VP, Internal Audit (Commercial Banking/IA/Regional)

ACCA Careers; Hong Kong; On-site; HKD 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Job summary

ACCA Careers represents a leading commercial banking institution in Hong Kong seeking an accomplished Head of Internal Audit for risk-based audits across multiple banking units.

The role requires 8+ years in internal audit, strong HKMA knowledge, and fluency in English, Cantonese and Mandarin. Regional travel and leadership of cross-border teams are essential, with a focus on governance and advisory excellence.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Risk Management, or a related discipline.
• CPA, CIA, or equivalent professional qualification preferred.
• Minimum 8 years of internal audit experience in banking or financial services.
• Strong knowledge of HKMA regulatory guidelines and governance.
• Willingness to travel 20–30% across APAC regions.
• Proven leadership and stakeholder management with senior management.
• Fluency in English, Cantonese and Mandarin is mandatory.

Responsibilities

• Lead, plan and execute risk-based audits across commercial banking, corporate lending, trade finance and treasury units.
• Evaluate internal control frameworks, credit risk underwriting workflows and governance standards.
• Ensure compliance with HKMA Supervisory Policy Manuals and statutory requirements.
• Conduct on-site audits across overseas branches and regional hubs (20–30% travel).
• Draft concise audit findings and supervisory reports for Audit Committee and management.
• Collaborate with senior business heads and CROs to track remediation of audit recommendations.
• Champion continuous audit methodology improvement and data analytics adoption.

Skills

English Cantonese Mandarin fluency

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Risk Management, or related discipline

Job description

About The Company.

Our client is a prominent, well-capitalised commercial banking institution with an extensive footprint in Hong Kong, mainland China, and the wider Asia-Pacific region. Renowned for delivering comprehensive corporate banking, trade finance, commercial lending, and treasury solutions, they offer a stable, high-calibre, and institutionally backed operating platform. They provide employees with strong executive career progression, high operational visibility, and a collaborative corporate culture.

About The Team.

The Internal Audit Department is an independent, high-visibility corporate governance function reporting directly to the Audit Committee and executive management. You will join an experienced, elite team of banking audit specialists who value technical precision, objective risk analysis, and constructive business advisory. The team culture promotes continuous professional learning, cross-border exposure, and collaborative engagement across regional business units.

About The Job.

• Lead, plan, and execute comprehensive risk-based audit assignments across commercial banking, corporate lending, trade finance, and treasury business units.
• Evaluate the adequacy and operational effectiveness of internal control frameworks, credit risk underwriting workflows, and operational governance standards.
• Ensure all commercial banking activities and lending operations strictly align with HKMA Supervisory Policy Manuals and statutory regulatory requirements.
• Undertake periodic regional travel (approximately 20-30%) to conduct on-site audit reviews across overseas branches and regional operating hubs.
• Author concise, high-impact audit findings and formal supervisory reports for presentation to executive management and the Audit Committee.
• Partner with senior business line heads, chief risk officers, and compliance executives to track and verify the timely remediation of audit recommendations.
• Champion audit methodology continuous optimisation and implement data analytics tools to strengthen continuous auditing and portfolio surveillance.

Required Skills & Experience.

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Risk Management, or a related discipline.
• CPA, CIA, or equivalent recognized professional accounting/auditing qualification is preferred.
• Minimum 8 years of experience in internal audit within a commercial bank or financial institution, or commercial banking audit experience within the Big 4 / professional firms.
• Strong technical expertise in commercial lending products, trade finance, corporate banking workflows, and HKMA regulatory guidelines.
• Willingness and availability to undertake regional travel (estimated 20-30%) across the Asia-Pacific region.
• Proven leadership and stakeholder management capabilities, with demonstrated success in engaging constructively with senior management.
• Fluency in English, Cantonese, and Mandarin is mandatory to communicate effectively with regional branch personnel, senior executives, and head office stakeholders.