Internal Audit Manager: Integrated Reporting and Technical Support at Absa Group Limited (Absa)

Job Summary

• To plan, execute and manage audit assignments in accordance with the country and Group Audit plan and relevant policies, procedures and quality standards. The Audit Manager is responsible for the quality of the audit work performed and the efficiency and effectiveness of the audit team.

Key Responsibilities will further include

• Keep the Audit team up to date on key accounting, audit standards, regulations, legislation and policies relating to the financial reporting
• Develop and maintain relationships with the stakeholders by attending continuous stakeholder meetings including Financial Reporting Risk Committee. In addition, engage closely with stakeholders during assignments and encourage open discussion and interaction with business on the risks associated in their environment.
• Attend forums of stakeholder (e.g. Financial Reporting Risk Committees) and other assurance providers (i.e. 2LOD) and share information on changes and new developments in the audit methodology.
• Provide the Audit team with write-ups on key risk assessments and risk profile for the Finance function 
• Assist the Audit team with the validation of audit issues.
• Support the Audit team in the identification of risks to be tested by participating in audit planning sessions.
• Serve as a technical IFRS expert and resource to IA finance team
• Develop an in-depth knowledge of the audit methodology, by attending training sessions and using knowledge gained during audits, use this proactively in executing audit activities.
• Integrate best practices and systems into the audit programs on integrated assurance 
• Together with the IA team provide assurance over ABSA Group’s Integrated Report
• Improve technical knowledge through self-learning, external workshops or training for professional qualification.

Job Description

Audit Planning

• Participate in the 6+6 audit planning cycle; provide input by taking into account the risk and control profile, business strategy and material risks affecting the business.

Assurance

• Plan the delivery of assigned audits to a high quality and in line with Key Performance Indicators as per the methodology. This will include adequate resourcing scheduling, meeting key deliverables in terms of audit timelines and review of audit work to confirm that the minimum requirements as per methodology are met.
• Manage the execution of Design Effectiveness Testing (DEA) and Operational Effectiveness Testing (OET) of the audit team in line with methodology requirements and as per the requirements of the QA scorecard.
• Ensure audits and issues assurance within Key Performance timelines and resource budget

Leadership and Management

• Mentor and coach less experienced team members by providing guidance around the methodology and audit process, and manage the teams that assigned to the audit effectively by delegating audit work to empower each individual team member
• Develop a high performing team by embedding formal performance development and informal coaching. Encourage frequent knowledge sharing between team members

Teamwork

• Support IA management team to identify, attract, develop and retain talent on an ongoing basis.
• Engage proactively with Internal Audit colleagues during assignments and request technical assistance where required and based on knowledge of business areas, provide guidance to other auditors and peers by sharing best practice so that their work meets and sometimes exceeds quality standards.

Relationship Management

• Present effectively at stakeholder meetings and forums (e.g.: Risk and Governance Forums etc.) by sharing knowledge and information, including methodology, standards, changes and new developments, with business stakeholders on an ongoing basis, and develop and maintain relationships with accountable stakeholder management on each audit.
• Build effective relationships with CoE counterparts and fully engage them during audit reporting

Reporting

• Use business knowledge to assess evolving risks, write high quality reports with observations which are insightful, address the root cause, have agreed actions that fully mitigate the risk, support the Issues Assurance process and require no further audit work to support them

Knowledge Management

• Keep the Audit team up to date on key accounting, audit standards, regulations, legislation and policies relating to the financial reporting
• Develop and maintain relationships with the stakeholders by attending continuous stakeholder meetings including Financial Reporting Risk Committee. In addition, engage closely with stakeholders during assignments and encourage open discussion and interaction with business on the risks associated in their environment.
• Attend forums of stakeholder (e.g. Financial Reporting Risk Committees) and other assurance providers (i.e. 2LOD) and share information on changes and new developments in the audit methodology.
• Support the Audit team in the identification of risks to be tested by participating in audit planning sessions.
• Serve as a technical IFRS expert and resource to IA finance team
• Develop an in-depth knowledge of the audit methodology, by attending training sessions and using knowledge gained during audits, use this proactively in executing audit activities.
• Integrate best practices and systems into the audit programs on integrated assurance
• Together with the IA team provide assurance over ABSA Group’s Integrated Report
• Improve technical knowledge through self-learning, external workshops or training for professional qualification.

Experience:

• Risk management experience with a focus on financial and non-financial reporting
• Technical Accounting reporting role
• Review of annual financial statements and integrated reports
• Big 4 audit firm experience is a plus
• Having experience with the Integrated Reporting process directly or may have audited the process

Competencies

• Deciding and initiating action
• Learning and researching
• Entrepreneurial and commercial thinking
• Relating and networking
• Adapting and responding to change
• Persuading and influencing
• Creating and innovating  

Minimum Requirements

• CA(SA)
• Post Graduate Degree in Integrated Reporting
• 3-5 years’ experience as a Chartered Accountant, of which a minimum of 3 years must be post-articles experience in a Technical Accounting reporting role
• Financial Services experience advantageous
• Experience in sustainability reporting/assurance

Education

• Bachelor`s Degrees and Advanced Diplomas: Business, Commerce and Management Studies (Required)