Senior Audit Manager

Job Summary

Plan, execute and manage audit assignments in accordance with the Group Audit Plan and relevant policies, procedures and quality standards. The Senior Audit Manager is responsible for the quality of the audit work performed and the efficiency and effectiveness of the audit team.

Job Description

Key Accountabilities

Audit Delivery – Planning (20%)

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. 

• Develop a detailed knowledge of the methodology by attending training sessions to ensure that approved audits are risk focused.
• Act as a mentor for auditors and peers to provide guidance to ensure that their work exceeds quality standards.
• Scorecard reviews performed by Quality Assurance (QA) should reflect results of at least 85%.
• Contribute to the annual planning process as requested by the Chief Internal Auditor by providing feedback and knowledge in terms of business. This will include identifying auditable entities, assessing the audit needs assessment and preparing all Management Information reports required.
• Develop and maintain relationships with accountable stakeholder management on each audit.
• 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.
• Perform audits and issues assurance within Key Performance timelines and resource budget.
• Proactively provide on-the-job training to the audit team for the audit toolkit – Audit Bond and confirm through inspection of the audit work that the results of audit work are completed, updated and approved as required by the Quality Assurance scorecard.

Audit Delivery – Fieldwork (20%)

• Develop testing strategies for key controls within the business to adequately mitigate the risks.
• 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 the DEA and OET working papers of controls tested.
• Based on the reviews performed, 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 progress of audit and to provide regular feedback on issues identified where the control has failed either at a DEA or OET level.
• Proactively take on additional tasks as delegated by the Chief Internal Auditor.

Audit Delivery – Reporting (20%)

• Establish effective relationships and fully engage colleagues during audit 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.
• Raise observations as early as possible and agree actions before completion of fieldwork and write concise, accurate Executive Summaries.
• Deliver high quality audit reports, aligned to the IA methodology, which include all significant issues identified in the audit.
• Review management action plans to confirm that the identified risks associated to the control failure are adequately mitigated. Actions plans are to be specific, measurable, timely, achievable and realistic.
• Deliver high quality reports for the Board Audit Committee meetings and engagements with regulators

Management & Leadership (20%)

• Mentor and coach less experienced team members by providing guidance around the methodology and audit process.
• 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.
• Ability to lead/manage multiple competing initiatives/projects and deliver results within deadlines and with a focus on quality and attention to detail.
• Provide constructive, timely and balanced feedback to audit team members, peers and Head of Audits.
• Manage an audit team to ensure effective delivery of the audit.
• Develop a high performing team by embedding formal performance development and informal coaching. Encourage frequent knowledge sharing between team members.
• Interview and recruit new members of the team, including determining appropriate compensation levels with input from Human Resources.
• Approve leave requests for team members and, create leave plans to ensure adequate coverage.
• When required, initiate disciplinary processes for team members calling on support from Human Resources when required.
• Resolve grievances raised by team members and escalate only if required.
• Motivate team members and ensure that their efforts are recognised.
• Participate in the creation and implementation of Employee Opinion Survey (EOS) actions for the audit team.

Accountability: Knowledge Management (10%)

• 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 (eg: 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 (10%)

• 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.

Qualifications

• Educated to degree level and relevant professional qualification such as ACCA, CIA, CISA and or business or risk related degree / qualification (or equivalent).
• Degree with 7 years relevant work experience with minimum 5 years at managerial level or Masters with 6 years’ experience or equivalent of 10 years bank related experience.

Experience

• Financial services industry knowledge
• Knowledge of Asset Management, stock broking and Insurance industry
• Knowledge in data analytics
• Audit software skills such as ACL, etc.
• Specialist knowledge in a key high-risk area such as Credit Risk, Corporate and Investment Banking, Cyber Security, Information Technology, Risk, Finance, Treasury, Wealth Management.
• Significant auditing experience and / or working at a senior management level in the financial services sector with a proven track record.
• Exposure to managing teams to deliver against tight deadlines.
• Significant report writing and presentation experience.
• Exposure to consultation and facilitation.
• Audit experience within a banking environment
• Experience in negotiation/influencing.
• Experience in audit firm as internal/external audit

Knowledge & Skills

• Understands the control, regulatory and risk issues in local and group jurisdiction or financial institutions.
• Displays familiarity and knowledge of relevant banks product/services/markets/policies.
• Demonstrates a thorough understanding of banking business and its key drivers.
• Demonstrates a thorough understanding of functional areas within banks. e.g. finance
• Thorough understanding of the industry and/or knowledge of our competition
• Thorough knowledge of other areas within their function and how their processes and resources link together.
• Experience in risk-based auditing or risk/control activities
• Displays willingness and initiative to learn about new products.
• Computer literate (strong MS office skills – Excel, Word and PowerPoint)
• Extensive experience of developing and maintaining relationships with executive management.
• Proven ability to maintain strong peer relationships with senior executive management and are considered by Country MD, able to operate at the ExCo level, whilst maintaining IAs independence.
• Track record of success/high performance in a large, matrix organisation.
• Demonstrate strong oral and written communication in both English and the key language(s) spoken across the entity and within the relevant Regulatory bodies.
• Communication and influence skills: excellent and effective communication and influencing skills to coordinate with multiple functional areas.