Assistant Manager Internal Audit

MERJE; Manchester; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

MERJE is seeking an Assistant Manager to join our Risk & Advisory team. You will lead defined internal audit and advisory engagements across a diverse client base, with emphasis on engagement delivery and portfolio management.

This role balances hands-on audit work with coaching junior colleagues, developing client relationships, and using data analytics and emerging AI-enabled techniques to enhance assurance. Travel to client sites is expected.

Qualifications

• Experience in internal audit, risk, assurance or controls.
• Experience planning, delivering and reviewing engagements.
• Understanding of risk management and internal controls.
• Experience managing multiple assignments simultaneously.
• Professional qualification or working towards CIA/CMIIA/ACA/ACCA.
• Willingness to travel to client sites.

Responsibilities

• Lead internal audit, risk and advisory engagements from planning to completion.
• Manage a portfolio of client assignments with timely delivery.
• Identify key business risks, controls and improvement opportunities.
• Conduct controls testing and wider assurance work.
• Coach and review junior team members.
• Contribute to engagement planning and project management.
• Utilize data analytics and AI-enabled techniques to support audit.

Skills

Internal Audit

Risk management

Engagement management

Communication skills

Data analytics

AI-enabled techniques

Education

CIA

CMIIA/MIIA

ACA

ACCA

Job description

An excellent opportunity has arisen for an Assistant Manager to join an established Risk & Advisory team, working with a diverse portfolio of organisations across a range of sectors.

This position would suit an experienced Internal Auditor or Risk & Assurance professional looking to take the next step in their career, gaining greater responsibility for engagement delivery, client relationships and the development of junior colleagues while progressing towards Manager level.

The Role -

As Assistant Manager, you will take responsibility for leading defined internal audit and advisory engagements and workstreams, working closely with senior members of the team to deliver high-quality assignments.

The position offers a good balance between hands‑on audit delivery and engagement/portfolio management, with responsibilities including:

• Leading internal audit, risk and advisory engagements from planning through to completion.
• Supporting the management of a portfolio of client assignments, ensuring work is delivered effectively and to agreed timescales.
• Identifying and assessing key business risks, controls and areas for improvement.
• Undertaking and reviewing controls testing and wider assurance work.
• Building strong relationships with clients and engaging confidently with stakeholders across different levels of seniority.
• Producing clear, commercially focused audit findings and recommendations.
• Supporting, coaching and reviewing the work of junior team members.
• Contributing to engagement planning, project management and continuous improvement across the wider team.
• Using data analytics and emerging AI-enabled techniques to support audit delivery where appropriate.

The role is expected to be approximately 50% engagement and portfolio management and 50% hands‑on audit and specialist assignment delivery, although this will flex depending on experience and development.

About You

You will ideally have:

• Relevant experience within Internal Audit, Risk, Assurance or Controls, either within professional services or an in-house environment.
• Experience contributing to the planning, delivery and review of internal audit or advisory engagements.
• A good understanding of risk management, internal controls and/or systems and controls testing.
• Experience managing multiple assignments or workstreams simultaneously.
• The confidence to challenge stakeholders constructively and think critically about risks and controls.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience supporting, coaching or supervising more junior colleagues.
• A recognised professional qualification, or be working towards one, such as CIA, CMIIA/MIIA, ACA, ACCA or another relevant equivalent.
• An interest in developing your use of data analytics and emerging technology within audit.
• Flexibility to travel to client sites when required.

Why Consider This Opportunity?

This is a strong next step for someone looking to move towards Internal Audit Manager level, offering increased ownership of engagements while retaining hands‑on exposure to a varied portfolio of clients.

You'll gain exposure to different organisations, operating environments and risk profiles while developing your technical, client management and leadership capabilities within an established advisory environment.