Overview
Head of Internal Audit Jobs in Midrand, Gauteng, South Africa at African Bank
Title: Head of Internal Audit
Company: African Bank
Location: Midrand, Gauteng, South Africa
MAIN PURPOSE OF THE JOB
Provides a consulting and assurance service that evaluates and improves the effectiveness of the Bank’s risk management, control, and governance processes; ensuring that the Bank complies with Regulatory requirements and conforms to the IIA-Standards. Reports on the results of the internal audit activities to Exco, Audit and Compliance Committee, Risk and Capital Management Committee, where required, ensuring the quality and timeliness of deliverables.
Oversees and leads the Internal Audit team looking After the Project Assurance, Risk & Compliance reviews and provides independent assessments of the adequacy and effectiveness of the systems of internal controls established and maintained. Engagements with regulators.
MINIMUM EDUCATION
Post Graduate Degree in Finance, Internal Audit, Banking or related fields.
CISA/CIA/CRISC
MINIMUM EXPERIENCE
At least 12 years’ combined experience in auditing (with emphasis on Regulatory reviews and IT/Change/Project Assurance)
Experience in and prior exposure to Lending/Credit, Model Risk and Data Analytics is preferred.
CRITICAL COMPETENCIES
- Knowledge of transaction banking and lending/credit products and related models in a Retail Banking environment.
- Prior exposure to data science and analytics.
- Knowledge of legislation and regulations governing banks including, but not limited to the following:
- Banks Act and Banking Regulations
- Basel Standards
- Financial Intelligence Centre Act (FICA)
- FAIS-Act
- King IV Code on Corporate Governance
- FATF16
- CODI
- IIA-Standards and Code of Ethics
- Knowledge of combined assurance framework
- Impactful and insightful report writing
- Critical thinking, problem solving and analytical skills
- Communication and presentation skills
- Agile auditing
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Development of Audit Plan and Strategy
- Develop and execute audit plan and multiple year strategy to evaluate critical risk within African Bank that goes to the AC for approval. The Annual Plan needs to be risk-based audit plan to ensure that critical and high-risk areas receive proper audit coverage. Including coverage on regulatory, financial and compliance matter s
- Formulate and execute any multiyear audit strategy (people, resources, systems) that is forward looking that takes into consideration of assurance needs for organisation currently and for its future state. Principle objective is to ensure that function is fit for purpose now and in the future.
- Review and approval of all engagement to ensure that defined scope aligns to principle objective of annual plan and business objectives.
- Review and exercise oversight over the Audit Annual Plan and update according to changes to the internal and external environment.
- Implementation of annual planning process that results in delivery of Annual Plan to the Audit Committee
Audit Reporting and Communication
- Provide an annual written assessment on the soundness of internal controls and the control environment within African Bank Holdings to the Exco and Board in terms of the Companies Act, Regulation 38 of Banks Act and King IV to enable the Board, CEO and CFO to conclude and report annually to stakeholders on the effectiveness of the Bank’s control environment and internal controls.
- Present quarterly reporting to the Board Audit Committee and Risk Committee on significant matters relating to internal audit, internal controls, and risks.
- Pursue the timely remediation of significant audit issues.
- Communicate the status of open significant audit issues to the Audit Committee and Exco.
- Perform special audits when requested by the Audit Committee or Management, including the investigation of significant suspected fraudulent activities and insider abuse.
- Frequent engagement with CEO, CRO, CFO and members of Audit Committee on top risks and/or audit related matters.
- Express an opinion on adequacy and effectiveness of internal controls.
- Implement a repeatable communication process of reporting results of audit activities within the organisation to various internal stakeholders ensuring that communication is in the right format, size and appropriate disclosure and remediation can be implemented and tracked.
- Accountable for ensuring that reports issued are of high quality, insight into root causes and provide adequate guidance for remediation.
- Report audit findings and recommendations based on the results of audits to Exco and Board when issues need to be addressed.
- Respond to matters that emerge from appropriate referring bodies (the Board of Directors, CEO and other senior executives).
- Submit periodic internal reports and summaries of audits to Exco, Board and Audit Committee. Attend Audit Committee meetings and provides explanations of audit findings as needed to assist the Audit Committee members in their understanding of the issues.
- Cooperates with internal and external entities and risk control units on investigations into major control issues. Including coordinating with external audit and management to ensure the Audit Committee receives effective information, data and analysis on identified critical control risks or issues.
- Ensures reporting of results to the organisation are clear, concise and delivered in the context of the underlying risk to the organization.
Contributing to Improvement of Risk and Control Culture, Efficiency and Optimisation within the Organisation
- Make available to management, tools and techniques used by internal audit to analyse risks and controls. Coach and advise management in responding to risks.
- Lead the function in safeguarding and protecting the assets of the organisation.
- Proactively provide advice to management and/or the Board regarding the reporting of forward-looking operating measures to help identify potential emerging risks.
- Provide an independent appraisal of controls and processes that govern financial integrity, operational effectiveness, technology, privacy and compliance with laws and policies.
- Regularly interface and develop strong working relations with executive management to actively respond to changing technology risks/demands and represents the Internal Audit function on various committees as required.
- Proactively identify inefficiencies in processes and controls, conduct root cause analysis, develop new approaches, and advise on the implementation of new processes.
- Monitor the process and control implications of ongoing business changes and ensure that processes and controls are a focus when integrating changes.
- Process, solve and answer complex transactions, problems or inquiries.
- Communicate findings and obtain agreement and commitment of implementation of recommendations with management that appropriately respond to risks identified and address root causes.
- Work with business leaders to ensure completion of corrective actions to address concerns identified during audits.
- Provide insight and thought leadership on strategic and risk management activities of the Bank.
Stakeholder Relationship Management
- Maintain a strong relationship with key stakeholders including leading engagement with the Board, Executive Committee and business functions in creating a strong culture of compliance.
- Proactively manage relationships with the regulators ensuring transparent, open and clear communications and that regulatory requests are logged, managed and responded to in a timely fashion.
- Act as a proactive business partner ensuring timely communications to senior stakeholders for relevant regulatory matters.
- Drive and lead the spreading of awareness for all relative Audit activities and functions highlighting its implications through providing training and clear and robust advice on regulatory change.
- Provide advise and consultation to the Bank’s stakeholders to ensure avoiding overlapping/ conflict of interests and abiding to the governing rules and regulations.
- Oversee development and delivery of a robust Internal Audit program ensuring adequate coverage of regulatory high-risk areas that any material issues are reported and escalated in a timely manner.
- Develop and maintain strong relationships with other functions in the organisation to achieve greater understanding of operational requirements and integration.
- Provide direct independent input to the relevant management and executive committees, ensuring adequate Internal Audit oversight, influence and challenge of the relevant risks and control environment of African Bank to maintain a strong and effective control environment.
- Serve on relevant governance forums representing Internal Audit and report to relevant Board Committees including Board Audit Committee and Board Risk Committee, reporting on relevant audit matters.
- Present a comprehensive internal audit report to the Board Audit Committee on a quarterly basis, as well as an annual/quarterly plan of the Internal Audit activities, with clear recommendations related to solving problems encountered in managing audit risks.
Policies, Processes and Procedures
- Develop and oversee the implementation of the Internal Audit policies, processes and procedures to ensure all relevant procedural/legislative requirements are fulfilled.
- Review and provide input into functional and group policies, procedures and systems set to ensure alignment with the overall objectives of the Bank.
- Ensure compliance with all relevant regulations, banking laws, AML regulations and internal policies and code of conduct in order to maintain Internal Audit function’s sound legal position and mitigate any potential risks.