Requirements: You must have the legal right to work in the UK at the time of application. We are unable to support with visa sponsorship and relocation.
Role Context – About The Team:
The Internal Audit department is a global function with teams in two geographical locations. The team is led by the Director Internal Audit who formally reports to both the Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee (functional line) and the Chief Operating Officer (administrative line). The department follows a risk-based approach to audits.
The Internal Audit department delivers a comprehensive, independent and objective assurance and advisory service to the organisation in a customer-oriented manner which is in accordance with the British Council values.
This is a replacement role. The role-holder will be part of internal audit Senior Leadership Team and will be key in developing and shaping the function’s strategy to enable the function fulfil its purpose of strengthening the organisation’s ability to create, protect, and sustain value. The role has a significant exposure to the Senior Leadership Team and will be the point of contact for the corporate portfolio of audit assignments.
Role Purpose – The Job:
The Deputy Director of Internal Audit deputises for the Director of Internal Audit in leading the internal audit function for British Council. The role is required to assist the Director of Internal Audit with the development of British Council’s assurance processes to build a first-class Internal Audit service within the organization. S/he is responsible for supporting the Director of Internal Audit in providing (independent) assurance that key risks are appropriately managed. The role-holder leads the Corporate portfolio of internal audits and additionally has responsibility for Audit Methodology within the team, including the day-to-day management of the third-party co-sourcing relationship.
The role aims to work with the Director Internal Audit to ensure effective alignment between Governance, Risk Management and Internal Audit, culminating in providing an annual opinion on the effectiveness of governance, risk management and internal control across the organisation. The Deputy Director Internal Audit role requires a strong strategic perspective on Internal Audit and Assurance in general and in certain areas such as methodology and strategy.
S/he supports the Director Internal Audit to ensure that the function adheres to its charter and delivers a comprehensive, independent and objective audit service to the organisation, whilst ensuring this is achieved in a customer-oriented manner in accordance with British Council values.
The role-holder must display an understanding of the organisation’s aims and have the ability to support, work with and influence senior colleagues across the organisation.
Main Accountabilities:
Leadership & Management
- Support the Director of Internal Audit in the delivery of first‑class assurance processes while championing risk and audit alignment to ensure a consistently robust, risk‑based approach across all deliverables.
- Lead the function’s audit methodology to ensure alignment with the Global Internal Audit Standards, while supporting the Director of Internal Audit in building a robust quality assurance framework that drives independent reviews, stakeholder feedback, and successful External Quality Assessments (EQAs).
- Coordinate delivery of the internal audit plan, managing resources and priorities to meet the needs of all stakeholders.
- Lead the Corporate (including programme assurance and Information Technology) assurance portfolios of the internal audit plan. This is approximately 40%-50% in volume of the total delivery and approximately 75% in significance.
- Managing the day-to-day co-source relationship, to deliver value for money for the British Council and facilitate knowledge transfer internally across the audit team.
- Work with the Director Internal Audit to build and maintain a world‑class team internally in the first instance, as well as maintain, develop and optimise the co‑sourcing arrangement.
Strategy and/or Planning
- Support the Director of Internal Audit in preparing an annual risk‑based audit plan for approval by the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) and the Audit and Risk Committee. Key responsibility for identifying and proposing relevant Corporate assurance needs, including programme assurance audits and IT assurance audits.
Relationship and Stakeholder Management
- Deputising for the Director of Internal Audit in ad‑hoc initiatives and advisory pieces.
- Drive effective engagement with the SLT through a ‘no surprises’ approach, while providing senior management with strategic assurance advice.
- Maintain regular and transparent engagement with the co‑sourced provider.
Consultancy, Analysis and Problem Solving
- To deal with complex, sensitive and confidential matters, frequently using own initiative to reach creative solutions, including carrying out ad‑hoc reviews at the request of senior management, and in discussion with the Director Internal Audit.
- Development of the required data to support the Audit and Risk Committee papers including all the graphs, figures and data points.
Requirements Of The Role:
Knowledge
- Thorough understanding and application of the Global Internal Audit Standards as applicable to the UK Public Sector.
- Track record of managing corporate audits, including simultaneous engagements and responsibilities.
- Knowledge in project management and programme assurance, i.e., auditing change projects/initiatives.
- Auditing of information systems and information technology assurance.
- Substantial knowledge on the use of audit software or tools, e.g. TeamMate.
- ERP experience.
Experience
- Working in international and multi‑cultural organisations.
- Strong influencing and negotiating experience.
- Skilled in root cause analysis, process review and control effectiveness assessment.
- Capability to engage and report to senior management, delivering clear, strategic insights with strong executive‑level communication and presentation skills.
- Line management of one or more team members.
- Shared services and managed service provider operations.
- Practical experience in data analytics.
- SAP experience.
- Governance in a group structure.
Professional Qualification and Certification
- Professional Accountancy Qualification (ACA/FCA, ACCA, CPA or equivalent) and/or Internal Audit Certification (IAP, CIA, CRMA).
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