Internal Audit Lead

Black & Grey HR; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 300,000 - 400,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading HR consultancy seeks an experienced Internal Audit Lead in Abu Dhabi. This senior leadership role involves driving governance and delivering impactful audits across various business units. Candidates should have 10 to 14 years of internal audit experience, strong operational exposure, and required certifications (CIA, CPA, ACCA). You'll be responsible for developing risk-based audit plans, engaging with senior management, and influencing risk culture. This position offers attractive salary and benefits along with significant career progression opportunities.

Benefits

Attractive Salary + Benefits

Senior leadership exposure

Career progression opportunities

Qualifications

• 10 to 14 years of internal audit experience within large groups or multi-entity environments.
• Strong operational audit exposure in high-volume or multi-site businesses.
• Big 4 background with in-house audit experience.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the annual risk-based audit plan across group entities.
• Lead the complete audit lifecycle: planning, fieldwork, testing, documentation, and reporting.
• Prepare clear, evidence-based audit reports with root cause analysis.

Skills

Operational audit exposure

Stakeholder management

Data analytics for audits

Financial controls

Investigations and fraud risk management

Education

CIA certification

CPA, ACCA, or CISA certification

Tools

ERP systems (SAP, Oracle, Dynamics)

Job description

Full time | Black & Grey HR | United Arab Emirates

Posted On 23/01/2026

Overview

Job Information and description for an Internal Audit Lead (Group) based in Abu Dhabi. This is a senior leadership role for an experienced internal auditor who can operate at group level, drive governance, and deliver high-impact audits across multiple business units.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the annual risk-based audit plan across group entities
• Build and maintain a practical risk universe reflecting real operational exposure
• Identify key risk areas across procurement, inventory, revenue, projects, contracts, and shared services
• Lead the complete audit lifecycle: planning, fieldwork, testing, documentation, and reporting
• Prepare clear, evidence-based audit reports with root cause analysis and action plans
• Ensure high-quality audit documentation and workpapers
• Drive timely closure of audit findings with business owners
• Engage closely with CFOs, GMs, Legal, Compliance, IT, Finance, and Operations teams
• Present audit outcomes confidently to senior management
• Escalate critical risks and manage sensitive matters professionally
• Identify control gaps, leakage points, and fraud indicators
• Lead special audits, investigations, and management reviews when required
• Recommend process improvements and stronger governance frameworks
• Use data analytics to strengthen audit coverage and reduce risk blind spots
• Support continuous auditing for high-risk areas such as payments, procurement, and inventory
• Work with ERP and finance systems to generate audit insights
• Mentor and guide internal audit team members
• Improve audit maturity through training, templates, and best practices

Requirements

• 10 to 14 years of internal audit experience within large groups or multi-entity environments
• CIA certification (mandatory)
• Strong operational audit exposure in high-volume or multi-site businesses
• Solid experience in financial controls, procurement, inventory, revenue, and shared services
• Excellent reporting, communication, and stakeholder management skills
• Willingness to travel within Abu Dhabi and visit operating entities
• Big 4 background with in-house audit experience
• CPA, ACCA, or CISA certification
• Exposure to audit committee and board-level reporting
• Experience in investigations and fraud risk management
• Strong ERP exposure (SAP, Oracle, Dynamics, or similar systems)

Benefits

• Attractive Salary + Benefits
• Senior leadership exposure within a diversified group
• Opportunity to influence governance and risk culture at group level
• High-visibility role with strong career progression potential