sharia audit excellence and governance oversight across the Group. The role ensures compliance with Sharia rules, IIA standards and AAOIFI guidelines.

Key responsibilities

• Lead internal Sharia audit as the third line of defense, providing independent assurance on governance, risk management and internal controls.
• Develop and maintain the annual Sharia audit plan, including risk‑based audit universe, scope of work and resource allocation.
• Review Fatwas, monitor implementation of Sharia controls and follow up on exceptions and compliance gaps.
• Prepare ISAG dashboards, quarterly activity reports and coordinate with the Board Audit Committee and Group Heads.
• Conduct quality assurance reviews of audit documentation, exception sheets, detailed reports and executive summaries.
• Supervise the i‑Sharia Audit System, business continuity planning and liaison with Group Internal Audit and Compliance.

Required profile

• Chartered Accountant or Bachelor’s degree from a reputable university.
• 7‑10 years of audit experience in a Big 4 firm or Islamic banking environment.
• Professional certifications such as CIA (IIA) or CSAA (AAOIFI‑Bahrain).
• Fluent in English and Arabic.

Required skills

• Strong knowledge of Sharia audit standards (AAOIFI, IIA).
• Proficiency in MS Excel, Word and PowerPoint.
• Experience with MIS reporting, GRC tools and audit management systems.