VP: Internal Audit Manager (Insurance Rest of Africa) - Johannesburg at Absa Group Limited (Absa)

Job Summary

• To plan, execute and manage audit assignments in accordance with the country and Group Audit plan and relevant policies, procedures and quality standards. The Audit Manager is responsible for the quality of the audit work performed and the efficiency and effectiveness of the audit team and should have proven experience in stakeholder management at senior management level.
• The Audit Manager will be responsible for country responsibilities and therefore experience in Internal Audit, specific to Insurance (Short Term and Life) in countries outside of South Africa will be required.

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 material 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.
• 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

Perform all other duties as reasonably assigned.

Role/Person Specification
Education and Experience Required

• CA (SA), CIA, CISA or relevant qualification
• Relevant banking industry qualification (e.g. SA Institute of Bankers)

Essential:

• 5 years’ experience in Internal/External audit or commensurate experience in Insurance specifically for ARO
• 5 years’ experience in risk based auditing or risk/control activities.
• 3 years’ experience of managing a team

Preferred:

• Big 4 Completed Articles experience
• Banking experience either gained through auditing or line management

Knowledge & Skills:

• Understand control, regulatory & risk issues
• Ability to articulate complex issues clearly
• Displays good knowledge of key business processes
• Manage time, resources effectively
• Keep stakeholders & management up to date
• Industry and product knowledge

 Competencies:

• Deciding and initiating action
• Learning and researching
• Entrepreneurial and commercial thinking
• Relating and networking
• Adapting and responding to change
• Persuading and influencing
• Creating and innovating

Education

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