AVP/VP, Specialist, Audit Quality Assurance & Improvement Program (QAIP), Group Audit

DBS Bank Ltd; Singapore; On-site; SGD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

DBS Bank Ltd in Singapore seeks an AVP/VP to lead Group Audit Quality Assurance and Improvement Program (QAIP). You will independently assess audit quality and ensure compliance with IIA standards, internal methodologies, and regulatory expectations.

You will coach teams, track deficiencies, prepare QAIP reports, and support external reviews while preserving independence. Strong communication to senior stakeholders and ability to challenge audit teams under pressure are essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in a relevant discipline.
• CIA/CPA/CA/CISA/CRMA certifications are highly advantageous.
• 7–10 years of progressive experience in internal audit, quality assurance, risk and control, governance, compliance, or financial services assurance.
• Strong knowledge of IIA standards, audit lifecycle management, work-paper quality, evidence standards.
• Excellent written and spoken communication with senior stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead internal quality assessments and audit lifecycle reviews to ensure rigorous compliance with Group Audit methodology and regulatory expectations.
• Provide independent challenge on audit workpapers, testing depth, and root cause analysis.
• Prepare QAIP reports, thematic findings, quality ratings, and improvement recommendations for stakeholders.
• Proactively track QAIP deficiencies and remediation actions.
• Coach and develop audit teams while preserving QAIP independence.
• Coordinate external quality assessments and evidence management.
• Identify recurring quality themes and suggest process or training improvements.
• Escalate unresolved quality disputes through governance channels.

Skills

QAIP knowledge

Audit quality

Regulatory knowledge

Stakeholder management

Independent/challenge

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher

Job description

Business Function DBS Group Audit COO Office enables Group Audit through transformation, risk and regulatory oversight, methodology governance, quality assurance and reporting.

Role Purpose This role significantly contributes to the Group Audit Quality Assurance and Improvement Program (QAIP) by independently assessing the quality and effectiveness of internal audit activities. This role ensures audit work complies with established internal and external standards, regulatory expectations, and internal methodologies. The AVP/VP will proactively identify areas for improvement in audit practices and documentation, contributing to the overall strength and continuous enhancement of the internal audit function.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead Quality Assessments: Independently conduct and lead internal quality assessments and comprehensive audit lifecycle reviews (planning, fieldwork, reporting, and closure) to ensure rigorous compliance with Group Audit methodology, IIA Global Internal Audit Standards, and regulatory expectations.
• Provide Independent Challenge: Critically review audit workpapers and documentation, providing independent challenge on audit quality, including testing depth, evidence sufficiency, clarity of issue articulation, root cause analysis, and professional skepticism.
• Reporting and Insights: Prepare concise QAIP reports, thematic findings, quality ratings, and actionable improvement recommendations for various stakeholders, including the Group Audit COO, Group Chief Internal Auditor, senior management, and potentially Board-level forums.
• Deficiency Management: Proactively track QAIP deficiencies and remediation actions, driving timely closure by engaging with audit teams.
• Coaching and Development: Provide constructive feedback and coaching to audit teams to strengthen audit skills, enhance documentation quality, and ensure methodology compliance, while preserving QAIP independence.
• Support External Reviews: Coordinate and facilitate external quality assessments, including evidence collation and response management.
• Strategic Improvement: Identify recurring audit quality themes and recommend process, training, or methodology improvements, ensuring independence from methodology ownership.
• Maintain Independence: Adhere strictly to independence and segregation requirements, ensuring clear separation from methodology design, GRC enablement, and audit workflow configuration activities. Escalate any unresolved quality disputes or inappropriate pressure through agreed governance channels.
• Mentorship: Mentor and guide junior team members, fostering their development in audit quality assurance practices.

Location: DBS Asia Central Job: Audit Schedule: Regular Employee Status: Full time

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in a relevant discipline.
• Certifications such as CIA (strongly preferred), CPA, CA, CISA, or CRMA are highly advantageous.
• Minimum of 7-10 years of progressive experience in internal audit, quality assurance, risk and control, governance, compliance, or financial services assurance.
• Strong experience in QAIP, audit quality reviews, audit methodology, regulatory inspection management, or professional practices.
• Expert knowledge of IIA standards, audit lifecycle management, work-paper quality, evidence standards, issue validation, and regulatory expectations.
• Strong analytical, writing, and stakeholder management skills, with proven ability to communicate complex quality findings clearly and persuasively to senior stakeholders.
• Independent, objective, meticulous, and resilient, with a demonstrated ability to challenge senior audit teams and maintain quality standards under pressure.
• Ability to coach and provide constructive feedback to audit teams effectively while preserving QAIP independence and managing potential conflicts.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, manage multiple priorities, and contribute to strategic improvements within the QAIP framework.

About DBS

DBS is more than a bank - we're shaping the future of finance and communities. With innovation at our core and impact in our DNA, we go beyond banking to build careers, relationships, and a better world. DBS is a leading financial services group in Asia with a presence in 19 markets. Headquartered and listed in Singapore, DBS is in the three key Asian axes of growth: Greater China, Southeast Asia and South Asia. Recognised for its global leadership, DBS has been named "World's Best Bank" by Global Finance, "World's Best Bank" by Euromoney and "Global Bank of the Year" by The Banker. The bank is at the forefront of leveraging digital technology to shape the future of banking, having been named "World's Best Digital Bank" by Euromoney and the world's "Most Innovative in Digital Banking" by The Banker. In addition, DBS has been accorded the "Safest Bank in Asia" award by Global Finance for 15 consecutive years from 2009 to 2023. DBS provides a full range of services in consumer, SME and corporate banking. As a bank born and bred in Asia, DBS understands the intricacies of doing business in the region's most dynamic markets and is committed to building lasting relationships with customers. With its extensive network of operations in Asia and emphasis on engaging and empowering its staff, DBS presents exciting career opportunities.