Director Internal Controls, Aircraft Leasing, Dublin City, Hybrid

Barden | B Corp; Dublin; On-site; EUR 160,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Barden has been exclusively retained by a leading international aircraft leasing organisation to appoint a Director, Internal Controls & Business Assurance. This role owns the organisation's compliance, internal controls, process governance, and assurance framework, partnering with senior leaders to drive accountability and continuous improvement.

Reporting to senior leadership, you will strengthen controls, drive process improvements, coordinate assurance activities, and support governance

Qualifications

• Qualified accountant or equivalent professional qualification (ACA, ACCA, CPA, or equivalent).
• 10+ years' experience across internal controls, governance, risk, compliance, internal audit, or business process management.

Responsibilities

• Lead and enhance the organisation's internal controls and governance framework.
• Drive process improvement, risk assessment, and compliance initiatives across the business.
• Partner with senior stakeholders to strengthen operational controls and governance practices.
• Oversee business process documentation, control reviews, and remediation activities.
• Act as the key point of contact for internal and external assurance activities.
• Support governance around business change, systems implementations, and transformation projects.
• Deliver clear reporting and insights to executive leadership.

Skills

Governance

Risk management

Internal controls

Compliance

Internal audit

Process improvement

Stakeholder management

Communication

Education

ACA/ACCA/CPA or equivalent

Job description

Barden have been exclusively retained by a leading international aircraft leasing organisation to support the appointment of a Director, Internal Controls & Business Assurance.

This is a unique opportunity for an experienced governance, risk, controls, or internal audit professional to take ownership of the organisation's compliance, internal controls, process governance, and assurance framework. Working closely with senior leadership, you will play a key role in strengthening controls, driving process improvements, coordinating assurance activities, and supporting a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.

\"As our business continues to evolve and grow globally, we are seeking a collaborative and influential leader to strengthen our governance, compliance, and internal control environment. This role sits at the intersection of risk, process improvement, and business partnership, providing a unique opportunity to drive meaningful change across the organisation. The successful candidate will help shape the future of our control framework, working closely with senior leadership, Internal Audit, and key stakeholders to ensure we maintain the highest standards of governance, accountability, and operational excellence.\" – Head of Finance

About the role:

• Lead and enhance the organisation's internal controls and governance framework.
• Drive process improvement, risk assessment, and compliance initiatives across the business.
• Partner with senior stakeholders to strengthen operational controls and governance practices.
• Oversee business process documentation, control reviews, and remediation activities.
• Act as the key point of contact for internal and external assurance activities.
• Support governance around business change, systems implementations, and transformation projects.
• Deliver clear reporting and insights to executive leadership.

About the person:

• Qualified accountant or relevant professional qualification (ACA, ACCA, CPA, or equivalent).
• 10+ years' experience across internal controls, governance, risk, compliance, internal audit, or business process management.
• Comprehensive aircraft leasing experience
• Strong understanding of control frameworks, risk management, and governance best practices.
• Experience operating in a complex, regulated, or international environment.
• Proven ability to influence senior stakeholders and drive change across an organisation.
• Excellent communication, project management, and relationship-building skills.

This is an excellent opportunity to join a highly successful global business in a broad leadership role with significant visibility and impact across the organisation.