Country Head of Audit at Citi

JOB DESCRIPTION

• The Head of Audit South Africa (HoA SA) leads Citi IA’s risk based audit approach for South Africa to provide timely, complete, high quality and forward looking assurance over the culture, ethical conduct, governance, risk management and control framework. Proactively manages IA’s relationships with key stakeholders, including the subsidiary Boards, Audit Committees, CCO’s, senior management and regulators. Establishes IA as a trusted function whose views are valued and respected. Owns the IA brand within the South African Franchise and the marketplace, acts as a thought leader and drives the quest to be acknowledged as a competitive advantage, impactful and relevant. Ultimately, this role helps ensure there are no material corporate surprises and that the South African Franchise manages current and future risks in line with the successful achievement of strategic business plans, whilst operating within all applicable regulatory and legal requirements. The role reports to the Middle East & Africa Audit Director.

HEAD OF AUDIT – SOUTH AFRICA: 

• The HoA SA will assume responsibility for all IA Head of Audit Governance & Oversight requirements related to South Africa and will support the MEA Audit Director in the delivery of assigned Country Audits in the EMEA Region.

MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA IA SENIOR MANAGEMENT TEAM:

• The HoA SA is a member of the MEA Internal Audit (IA) Senior Management Team and actively contributes to maintaining Citi IA as one of the leading IA functions in the financial services industry. Key areas of focus include: audit delivery, strategy, methodology, innovation, quality control, thought leadership and human capital management. 

EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT: 

• Proactively interacts with executive management to provide credible challenge and positively influence the culture, ethical conduct, governance, risk management and control frameworks in the South African Franchise. Escalates significant issues on a timely basis, including the adequacy of corrective action. Contributes to the articulation and assessment of emerging risks and issues across the business, engages with the executive management and provides input to strategic dialogues.

OVERALL IA VIEW AND AUDIT COVERAGE: 

• Maintains an understanding of the industry, market, legal and regulatory requirements, Citi business activities and material developments to ensure IA activity in the South African Franchise is sufficient and relevant to delivering timely assurance over material risks and business areas. Helps orchestrate consistent high quality IA activity across the IA teams in the MEA sub-cluster.  
• Responsible to oversee the delivery of high quality, value-added multiple concurrent audits on time and to specification. Ensures the delivery of audit reports that are complete, insightful, timely, error free and concise. Ensures timely delivery of high-quality comprehensive regulatory and internal audit issue validation, and where determined appropriate issue validation on other remediation actions.

REGULATORY RELATIONSHIPS: 

• Manages IA’s regulatory relationships in South Africa resulting in constructive 2-way dialogue, trust in the IA function and general reliance being placed on IA’s audit work. Meets specific regulatory requirements relating to IA whilst following the standard IA coverage model to the greatest extent possible. 

RISK AND COMPLIANCE MANAGEMENT: 

• Appropriately assess risk when business decisions are made, demonstrating particular consideration for the firm's reputation and safeguarding Citigroup, its clients and assets, by driving compliance with applicable laws, rules and regulations, adhering to Policy, applying sound ethical judgment regarding personal behavior, conduct and business practices, and escalating, managing and reporting control issues with transparency, as well as effectively supervise the activity of others and create accountability with those who fail to maintain these standards.

QAULIFICATIONS:

• Candidates should have approximately 10 years of progressive business, audit, accountancy or other broad relevant experience, preferably including the South African/Sub Saharan market and regulatory environment.   International experience is preferred. H/She should have thorough knowledge of operations and control systems as well as an understanding of best-in-class audit methodologies. H/She must be proficient in risk and control analysis and audit concepts for a full range of products and specialized areas and will be skilled at analyzing root causes of problems and anticipating ‘horizon’ issues. 
• Executive presence and expert in building and maintaining strong open relationships with executive stakeholders, working as a partner and exerting influence in a constructive manner.  
• Advanced understanding of culture, ethical conduct, governance, risk management and control frameworks in leading international organizations.
• Ability to quickly comprehend the true risks of complex global issues, escalate to the appropriate level and provide advice on pragmatic commercial solutions. 
• Outstanding performer, open minded, resilient, agile, energetic, self-starter, articulate and empathetic whilst being confident to deliver opinions to bring about positive outcomes
• Strong leadership skills including a track record of identifying and developing world class talent. Experienced in leading large dispersed professional teams.
• Educated to degree level and holder of a relevant professional qualification (e.g. CA, CPA, ACA or CIA).
• Candidates must have effective negotiation skills, a proactive and 'no surprises' approach in communicating audit results and strength in sustaining independent views. Strong presentation and relationship management skills are essential. This individual must be an articulate and effective communicator, both orally and in writing, with an energetic, charismatic and approachable style. Candidates must have effective persuasion skills, the ability to work effectively at the highest levels of the organization, and will display highly effective networking and influencing skills. This person will be comfortable acting as an agent for positive change with agility and flexibility.
• This individual will have proven experience in leading and in influencing geographically dispersed teams of world-class professionals. Their experience will have been in highly respected diversified institutions with complex and diverse products and customers. H/She will have shown solid career progression within these well respected institutions and proven experience in a role with enterprise-wide scope

EDUCATION:

• Bachelor’s/University degree, Master’s degree preferred