Head Of Internal Audit

About the Role
We are seeking an accomplished Head of Internal Audit to establish, lead, and oversee the internal audit function for a regulated banking institution. This senior leadership role requires extensive experience in banking audits, regulatory compliance, risk management, governance, and internal controls, with a strong understanding of the UAE financial regulatory environment. The successful candidate will lead the transition from an outsourced audit model to an independent in-house function, ensuring alignment with Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) requirements, IIA Global Internal Audit Standards, and applicable banking regulations. The role demands strong technical expertise, professional independence, and the ability to provide objective assurance to the Board and Audit Committee.

Key Responsibilities

• Establish the in-house Internal Audit function, managing the transition from outsourced arrangements and presenting a structured implementation roadmap to the Board Audit Committee.
• Develop and maintain the Internal Audit Charter, audit methodology, governance framework, and risk-based multi-year audit plan.
• Ensure audit independence, objectivity, professional standards, and compliance with FSRA requirements and IIA Global Internal Audit Standards.
• Serve as the principal Internal Audit adviser to the Board Audit Committee, providing clear reporting on control weaknesses, emerging risks, and remediation progress.
• Lead independent audits across credit, corporate and SME financing, treasury, capital adequacy, liquidity, financial reporting, and operational risk.
• Review ICAAP, ILAAP, IRAP, IFRS 9 Expected Credit Loss (ECL), and other relevant prudential and regulatory processes.
• Oversee audits of AML/CFT, proliferation financing, sanctions screening, customer due diligence, transaction monitoring, and financial crime controls.
• Provide assurance over HR governance, employee conduct, customer-facing practices, conduct risk, and people-related controls.
• Conduct or oversee internal Shari’ah reviews, including product approvals, contract execution, and non-Shari’ah-compliant income, where applicable.
• Assess technology governance, core banking systems, digital channels, cybersecurity, data protection, cloud environments, AI/ML models, and change management.
• Review outsourcing, third-party risk, business continuity, and operational resilience arrangements.
• Monitor regulatory and external audit findings through to independently validated closure.
• Build and mentor an effective audit team, engage specialist co-sourcing partners, and implement quality assurance and continuous auditing practices.

What Makes You a Great Fit

• 13+ years of experience in internal audit, banking assurance, risk management, or financial services governance, including senior audit leadership responsibilities.
• Strong understanding of UAE banking regulations, FSRA requirements, prudential frameworks, and internal audit standards.
• Proven experience establishing or transforming internal audit functions and developing risk-based audit plans.
• Extensive knowledge of banking operations, credit risk, treasury, capital and liquidity management, financial reporting, and internal controls.
• Strong expertise in AML/CFT, sanctions, financial crime risk, regulatory compliance, and conduct risk.
• Understanding of technology risk, cybersecurity, data governance, cloud controls, and digital banking environments.
• Knowledge of Shari’ah governance and Islamic finance audit requirements is highly desirable.
• Experience engaging with Boards, Audit Committees, regulators, external auditors, and senior executives.
• Strong leadership, analytical, communication, and stakeholder-management skills, with the ability to challenge constructively.
• High standards of integrity, confidentiality, independence, objectivity, and professional judgement.
• Ability to build scalable audit processes, introduce data analytics, and lead multicultural teams in a lean, evolving banking environment.
• Professional qualifications such as CA, CIA, CISA, ACCA, CPA, or equivalent are preferred.

Salary Range
Rs 40,000,000 - Rs 70,000,000 (i.e., INR 40-70 LPA)

Experience
13+ years

Location
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, United Arab Emirates