Assurance – External Audit Director (Banking) – Riyadh, KSA

PwC Middle East; Riyadh; On-site; SAR 300,000 - 400,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading professional services firm in Riyadh is looking for an Audit Director. This role involves managing the complete cycle of audit assignments and maintaining client relations with senior management. The ideal candidate has over 10 years of experience in external financial audit, preferably with banking clients, and holds a recognized professional qualification. A competitive salary and comprehensive benefits are offered for this pivotal role in the Assurance practice.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Comprehensive benefits

Continuous learning and professional development

Qualifications

• Minimum of 10+ years of professional experience in external financial audit in one of the Big Four.
• Experience in auditing banking clients is a must.
• Strong project management skills and experience managing an audit from planning to completion.

Responsibilities

• Lead audit engagements and manage client relations with senior management.
• Identify market gaps and ensure compliance with risk and quality matters.
• Conduct training sessions and mentor team members.

Skills

Audit management

Client relations

Project management

Bilingual proficiency in Arabic and English

Interpersonal skills

Education

Degree in accounting, finance or related field

ACCA, CA, ACA, CPA qualification

Tools

Data analytics tools

Job description

Established in the region for 40 years, PwC has around 12,000 people in 12 countries across the region: Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Oman, the Palestinian territories, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Our regional team operates across the Middle East bringing international experience delivered within the context of the region and its culture. We can bring the collective knowledge and experience of more than 370,000 people across the entire global PwC network in advisory, assurance and tax to help you find the value you are looking for.

About Us

With offices in 152 countries and nearly 328,000 professionals, we are one of the world’s leading professional services networks, helping organisations and individuals create lasting value through Assurance, Tax and Advisory services. For over 40 years, we have contributed to the Middle East’s transformation journey, partnering with governments and businesses to deliver sustainable solutions. Today, more than 12,000 of us across Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE are shaping the region’s future.

Line of Service Overview

Our Middle East Assurance practice includes over 2,300 people based in 12 countries across the region and is part of PwC’s global network that is operating worldwide. PwC Middle East’s Assurance practice combines the right mix of human‑led and tech‑powered solutions to provide our clients with quality audits and other risk services that create confidence and impact in our region and across society.

Business Unit Overview

Core Assurance is a cornerstone of our Assurance practice, focused on delivering high‑quality audits that build trust and drive sustained outcomes.

Our teams apply deep technical expertise and leverage advanced digital tools to provide independent assurance over financial reporting. Through a human‑led, tech‑powered approach, we help clients meet regulatory requirements, enhance transparency and strengthen stakeholder confidence, creating impact across industries and society.

How You’ll Contribute

As an Audit Director, you will be in charge of an iconic client portfolio and you will be responsible for managing the full cycle of your audit assignments. You’ll work as part of a team of problem solvers, helping to solve complex business issues from strategy to execution. Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• You will be responsible for the overall delivery of the audit engagement that you will be leading.
• Driving and taking ownership for developing connections that help deliver what is best for our people and stakeholders.
• Managing client relations with senior management, including delivering presentations and pitches to the board of directors, audit committees and prospective clients.
• You will oversee the completion of engagements, provide support and training on technical issues and methodologies, negotiate fees and adhere to budget and engagement deadlines.
• Identifying market gaps and spotting opportunities in Assurance and cross‑selling opportunities for the other lines of service, in order to create value propositions that meet the needs of clients.
• Ensuring compliance with risk, quality and independence matters.
• Arranging and sponsoring appropriate assignments and experiences to help people realise their potential and support their long‑term aspirations.
• Looking for opportunities to scale efficiencies and new ways of working across multiple projects and environments.
• Assisting partners in managing the economics of their portfolio by monitoring budgets and following up on billing, collection and profitability.
• Participating in the recruitment process for interviewing and selecting the most competent candidates, as per PwC hiring standards.
• Embracing our Middle East people initiatives such as the flexibility framework and employee well‑being, and many others, while assisting partners in executing our action plans against periodic people‑feedback surveys.
• Cultivating an environment where people and technology thrive together to accomplish more than they could apart.
• Taking part in people development by delivering training sessions to the team based on the L&D curriculum.
• Being responsible for coaching, mentoring and developing team members reporting to you.
• Promoting and encouraging others to value differences when working in diverse teams.

What You’ll Bring

You are ambitious and get use of opportunities to grow and develop. In addition, you recognise yourself in the following characteristics:

• A degree in accounting, finance or other related academic major.
• Minimum of 10+ years of professional experience in external financial audit in one of the Big Four.
• Completed a recognised professional qualification such as ACCA, CA, ACA, CPA.
• Experience in auditing banking clients is a must.
• Excellent communication, presentation and interpersonal skills that allow you to thrive in a team environment.
• Bilingual proficiency in Arabic and English (oral and written) is a plus.
• Applying the International Standards on Auditing (ISAs) on the external audit of financial services with profound IFRS knowledge relevant to the financial services practice such as IFRS 9, IFRS 17 and financial services regulations.
• Strong project management skills and experience managing an audit from planning to completion.
• Confidence in challenging yourself and others to complete high‑quality testing and documentation.
• Ability to establish and nurture positive relationships across all levels – both internally and externally.
• Driving innovative thinking and supporting others through change and uncertainty to overcome hurdles.
• Experience encouraging a team environment that promotes collaboration and constructive challenge, and has demonstrated the ability to act quickly to resolve team issues and questions.
• Taking pride in your work and in the audit profession, showing resilience and demonstrating dedication to self‑development, including being agile and innovative in the digital world.
• Promoting and encouraging others to value differences when working in diverse teams.
• Knowledge in any audit technologies, and experience using data analytics tools.

How You’ll Make a Difference

At PwC Middle East, we expect all our people to embody the skills and behaviours of The PwC Professional framework, helping us deliver on our strategy while growing and developing as leaders at every level.

Why You’ll Love Working at PwC

At PwC Middle East, you’ll find more than just a job – you’ll build a meaningful career, supported by rewards and benefits that help you thrive. We offer competitive pay, comprehensive benefits and programs that promote well‑being, balance and personal growth. You’ll have access to continuous learning, digital upskilling and a collaborative environment that values innovation, mentorship and diversity. Are you ready to make a difference? Want to unlock new value by applying your unique perspective and talents? You can grow exponentially here. Discover more about Life at PwC Middle East.

Tagged as: Assurance, Director