Specialist Internal Audit at South African Airways (SAA)

Job Purpose    

• The Internal Audit Specialist will support the function in the provision of a comprehensive auditing service to the Airline as well as audit and assurance capability.
• The role is responsible for implementing a portfolio of audits for the Airline in an effective and efficient manner to a high standard with the resources allocated and timeline requirements. Furthermore, the role is required to support the complete day-to-day running of the Audit function whilst maintaining client relations. The Specialist will assist with evaluating the company’s risk management, internal control and corporate governance processes and ensure that they are adequate and functioning correctly.

Principal Accountabilities    

• Contribute to the design of the Internal Audit Strategy taking into account specialist expertise, best practice, benchmarking and market standards etc. and ensure strategy is implemented and integrated within areas of responsibility
• Provide input into the SAA Auditing operational plan
• Liaise with internal stakeholders to discuss needs and propose audits to build stakeholder requirements into department plans
• Determines policies, processes, action plans and systems to support implementation of the strategy
• Identify and drive initiatives to support profitability and cost containment in the Internal Audit division
• Assist with the budget development in alignment with the overall corporate requirements and strategic objectives
• Manage and control budget in area of responsibility
• Actively monitor the process improvement expenditure and service delivery against plans and budgets
• Identify opportunities to optimise revenue and ROI across the value chain
• Sign off invoices against cost centre and actively track against contracts and budgets
• Engage in trend analysis to identify future needs, services required, market offerings and available new products and engage in discussion about integration and adoption of these into strategies and plans with the Chief Internal Auditor
• Contribute to the optimisation of the auditing function through actively participating in improvement projects that will protect against risks in the function and promote continuous improvement
• Support the development of business plans and strategies across the value chain
• Assist with the incorporation of reporting information into decision making processes to ensure alignment of the methodologies, policies, processes and tools to the requirements of the business
• Report on internal control issues and risks to the Chief Internal Auditor and relevant stakeholders
• Engage in trend analysis, benchmarking, research, best practice to support optimisation of department/ division
• Manages programmes and projects to contribute to the optimisation of the Internal Audit division
• Oversee quick win optimisation projects in the organisation where a need has been identified through defining methodologies, resource allocation, driving deliverables and reporting
• Engage in a portfolio of audits to support the implementation of the Airline’s auditing plan and strategy
• Proactively implement the auditing plan by defining audit scope, audit program & audit test procedures for portfolio of audits
• Assist with ensuring that annual audit plans have contingencies built in, to provide unexpected audits to clients as they may surface
• Manage process improvement projects from conception to completion, ensuring the intended objective is met within the required timeframes specified in the project plan
• Implement auditing processes in compliance with internal audit policies
• Compile, plan and report on working audit papers
• Review audit working papers on a regular basis
• Provide input into policies and procedures to ensure required legislative and regulatory standards are maintained
• Ensure regular quality assurance exercises are conducted across subsidiaries to ensure that minimum standards are adhered to and compliance with the relevant policies and procedures
• Identify and implement initiatives to ensure minimum quality standards are maintained
• Minimise the exposure to legislative contravention by assisting with designing and enforcing policies and procedures in full support of legislative requirements
• Manage stakeholder expectations through maintaining appropriate communication channels, providing best practice specialist input and ensuring satisfaction with service delivery
• Identify stakeholders synergistic to Auditing initiatives and provide advice and interpretation to any stakeholder as requested
• Utilise feedback from all relevant professionals to ensure continuous alignment and optimisation of auditing processes
• Provide a holistic consultancy service to the Airline
• Plan and conduct audits as per internal audit methodology, ensuring compliance with laws, regulations, policies and procedures

Qualifications & Experience    

• BCom with Accounting and Auditing at NQF level 7
• Relevant postgraduate qualification is an advantage
• Registered Chartered Accountant/Certified Internal Auditor is an advantage
• At least 5 -8 years Internal Auditing experience

Knowledge and Skills    

• Detailed understanding of relevant legislation (including the PFMA)
• In-depth knowledge of Auditing and Accounting principals
• Awareness of procurement processes
• Knowledge of auditing performance objectives
• Financial management
• Policy development
• Programme or project management
• Knowledge of current International Standards for Professional Practice of Internal Auditing and Accounting
• Knowledge of current internal auditing practices and trends
• Cross Sector industry exposure to best practices in terms of internal audit
• Legislation governing internal audit practices and affecting business practices
• Knowledge of automated financial and accounting reporting systems
• IT Knowledge
• Financial management and accounting skills
• Negotiation skills
• Influencing skills
• Presentation/ facilitation
• Analytical skills
• Critical thinking
• Attention to detail
• Communication skills
• Problem solving
• Change Management
• Resource utilisation
• Information processing
• Commercial acumen
• Interpersonal skills
• Conceptual thinking

Attributes    

• Leads Crucial Conversations
• Coaches and Mentors
• Leads Projects
• Facilitates Transformation and Change
• Drives Innovation
• Implements and aligns to vision
• Delivers value
• Leverages Team diversity
• Role models behaviours and values