Chief Audit and Assurance Executive

King's College London; Greater London; On-site; GBP 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

King's College London seeks a Chief Audit & Assurance Executive to lead the University's internal audit and assurance function, ensuring effective governance, risk management and control arrangements across the institution.

Reporting to the University Secretary, the role sets strategic direction, endorses a risk-based audit plan, and provides independent assurance to Council and senior leadership while developing the function and its people in a complex regulatory environment.

Qualifications

• Professionally qualified audit leader with substantial experience in internal audit and assurance.

Responsibilities

• Lead internal audit and assurance in a large, complex, regulated institution.
• Develop and deliver a risk-based internal audit plan and assurance opinions.
• Build and develop the audit team, maintaining independence and professional authority.

Skills

Audit leadership

Governance

Risk management

Stakeholder engagement

Job description

King's College London is one of the world's leading universities, with a global reputation for excellence in education, research and service to society. Located in the heart of London, King's is home to more than 40,000 students and 12,000 staff from across the world, working together across a large, complex and internationally recognised institution.

King's is seeking to appoint a Chief Audit & Assurance Executive, a strategically important leadership role responsible for the effective delivery and continued development of the University's internal audit and assurance function.

Reporting to the University Secretary and with a dotted line to the Chair of the Audit, Risk & Compliance Committee, the postholder will provide Council and senior leadership with independent confidence in the effectiveness of King's governance, risk management and internal control arrangements. They will lead the delivery of a risk-based internal audit plan, provide clear and authoritative assurance opinions, and ensure that emerging concerns, control weaknesses and opportunities for improvement are identified and addressed.

This appointment comes at an important point in the evolution of the function. With a new Chair of the Audit, Risk & Compliance Committee, new governors joining King's Council and an increasingly complex risk and regulatory environment, the successful candidate will have the opportunity to enhance the visibility, capability and institutional impact of audit and assurance. They will continue the professionalisation of the function, develop and support the team, and help align audit activity with King's strategic risks, evolving risk framework and integrating Board Assurance and Enterprise Management Frameworks.

The Chief Audit & Assurance Executive will build trusted relationships across King's, working closely with senior academic and professional services leaders while retaining the independence and professional authority required to provide effective challenge. They will lead a capable team, establish clear priorities and ensure that audit and assurance activity is proportionate, evidence-led and focused on the areas of greatest institutional significance.

We are seeking a professionally qualified audit leader with substantial experience of leading internal audit and assurance in a large, complex and regulated organisation. Candidates will bring an understanding of professional global internal audit standards, experience of working effectively with audit committees or boards, and the credibility to influence senior stakeholders.

This is an opportunity to lead a vital institutional function at one of the world's leading universities, building confidence that King's principal risks are understood, managed and independently assured.