Senior Manager Internal Audit

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Job Summary

To plan, execute, and manage audit assignments, ensuring high-quality outcomes and effective team performance in accordance with the Country and Group Audit Plan, and relevant policies, procedures and quality standards

Job Description

Key accountabilities

Audit Delivery – Planning (25%)

 

·        Plan and deliver assigned audits to a high standard, ensuring adequate resourcing, scheduling, and adherence to audit timelines, while reviewing audit work to meet methodology requirements.

·        Contribute to the annual audit planning process by identifying auditable entities, assessing audit needs, and preparing required Management Information reports.

·        Conduct audits and provide assurance within defined timelines and resource budgets.

·        Develop a comprehensive understanding of the audit methodology through training and practical application, ensuring that all approved audits are risk focused.

·        Develop and maintain relationships with accountable stakeholder management for each audit.

·        Achieve Quality Assurance (QA) scorecard results of at least 85%, reflecting high audit quality.

·        Engage with Absa Internal Audit (IA) colleagues during assignments and request technical assistance where required. Technical assistance may include the review of key risks and controls, review of working papers and audit reports.

·         Collaborate with Absa Internal Audit colleagues during assignments, requesting technical assistance as needed, including risk and control reviews, working paper assessments, and audit report reviews.

·        Deliver on-the-job training for the audit team on audit tools, including Audit Bond, and ensure audit work is accurately completed, updated, and approved in line with QA requirements.

 

Audit Delivery – Fieldwork (20%)

·      Develop testing strategies for key business controls to ensure risks are effectively mitigated.

·      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.

·      Review DEA and OET working papers to ensure thoroughness and adherence to standards.

·      Provide effective feedback to audit staff during the audit assignment to confirm that working papers are completed in line with the IA methodology.

·      Engage with Management and Auditors on audit progress, providing regular updates on identified control deficiencies at both DEA and OET levels

 

Accountability: Audit Delivery – Reporting (30%)

·      Build and maintain effective relationships with colleagues and stakeholders throughout the audit reporting process.

·      Deliver audit reports of the highest quality in line with IA methodology, ensuring all significant issues are documented.

·      Review management action plans to confirm that the identified risks associated to the control failure are adequately, ensuring actions are specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-bound (SMART).

·      Prepare and deliver high-quality reports for Board Audit Committee meetings and regulatory engagements.

·      Leverage business knowledge to assess evolving risks and produce high-quality audit reports that provide insightful observations, address root causes, propose actionable solutions, and fully support the Issues Assurance process.

 

 

Accountability: Management & Leadership (25%)

·      Mentor and coach team members on audit methodology, processes

·      Support IA management team to identify, attract, develop and retain talent on an on-going basis.

·      Manage the teams that assigned to the audit effectively by delegating audit work to empower each individual team member.

·      Provide timely feedback to address development areas and recognise quality and audit achievement.

·      Develop a high performing team by embedding formal performance development and informal coaching. Encourage frequent knowledge sharing between team members.

·      Motivate team members and ensure that their efforts are recognised.

·      Participate in implementation of Employee Opinion Survey (EOS) actions for the audit team.

·      Manage leave planning, disciplinary matters, and grievance resolution.

 

Accountability: Knowledge Management (5%)

·      Improve technical knowledge through self-learning or training including mandatory continuous Professional Education requirements.

·      Share knowledge in area of responsibility with the team to ensure that audit activities are planned effectively and completed in line with quality standards and audit methodology.

·      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.

·      Perform all other duties as reasonably assigned.

 

Risk and Control responsibilities (5%)

·      Understand and adhere to the appropriate Absa Policies and Standards applicable to the role.

·      Understand and manage risks and risk events (incidents) in the role thereby contributing to the adherence to the Absa Risk and Control Framework.

·      Complete all mandatory training as required.

 

Role/person specification

 

Preferred Education

·        Honours Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related degree majoring in Accounting/Finance from an accredited University

·        Full Professional qualification in Accounting/Audit in either ACCA, CIA, CISA or an equivalent relevant certification.

·        Member of Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Uganda (ICPAU)

 

Preferred Experience

·        Minimum of 10 years relevant work experience, with at least 5 years at managerial level, preferably within a banking or financial services environment.

Knowledge

·        Proficiency in audit management and data analysis software such as ACL, etc.

·        In-depth understanding of local and group jurisdictions and regulatory requirements for financial institutions.

·        Strong knowledge of banking products, services, functional areas and interlinked processes.

·        Expertise in planning, executing, and evaluating risk assessments and control activities.

·        Awareness of market trends, competitor practices, and industry dynamics.

·        Track record of success/high performance in a large, matrix organisation.

 

Skills

·        Proven ability to build relationships and operate at Senior/ExCo level while maintaining audit independence.

·        Excellent written and verbal communication skills; proficient in audit tools and MS Office applications.

·        Strong ability to plan, prioritise, and manage multiple audits and competing deadlines efficiently.

·        Demonstrated ability to lead, coach, and develops audit teams to achieve high performance and deliver quality outcomes.

·        Applies logical reasoning and professional judgment to resolve audit challenges and propose practical, value-adding recommendations.

 

Technical Competencies

. Understands and is able to apply auditing procedures and principles

. Sound understanding of audit methodology, procedures and auditing tools.

. Applies understanding of information gathering methods (inquiry, inspection, interviews, analysis of financial data, use of basic features of audit technology).

. Understands basic to intermediate features of audit technology. Able to record and present findings.

. Able to apply understanding of risks and controls within business and finance processes.

. Demonstrates understanding of professionalism and ethics in auditing.

 

Risk and Security Management

 

. Applies knowledge and understanding the principles of risk and security management within the context of relevant legislative and industry regulatory frameworks.

. Actively manages, or takes responsibility for the management of, risk and security. 

. Able to evaluate risk factors that may impact the organisation.  In-depth knowledge of technologies and methods to manage risk and enable security.

. Makes suggestions to improve risk and security management.

 

Education

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