Lead Auditor - Banking

Finders SA; Basel; On-site; CHF 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Finders SA, on behalf of our client, a well-established international private bank, seeks an experienced Lead Auditor to join the Group Internal Audit function. The role covers financial crime, conduct risk, operational and regulatory topics, with responsibility for selected international locations.

You will lead audits from planning to reporting, partner with senior stakeholders, and drive improvements in risk controls.

Qualifications

• Degree, banking qualification or equivalent higher education in finance.
• Professional certification such as CIA, CFA or similar; CPA qualification would be advantageous.
• Minimum 5 years' experience leading banking audits.
• Strong understanding of banking regulations, governance and risk management frameworks.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage internal audit assignments from scoping and risk assessment through to reporting and follow-up.
• Produce clear, concise and impactful audit reports and recommendations.
• Build trusted relationships with business leaders and provide independent challenge and guidance.
• Track and assess the effective implementation of agreed remediation actions.
• Prepare audit findings, summaries and reports for senior management, Audit Committees and Board-level stakeholders.
• Act as the primary audit contact for designated international offices.
• Conduct annual risk assessments and support audit planning activities for these locations.
• Participate in special reviews, investigations and strategic projects as required.
• Provide subject matter expertise across key risk and regulatory areas.

Skills

Audit leadership

Stakeholder mgmt

Regulatory knowledge

Analytical skills

Communication

Travel willingness

Education

Bachelor's degree in finance or accounting

CIA/CFA or CPA beneficial

Tools

Avaloq

Microsoft Office

Job description

Our client is a well-established international private bank with a strong reputation in wealth management and private banking. With a long-standing global presence and offices across multiple jurisdictions, the bank offers a collaborative, entrepreneurial culture where internal mobility, professional development and high standards of governance are encouraged.

Position:

An opportunity has arisen for an experienced Lead Auditor to join the Group Internal Audit function. This role offers broad exposure across financial crime, conduct risk, operational and regulatory topics, together with responsibility for selected international locations. The successful candidate will lead audits from planning through to reporting, partner with senior stakeholders across the business and contribute to the ongoing enhancement of the bank's risk and control environment.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead and manage internal audit assignments from scoping and risk assessment through to reporting and follow-up.
• Produce clear, concise and impactful audit reports and recommendations.
• Build trusted relationships with business leaders and provide independent challenge and guidance.
• Track and assess the effective implementation of agreed remediation actions.
• Prepare audit findings, summaries and reports for senior management, Audit Committees and Board-level stakeholders.
• Act as the primary audit contact for designated international offices.
• Conduct annual risk assessments and support audit planning activities for these locations.
• Participate in special reviews, investigations and strategic projects as required.
• Provide subject matter expertise across key risk and regulatory areas.

Why Apply?

• Join a respected international private banking organisation with a strong global footprint.
• Broad exposure to diverse risk topics and senior decision-makers across the business.
• Opportunity to take ownership of international locations and influence risk management practices.
• High level of autonomy and visibility within the organisation.
• International environment with regular interaction across multiple jurisdictions.
• Diverse and intellectually stimulating audit assignments covering evolving regulatory and business risks.

Profile

• Degree, banking qualification or equivalent higher education in finance, economics or business.
• Professional certification such as CIA, CFA or similar; CPA qualification would be advantageous.
• Minimum 5 years' experience leading banking audits within either internal audit or external audit.
• Strong understanding of banking regulations, governance and risk management frameworks.
• Excellent analytical skills with the ability to assess complex issues and prioritise effectively.
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Confident working independently while collaborating across diverse teams and business functions.
• High levels of integrity, accountability and professional judgement.
• Advanced Microsoft Office skills; exposure to Avaloq would be beneficial.
• Fluent English (written and spoken); additional Spanish, German or French language skills would be a strong plus.
• Willingness to travel internationally, approximately 30 days per year.
• Available to work full-time (no home office).
• Eligible or already in possession of a Swiss passport or Swiss work permit and happy to be based in the Basel region (cross-border workers considered).