Assistant Internal Auditor Manager

Network Finance; Gauteng; On-site; ZAR 700,000 - 1,100,000; Full time

Job summary

Network Finance in Johannesburg is seeking an experienced Assistant Internal Audit Manager to lead internal audit and risk advisory engagements from planning to completion, working with senior stakeholders across diverse industries.

The role emphasizes client relationships, business development and people leadership, with opportunities to expand the practice and shape its risk assurance services.

Qualifications

• Honours degree in Finance, Business, Auditing, Risk Management or related field.
• CIA mandatory.
• CA(SA) or other relevant certification advantageous.
• Master's degree advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Lead internal audit, risk assurance and advisory engagements from planning through to completion.
• Independently manage audit engagements, ensuring quality, timelines and budgets.
• Review audit working papers and financial reporting documentation.
• Resolve complex auditing, accounting and risk matters.
• Evaluate key risks and controls and provide practical, risk-based recommendations.
• Review engagement outputs and ensure high-quality reporting.
• Maintain strong engagement governance and profitability.
• Act as a key point of contact throughout client engagements.
• Build and maintain trusted relationships with senior client stakeholders.
• Engage confidently with business owners and executives.
• Contribute to business development and revenue-generation initiatives.
• Support strong client retention and long-term relationship development.
• Lead, coach and mentor audit and risk assurance professionals.
• Conduct performance management and support talent development.
• Assist with recruitment and training initiatives.
• Develop future leaders within the team.
• Share technical knowledge and best practices.
• Contribute to strengthening and expanding the risk assurance and advisory practice.

Skills

Audit leadership

Client relations

Communication

Commercial acumen

People leadership

Education

Honours Degree

CIA

CA(SA) advantageous

Master's Degree advantageous

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Audit management software

Risk management tools

Financial reporting systems

Job description

Company and Job Description:

A growing professional services firm specialising in risk assurance, internal audit and advisory services is looking for an experienced Assistant Internal Audit Manager to join its Johannesburg-based team.

This is an opportunity for an experienced audit professional who enjoys the variety of consulting, working with different clients and industries, and taking ownership of engagements from planning through to completion.

The successful candidate will operate in a highly professional, entrepreneurial environment where technical credibility, client relationships, commercial awareness and leadership are equally important.

This is not simply an audit delivery role. You will have the opportunity to work directly with senior stakeholders, identify opportunities to expand client relationships, contribute to business development and play an active role in developing the broader risk assurance and advisory practice.

Key Responsibilities:

Audit & Advisory Engagement Leadership

• Lead internal audit, risk assurance and advisory engagements from planning through to completion
• Independently manage audit engagements, ensuring quality, timelines and budgets are achieved
• Review audit working papers and financial reporting documentation
• Resolve complex auditing, accounting and risk matters
• Evaluate key risks and controls and provide practical, risk-based recommendations
• Review engagement outputs and ensure high-quality reporting
• Maintain strong engagement governance and profitability

Client Relationship & Business Development

• Act as a key point of contact throughout client engagements
• Build and maintain trusted relationships with senior client stakeholders
• Engage confidently with business owners, managing directors, executives and other senior stakeholders
• Understand client needs and identify opportunities to provide additional advisory services
• Contribute to business development and revenue-generation initiatives
• Support strong client retention and long-term relationship development

Team Leadership & Practice Development

• Lead, coach and mentor audit and risk assurance professionals
• Conduct performance management and support talent development
• Assist with recruitment and training initiatives
• Develop future leaders within the team
• Share technical knowledge and best practices
• Contribute to strengthening and expanding the risk assurance and advisory practice

Job Experience and Skills Required:

Qualification:

• Honours Degree in Finance, Business, Auditing, Risk Management or a related field - non‑negotiable
• CIA - mandatory
• CA(SA) or other relevant professional certification advantageous
• Master's Degree advantageous

Experience:

• Minimum 7-10 years' relevant experience
• Strong internal audit and risk management experience
• Minimum 2-3 years' leadership or management experience
• Proven experience independently managing audit engagements
• Strong client relationship management experience
• Consulting and advisory experience essential
• Business development exposure highly advantageous
• Experience across multiple sectors and industries advantageous

Technical Skills:

• Internal Audit
• Risk Assurance
• Risk Management
• Advisory
• Audit engagement management
• Audit reporting
• Microsoft Office Suite
• Audit management software
• Risk management tools
• Financial reporting systems

The Ideal Candidate:

You will thrive in this role if you are:

• A confident, commercially minded audit professional
• Comfortable engaging with executives and senior stakeholders
• A strong communicator who can translate technical findings into practical business recommendations
• Entrepreneurial and commercially aware
• Able to manage multiple engagements and competing priorities
• A natural leader who enjoys developing people
• Curious, analytical and solutions‑focused
• Comfortable working independently and taking ownership
• Motivated by clear career progression and professional development
• Interested in consulting rather than remaining within a traditional internal audit environment

Why consider this opportunity?

• Senior client-facing leadership opportunity
• Significant autonomy and ownership
• Exposure to multiple industries and sectors
• Direct interaction with senior executives
• Opportunity to influence strategic client decisions
• Business development and revenue‑generation exposure
• Opportunity to contribute to the growth of a consulting practice
• Strong coaching, mentorship and leadership opportunities
• Opportunity to build and develop future leaders

This is particularly suited to an internal audit professional who has a consulting background and is ready to take the next step into a leadership role combining audit delivery, advisory, client management, business development and people leadership.