Director, External Audit

OSPREY INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE LLP; Kuwait; On-site; KWD 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Corporate benefits

Senior-level exposure

Leadership opportunities

Job summary

OSPREY INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE LLP in Kuwait is seeking a Director External Audit to lead major engagements from planning to completion. You will oversee teams, manage senior client relationships, ensure audit quality and regulatory compliance, and contribute to growth.

The role requires extensive external audit experience, strong ISA/IFRS knowledge, and the ability to engage CEOs, CFOs, Boards, and Audit Committees with confidence. Fluency in English is mandatory; Arabic is a plus.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• CA, ACCA, CPA, or equivalent professional qualification preferred.
• Strong knowledge of ISA and IFRS.
• Experience with Kuwait regulatory and professional requirements is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead external audit engagements from planning through completion.
• Oversee audit teams and manage multiple engagements for quality, timelines and profitability.
• Ensure compliance with ISA, IFRS and Kuwait regulations and firm quality standards.
• Review work papers, financial statements, and significant accounting matters.
• Engage with CEOs, CFOs, Boards, and Audit Committees at senior levels.
• mentor and develop audit teams and allocate resources effectively.
• Identify opportunities for additional services and business development.

Skills

Leadership

Client relationships

Audit quality

Regulatory compliance

ISA & IFRS knowledge

Stakeholder management

Mentoring teams

Business development

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting/Finance

CA/ACCA/CPA or equivalent

Job description

About the Opportunity

Osprey International is hiring on behalf of one of its clients, a professional services organization based in Kuwait, for its growing Audit & Assurance practice. The organization is looking for experienced and commercially oriented audit professionals to lead external audit engagements, manage key client relationships, ensure audit quality and regulatory compliance, and contribute to the growth and profitability of the audit practice.

Position Summary

The Director External Audit will be responsible for leading major external audit engagements from planning through completion, overseeing audit teams, maintaining senior-level client relationships, ensuring compliance with applicable auditing and accounting standards, and supporting the firm's business development and growth objectives.

The ideal candidate should have extensive external audit experience, strong knowledge of ISA and IFRS, proven experience managing significant audit engagements and teams, and the ability to engage confidently with CEOs, CFOs, Boards, Audit Committees, and other senior stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee external audit engagements from planning through completion.
• Manage multiple audit engagements while ensuring quality, timelines, budgets, and profitability.
• Ensure compliance with International Standards on Auditing (ISA), IFRS, applicable Kuwait regulations, and firm quality standards.
• Review audit work papers, financial statements, audit reports, and significant accounting matters.
• Identify and evaluate significant audit risks and ensure appropriate audit responses.
• Manage relationships with CEOs, CFOs, Boards, Audit Committees, and senior finance stakeholders.
• Provide professional guidance on complex accounting and audit matters.
• Lead, coach, develop, and mentor audit teams.
• Review team performance and ensure appropriate allocation of resources across engagements.
• Manage engagement budgets, billing, recoveries, profitability, and deadlines.
• Monitor audit quality and ensure compliance with internal quality-control procedures.
• Identify opportunities for additional services and business development.
• Develop new client relationships and participate in proposals, tenders, and business pitches.
• Support client retention and strengthen long-term strategic relationships.
• Contribute to the firm's market presence and growth within Kuwait.
• Prepare and review engagement and business performance reports for senior management.
• Stay updated on changes in auditing standards, accounting standards, regulations, and industry developments.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• CA, ACCA, CPA, or equivalent professional qualification preferred.
• Strong technical knowledge of ISA and IFRS.
• Knowledge of applicable Kuwait regulatory and professional requirements will be an advantage.

Experience

• Minimum 10 years of relevant external audit experience.
• Proven experience leading major external audit engagements.
• Strong experience managing and developing audit teams.
• Experience working with senior client stakeholders, including CFOs, CEOs, Boards, and Audit Committees.
• Experience in business development, client acquisition, proposals, or tenders will be an advantage.
• Experience within a recognized audit / accounting / professional services firm is preferred.

Required Skills & Competencies

• Strong external audit and technical accounting knowledge.
• Excellent leadership and people-management skills.
• Strong client relationship and stakeholder-management capabilities.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Strong commercial and business-development understanding.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and negotiation skills.
• Strong engagement and project-management capabilities.
• Ability to manage multiple assignments, priorities, and deadlines.
• Strong understanding of audit quality and professional standards.
• High level of integrity, confidentiality, and professional judgment.
• Fluency in English is mandatory; Arabic is an advantage.

Key Success Measures

• Audit Quality
• Client Retention
• Revenue Growth
• New Business Development
• Engagement Profitability
• Timely Completion of Engagements
• Team Development
• Client Satisfaction

Employee Benefits

• Corporate benefits as applicable.
• Opportunity to work with an established professional services organization in Kuwait.
• Senior-level exposure to major clients and complex audit engagements.
• Leadership and business-development opportunities.
Professional and collaborative working environment.