Senior Manager Internal Audit

Iconic Fashion India; Haryana; On-site; INR 1,800,000 - 3,000,000; Full time

Job summary

Iconic Fashion India is seeking a Manager/Senior Manager – Internal Audit to strengthen the audit function across its retail stores, inventory, cash processes and SOP compliance. The role leads an audit team, plans multi-location audits, and reports risks with actionable mitigation strategies.

The ideal candidate has extensive experience in internal audit within retail or fashion sectors, strong knowledge of stock controls, loss prevention, and ability to travel across locations to perform

Qualifications

• CA / CIA / MBA–Finance or equivalent with strong internal audit background.
• Experience in retail, fashion, FMCG preferred.
• Willingness to travel across multiple locations.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute quarterly audit plans for stores, warehouses and locations.
• Plan and conduct retail store audits including billing, cash handling, discounts and returns.
• Lead stock and inventory audits; reconcile with system records and investigate variances.
• Review SOPs and internal controls; propose improvements and ensure compliance.
• Lead and mentor the Internal Audit team; allocate audits and monitor KRAs.
• Prepare concise audit reports with risks, impact and corrective actions.
• Track observations to closure; coordinate with Operations, Finance, Stores and IT.
• Identify potential fraud risks and conduct investigations as needed.
• Drive process improvements to reduce leakages and strengthen controls.

Skills

Retail Operations

Audit Leadership

Store Audits

Inventory Audits

Risk Assessment

Fraud Prevention

Education

CA / CIA / MBA – Finance

M.Com

B.Com

Job description

ROLE PURPOSE

The Manager / Senior Manager – Internal Audit will be responsible for managing and strengthening the Internal Audit function across the organization, with primary focus on retail store audits, inventory and stock controls, cash and financial processes, SOP compliance, risk identification, and loss prevention.

The role will lead the audit team, plan and execute audits across stores and business locations.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Internal Audit Planning & Execution

• Develop and execute quarterly audit plans.
• Plan and conduct audits across retail stores, warehouses, and other business locations.
• Conduct surprise audits.
• Maintain an effective audit calendar and ensure timely completion.

Retail Store Audits

• Audit key store processes including billing, cash handling, discounts, returns/refunds, void transactions, manual bills, payments, and approvals.
• Identify operational leakages, control weaknesses, policy violations, and potential revenue loss.
• Ensure adherence to approved store processes and internal controls.

Stock & Inventory Audit

• Lead physical stock audits across stores, warehouses, and inventory locations.
• Reconcile physical stock with system inventory and investigate variances.
• Review stock shortages /excesses, damages, negative inventory, transfers, and missing stock.
• Analyze stock loss trends and identify high-risk stores, categories, or processes.
• Recommend corrective and preventive measures to strengthen inventory controls.

SOP Compliance & Process Controls

• Review adherence to company SOPs, policies, approval matrices, and internal controls, Identify process gaps and recommend improvements.
• Support development and revision of SOPs for critical business processes.
• Conduct SOP compliance audits and track corrective actions.

Team Leadership

• Lead, manage, train, and mentor the Internal Audit team.
• Allocate audits and ensure optimum utilization of team resources.
• Set KRAs, monitor performance, and build audit capabilities within the team.

Audit Reporting & MIS

• Prepare concise and actionable audit reports highlighting risks, financial impact, root causes, and corrective actions.
• Prepare periodic dashboards covering audit completion, stock variances, SOP compliance, repeat observations, and pending closures.

Audit Follow-up & Closure

• Track audit observations until closure.
• Coordinate with Operations, Finance, Stores, Warehouse, IT, and other stakeholders for corrective action.

Fraud Prevention & Investigation

• Identify potential fraud and control risks relating to stock, cash, billing, discounts, refunds, and employee transactions.
• Conduct investigations into suspected financial or inventory irregularities.

Risk & Process Improvement

• Identify operational and financial risks and recommend stronger controls and Drive process improvements to reduce leakages and improve compliance.

KEY STAKEHOLDERS

Finance | Retail Operations | Store Managers | Regional/Area Managers | Warehouse & Supply Chain | Loss Prevention/Security | IT | HR | Commercial & Buying | Senior Management

EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATION

Preferred: CA / CIA / MBA – Finance / M.Com / B.Com with strong relevant experience.

Additional certification in Internal Audit, Risk Management, Fraud Investigation, or Retail Operations will be an advantage.

EXPERIENCE & REQUIREMENTS

• 8–15 years of relevant experience in Internal Audit, preferably in Retail, Fashion, FMCG etc
• 3–5 years of experience in leading an audit team.
• Strong hands-on experience in retail store audits and physical stock/inventory audits – mandatory.
• capable of independently managing multi-location audits and leading an audit team
• Strong understanding of retail operations, POS, billing, cash, inventory, returns, discounts, and loss prevention.
• Willingness to travel extensively across retail locations