Head of Internal Audit for WUIB, Senior Manager - based in Vienna, Austria

The Western Union Company; Wien; Hybrid; EUR 104,000 - 127,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive life and medical cover

Contributory pension plan

Luncheon vouchers

Employee discounts

Job summary

The Western Union Company (Vienna-based WUIB) seeks an experienced Internal Audit leader to shape a scalable third-line assurance function for its expanding Austrian banking activities, including lending, receivables finance, and regulatory compliance. You will partner with senior management, regulators, and the Audit Committee to provide independent challenge and strategic risk insights.

You will oversee the development of risk-based audit plans, leverage data analytics, and lead

Qualifications

• University degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, Economics, or a related discipline.
• Minimum eight years of experience in Internal Audit, Risk Management, Compliance, or a related assurance function, including at least three years in an audit role within an Austrian banking environment.
• Strong knowledge of Austrian and European banking regulations and governance requirements, including prudential supervision, AML/CFT, sanctions, outsourcing, operational resilience, and regulatory reporting.

Responsibilities

• Own and continuously enhance the WUIB Internal Audit strategy, audit universe, risk assessment process, and annual risk-based audit plan, ensuring alignment with business strategy, regulatory obligations, and Board priorities.
• Act as the independent Third Line of Defense, providing objective assurance over governance, risk management, and control effectiveness across the Bank.
• Develop and execute a risk-based audit programme covering lending, factoring, financial crime, regulatory compliance, treasury, finance, technology, data governance, outsourcing, and operational resilience activities.
• Provide assurance over the Bank's lending and receivables finance activities, including onboarding, KYC/KYCC controls, credit underwriting, exposure monitoring, collections, settlement processes, and regulatory reporting.
• Assess whether governance, controls, and operating models adequately support business growth, market expansion, increased transaction volumes, and evolving regulatory requirements.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of technology, cybersecurity, operational resilience, business continuity, change management, access management, and data governance controls.
• Challenge governance arrangements supporting critical services, including outsourcing relationships, intra-group dependencies, decision-making frameworks, escalation processes, and contingency planning.
• Leverage data analytics, continuous monitoring, and AI-enabled auditing techniques to identify emerging risks, assess control effectiveness, and enhance audit coverage and efficiency.
• Participate as an active member of Western Union's global Internal Audit leadership team, contributing to audit strategy, methodology development, talent initiatives, and continuous improvement activities.
• Coordinate regulatory engagements, audits, and supervisory reviews, serving as Internal Audit's primary point of contact with Austrian and European regulators and supervisory authorities.
• Present independent audit opinions, thematic insights, and risk assessments to executive management, the WUIB Advisory Board/Audit Committee, and the TWUC Audit Committee.
• Oversee issue management and validation activities, ensuring audit findings are evidence-based, focused on root causes, appropriately prioritized, and effectively remediated.
• Lead, coach, and develop internal and co-sourced audit resources while leveraging global Internal Audit expertise, methodologies, training, and specialist support.

Skills

Analytical mindset

Stakeholder management

Leadership

Regulatory knowledge

English fluency

Education

Accounting/Finance degree

Job description

About WUIB

Western Union International Bank (WUIB) is The Western Union Company (TWUC)'s Vienna-based European bank, providing regulated payment and banking services to consumers and businesses across the European Economic Area. Today, its activities center on current accounts and cross-border money movement, including online transfers, account, card and mobile-wallet payouts, and corporate payment solutions that leverage Western Union's global network and digital capabilities.

WUIB is transforming from a primarily payments-focused institution into a broader, technology-enabled bank with lending and receivables finance capabilities. Its planned factoring model will begin with a phased expansion among lower-risk European agents, followed by selected North American and Middle Eastern markets. This transformation will require independent credit decision-making, automated onboarding and monitoring capabilities, enhanced data and treasury infrastructure, and formal oversight of key dependencies on The Western Union Company.

The intended outcome is a scalable, controlled, and regulator-ready operating model that combines WUIB's banking license and governance framework with Western Union's global network, data, technology, and distribution strengths.

About the Role

In this high-impact role, you will provide independent Internal Audit leadership for Western Union International Bank (WUIB) as part of Western Union's global Internal Audit function. You will oversee and challenge the effectiveness of governance, risk management, and internal controls across the Bank, providing independent assurance over strategic initiatives, regulatory compliance, financial crime controls, lending and factoring activities, technology, data, outsourcing, and operational resilience. You will have regular access to executive management, the WUIB Advisory Board and Audit Committee, the TWUC Audit Committee, and supervisory authorities through the Bank's established governance arrangements.

This is an opportunity to shape a scalable third-line assurance capability within an Austrian bank undergoing significant transformation. As WUIB evolves beyond its traditional payments business and expands into lending and receivables finance, you will combine local regulatory influence with access to Western Union's global Internal Audit expertise, methodologies, specialist resources, and technology-enabled audit capabilities. The role offers substantial autonomy, Board-level visibility, and the opportunity to provide independent assurance and challenge across one of the Bank's most important strategic growth initiatives rather than simply maintain an established audit program.

Your impact will include strengthening the Bank's risk-based audit strategy and annual audit plan, providing assurance over lending, credit and factoring activities, enhancing Board and Audit Committee reporting, evaluating whether governance and controls effectively support business growth and regulatory obligations, challenging key technology, cyber, operational resilience, outsourcing and financial crime risks, and embedding data-driven and AI-enabled audit techniques across the Internal Audit function. You will be supported by Western Union's global Internal Audit leadership team, co-sourced specialist expertise, advanced audit methodologies, and access to international subject matter experts, helping ensure the Bank maintains a scalable, effective, and regulator-ready control environment.

Role Responsibilities

• Own and continuously enhance the WUIB Internal Audit strategy, audit universe, risk assessment process, and annual risk-based audit plan, ensuring alignment with business strategy, regulatory obligations, and Board priorities.

• Act as the independent Third Line of Defense, providing objective assurance over governance, risk management, and control effectiveness across the Bank.

• Develop and execute a risk-based audit programme covering lending, factoring, financial crime, regulatory compliance, treasury, finance, technology, data governance, outsourcing, and operational resilience activities.

• Provide assurance over the Bank's lending and receivables finance activities, including onboarding, KYC/KYCC controls, credit underwriting, exposure monitoring, collections, settlement processes, and regulatory reporting.

• Assess whether governance, controls, and operating models adequately support business growth, market expansion, increased transaction volumes, and evolving regulatory requirements.

• Evaluate the effectiveness of technology, cybersecurity, operational resilience, business continuity, change management, access management, and data governance controls.

• Challenge governance arrangements supporting critical services, including outsourcing relationships, intra-group dependencies, decision-making frameworks, escalation processes, and contingency planning.

• Leverage data analytics, continuous monitoring, and AI-enabled auditing techniques to identify emerging risks, assess control effectiveness, and enhance audit coverage and efficiency.

• Participate as an active member of Western Union's global Internal Audit leadership team, contributing to audit strategy, methodology development, talent initiatives, and continuous improvement activities.

• Coordinate regulatory engagements, audits, and supervisory reviews, serving as Internal Audit's primary point of contact with Austrian and European regulators and supervisory authorities.

• Present independent audit opinions, thematic insights, and risk assessments to executive management, the WUIB Advisory Board/Audit Committee, and the TWUC Audit Committee.

• Oversee issue management and validation activities, ensuring audit findings are evidence-based, focused on root causes, appropriately prioritized, and effectively remediated.

• Lead, coach, and develop internal and co-sourced audit resources while leveraging global Internal Audit expertise, methodologies, training, and specialist support.

Role Requirements

• University degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, Economics, or a related discipline; a Master's degree is preferred.

• Minimum eight years of experience in Internal Audit, Risk Management, Compliance, or a related assurance function, including at least three years in an audit role within an Austrian banking environment.

• Demonstrated experience leading or conducting audits within regulated banking or financial services organisations and developing risk-based audit plans covering complex and evolving business models.

• Experience engaging with Boards, Audit Committees, executive leadership teams, regulators, and supervisory authorities.

• Strong knowledge of Austrian and European banking regulations and governance requirements, including prudential supervision, AML/CFT, sanctions, outsourcing, operational resilience, and regulatory reporting.

• Strong understanding of banking products and services, including credit risk management, lending processes, credit governance, concentrations, arrears management, recovery, impairment, and regulatory reporting. Experience in factoring, receivables finance, commercial lending, or credit risk management is strongly preferred.

• Experience assessing technology, cybersecurity, data governance, operational resilience, third-party risk management frameworks, and leveraging data analytics, continuous auditing, and emerging technologies to enhance audit effectiveness.

• Experience within banking, payments, fintech, or other multinational regulated financial services organizations, including operating in matrix environments and partnering with co-sourced audit providers.

• Relevant professional certification such as CIA, ACA, ACCA, CPA, CISA, CRMA, CFA, or an equivalent qualification. Additional audit, risk management, technology, or banking certifications are advantageous.

• Strong analytical, communication, stakeholder management, leadership, and influencing skills, with the ability to provide effective challenge on complex and sensitive matters.

• Fluent English language skills, both written and verbal. German language proficiency is advantageous.

Work Shift

HYBRID – Western Union values in-person collaboration, problem solving, and ideation whenever possible. We believe this fosters common ways of working and supports how we execute initiatives for our customers. The expectation is to work from the office a minimum of three days a week.

Benefits

You will also have access to short-term incentives, multiple health insurance options, accident and life insurance, and access to best-in-class development platforms, to name a few. Please see the benefits below specific to your country. Additional role-specific benefits may be discussed during the interview process or as part of an offer of employment.

Your Austria-specific benefits include:

• Comprehensive life and medical cover

• Contributory pension plan

• Luncheon vouchers

• Employee discount programs and partner benefits

Salary

The minimum gross annual salary for this position is EUR 115,000. The actual offer will reflect the successful candidate's experience, qualifications, and market positioning and may be significantly above this minimum. The overall package also includes short-term incentive eligibility and Austria-specific benefits.

Other Details

We are passionate about honoring our employees' identities and fostering a feeling of belonging. Our commitment is to provide an inclusive culture that celebrates the unique backgrounds and perspectives of our global teams while reflecting the communities we serve. We do not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, religion, political affiliation, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, marital status, or veteran status. The company will provide accommodation to applicants, including those with disabilities, during the recruitment process, following applicable laws.

Estimated Job Posting End Date:

11-21-2026

This application window is a good-faith estimate of the time that this posting will remain open. This posting will be promptly updated if the deadline is extended or the role is filled.