Group Head of Internal Audit
HSA Group
Total years of experience :14 years, 8 Months
Spearheaded high-performance regional internal audit teams across the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and South-East Asia in driving group internal audit strategy and operations, governance structure, internal controls, and risk management. Reported periodic progress to the Group Chairman and the Board.
Key Achievements:
▪ Devised appropriate policies and procedures to guide the internal audit (IA) function and a risk-based audit plan to set out priorities of the audit function, consistent with the organizational objectives.
▪ Empowered Country IA teams in the planning, organizing, conducting, and monitoring of overall IA operations.
▪ Created KPIs of HSA Corporate Audit Function in alignment with overall KPIs and KPIs of Country Audit Heads in consultation with Country MDs respectively.
▪ Performed corporate audits of each SBU and coordinated individual audits of various companies in the SBUs.
▪ Oversaw timely completion of internal audit engagements, production of audit reports including corrective action plans, in case of violations, for the SBUs.
▪ Determined key risks to the overall HSA group in cooperation with corporate functions and provided suggestions for risk mitigation.
▪ Conducted audits during mergers and acquisitions and facilitated the finance function with the due diligence exercise of the target company.
▪ Led special investigations at the directive of the Group Chairman and/or the HSA board and committees.
▪ Directed hiring, training, and development of human resources in the IA function (direct reports) based on requirement and performance following corporate HR policies and local laws.
▪ Supervised the execution of overall talent and staff development plans in the IA function including learning development, career management and competency development.
▪ Engaged effectively with the Group Executive Management Team, Audit Committee, and the Board, ensuring adequate audit coverage aligned with Group organizational goals, long term, and short-term IA plans.
▪ Undertook special projects and advisory services as requested by Board, Group Chairman, Audit Committee, and Group Executive Management.
▪ Influenced Group Chairman and other Group Executive Management in delivering effective solutions and encouraging appropriate corrective actions.
▪ Embedded latest developments and new ideas related to governance, risk management, and internal controls into practice where appropriate.
▪ Created a control self-assessment framework for greater transparency and risk/control ownership as well as a quality improvement program that is part of the IA activity, elements of the program include benchmarking of best practices, motivating, and training staff.
▪ Advanced importance of control awareness in all aspects of the Group through regular training, coaching and mentorship of IA staff.
▪ Maintained compliance with international standards for the Professional Practice of Internal Auditing (IPPF), group policies and procedures, applicable laws and regulations.
▪ Partnered with other internal and external providers of assurance and consulting activities to ensure proper coverage and minimize duplication of effort.
▪ Monitored appropriate professional qualifications and skills for Internal Auditors, and opportunities for sufficient training and development to maintain and develop internal auditing competence and to obtain Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) certification.
Headed development of a new Group Internal Audit function from scratch, including vision, mission, values and strategic planning framework, with responsibility for internal auditing throughout SNS Group locations at KSA, UAE, Iran, Pakistan, Oman, and Algeria.
Key Achievements:
▪ Managed creation and implementation of a new integrated audit methodology including best practice quality assurance framework and training.
▪ Utilized flexible interim resource model to perform urgent or critical audit assignments before full team capacity, including strategic audits, operational reviews, and process design reviews.
▪ Established and executed a new group-wide risk management process and organized various risk and control workshops.
▪ Initiated practices of “Integrated Assurance” across discrete Business Units to leverage potential cost-saving synergies.
▪ Built an innovating auditing excellence culture within the global function underpinned by the quality assurance and training program.
▪ Encouraged the business partner mindset and behaviour throughout the global audit function enabling proactive stakeholder engagement and alignment