Head of Audit Governance & Quality Assurance

National Bank of Oman; Muscat; On-site; OMR 15,000 - 20,000; Full time

Job summary

National Bank of Oman is seeking a Quality Assurance Reviewer based in Muscat to oversee audit quality standards. This role requires conducting comprehensive reviews to ensure adherence to internal standards and facilitating management communications. Candidates should possess an undergraduate degree in a relevant field and a CIA designation. Strong verbal and written communication skills are essential.

The ideal applicant will have over 6 years of experience in audit roles, with preference given to those from Big 4 firms or banking backgrounds.

Qualifications

• 6+ years of public accounting or private industry experience in internal audit and risk management.
• Experience in Big 4 firms or banking is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Conduct independent reviews of the audit process to ensure documentation adequacy.
• Set up and improve QA activities to evaluate compliance with internal policies.
• Lead the Quality Assurance Review Team and manage daily objectives.
• Follow up to close audit observations within target dates.

Skills

Quality assurance processes

Internal audit methodology

Communication skills

Education

Undergraduate degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration or related field

CIA designation or Internal Audit Practitioner

Job description

Job Purpose

To conduct independent reviews of the audit process undertaken to ensure whether the objective scope and the extent of coverage is adequately documented under the various stages of audit.

Key Tasks & Duties

• Set-up Quality Assurance (QA) activities.
• Execute and improve robust quality assurance reviews that, taken together, contribute to the overall evaluation of Audit Services’ conformance with internal policies and procedures as well as the Standards of the Institute of Internal Auditors and supervisory expectations. Such reviews collectively evaluate all aspects of the internal audit program. Among other things, this includes: (i) Planning review engagements in line with Audit Services’ quality assurance methodology and approach, (ii) execute review engagements, including the gathering of sufficient, competent evidence and compilation of high-quality work papers to document work performed and conclusions reached, communicate with review participants to create transparency and understanding related to the quality assurance review process, (iii) communicate results of review engagements, including making recommendations related to review opinions and the basis for such recommendations and review issues.
• Lead the Quality Assurance Review Team.
• Follow-up to close audit observations within agreed target dates.
• Provide overall direction and day-to-day management to accomplishment of work objectives, and coach, develop and evaluate team members.
• Lead and/or support special/ regulated audit assignments.
• Access a network of audit professionals at other financial institutions, public accounting firms, and/or professional associations to enable (i) monitoring of trends and developments in banking, financial services, internal audit practice, and supervisory expectations; (ii) identification of potential enhancements in internal audit practices, processes, and methodologies; and (iii) benchmarking comparisons of Audit Services’ performance. Integrate enhancements into professional development programs, the quality assurance review program and the audit process.
• Operate within departmental and bank budget and expense guidelines.

Qualification

• Undergraduate degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration or related field.
• CIA designation or at least Internal Audit Practitioner.

Experience

• 6+ years of public accounting and/or private industry experience with knowledge of internal control areas, internal audit, risk management and operational improvement.
• Prior Experience in Big 4 and Banking is a plus.

Additional skills required

• Strong verbal and written communication skills, to effectively present to peers and management.