Head of Internal Audit

Salix Recruitment; Durban; Hybrid; ZAR 1,800,000 - 2,400,000; Full time

Job summary

Salix Recruitment is assisting a prominent South African insurer in Durban to appoint an experienced Head of Internal Audit. The role reports to executive governance structures and interfaces with the Audit & Risk Committee, shaping the organisation's governance, risk and internal controls framework.

This permanent Durban-based post offers a hybrid working arrangement with one day from home per week and periodic travel to Johannesburg.

Qualifications

• 8–10 years' experience within Internal Audit and/or Risk Management.
• Proven experience within the insurance or financial services sector.
• Strong understanding of regulatory and prudential environments.
• Experience operating at a senior level and engaging with executive and governance structures.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement the Board-approved risk-based internal audit strategy and plan.
• Align audit coverage with the ERM framework, risk appetite and material risk exposures.
• Provide independent assurance over governance, risk management and internal controls.
• Provide regulatory and prudential compliance assurance.
• Escalate material governance or control failures to the relevant governance structures.
• Ensure high-quality audit reporting with clear findings and actionable recommendations.
• Monitor remediation of audit findings.
• Work closely with Risk Management and Compliance to support a combined assurance model.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Executive engagement

Stakeholder management

Influence & challenge

Team leadership

Analytical reporting

Education

Matric

BCom Accounting

BCom Honours / CTA

CA(SA) / CIA

Job description

Join an established South African short-term insurer with a rich history, a strong transformation mandate and a genuinely people-focused culture. This is an opportunity to step into a high-impact control-function leadership role, with direct exposure to the Audit & Risk Committee and Exco, while shaping the organisation's approach to governance, risk and internal controls.

You'll have the autonomy to influence the internal audit strategy, lead a team and play a meaningful role in strengthening the organisation's governance and assurance framework, making this an ideal opportunity for an experienced Internal Audit professional looking to operate at Board and Executive level.

This is a permanent, Durban role with a hybrid working arrangement, offering 1 day working from home per week. The successful candidate will also be required to travel to Johannesburg as needed, given the Group’s national footprint and the role’s engagement with key stakeholders across the business.

The role is therefore best suited to someone who is KZN-based and comfortable with periodic travel to Johannesburg as part of their responsibilities.

Think you have what it takes?

Duties

• Developing and implementing the Board-approved risk-based internal audit strategy and plan
• Aligning audit coverage with the ERM framework, risk appetite and material risk exposures
• Providing independent assurance over governance, risk management and internal controls
• Providing regulatory and prudential compliance assurance
• Escalating material governance or control failures to the relevant governance structures
• Ensuring high-quality audit reporting with clear findings and actionable recommendations
• Monitoring the remediation of audit findings
• Working closely with Risk Management and Compliance to support a combined assurance model

Job Experience & Skills Required

Qualifications

• Matric (Grade 12)
• BCom Accounting
• BCom Honours / CTA
• CA(SA) / CIA

Experience

• 8–10 years' experience within Internal Audit and/or Risk Management
• Proven experience within the insurance or financial services sector
• Strong understanding of regulatory and prudential environments
• Experience operating at a senior level and engaging with executive and governance structures

Skills & Competencies

• Strategic Internal Audit Leadership
• Risk-Based Thinking
• Governance & Regulatory Expertise
• Insurance / Financial Services Acumen
• Board & Audit Committee Engagement
• Strong Independent Judgement
• Executive Stakeholder Management
• Ability to Challenge & Influence
• Team Leadership
• Strong Analytical & Reporting Capability

If you have not had any response in two weeks, please consider the vacancy application unsuccessful. Your profile will be kept on our database for any other suitable roles / positions.