Director of Internal Audit

Job Description

The successful candidate will determine, drive and manage the planning and implementation of the Group's internal audit programme.

Responsibilities

• Provide independent, objective assurance and insight to the Board, Audit and Risk Committee, Chief Executive Officer and senior management on the effectiveness of governance, risk management, internal control and compliance frameworks across the Group.
• Develop and lead a dynamic, risk-based internal audit strategy and annual audit plan aligned to the Group's strategic priorities, enterprise risk profile, Irish corporate governance expectations, regulatory environment and international operating model.
• Maintain and continuously improve the Internal Audit Charter, methodology, quality assurance programme and professional practices in line with Global Internal Audit Standards, the UK and Ireland Internal Audit Code of Practice and recognised good practice.
• Lead the delivery of high-quality assurance reviews across financial, operational, commercial, regulatory, technology, cyber, data protection, third-party, programme, sustainability, procurement and transformation risks.
• Provide clear, concise and commercially grounded reporting to executive management and Board committees, highlighting key risk themes, control weaknesses, root causes, emerging risks and agreed management actions.
• Act as a trusted adviser and constructive challenger to senior leaders, strengthening governance, accountability, control discipline and risk-informed decision making while preserving Internal Audit's independence and objectivity.
• Oversee the tracking, validation and timely closure of audit findings and management actions, escalating overdue or high-risk issues and ensuring sustainable remediation across Irish and international business units.
• Champion the use of data analytics, technology-enabled auditing and continuous risk monitoring to improve audit coverage, efficiency, insight and early identification of control trends across the Group.
• Support the assessment and investigation of significant control failures, fraud indicators, protected disclosures, whistleblowing matters and special reviews, ensuring appropriate confidentiality, independence, escalation and governance.
• Lead, develop and resource a high-performing Internal Audit function, building team capability, professional judgement, commercial awareness and technical expertise while effectively deploying internal, co-sourced and specialist audit resources.
• Collaborate effectively with management across the group on enhancement of the control environment, including through the use of AI.

Qualifications

Experience

• Significant senior-level internal audit, assurance, risk or controls experience, typically gained over 10+ years, with a strong track record of leading risk-based internal audit activity in a complex organisation.
• Proven experience operating at Director of Internal Audit, senior internal audit manager, Head of or equivalent level, with responsibility for audit strategy, annual audit planning, audit delivery, quality assurance and management action tracking.
• Demonstrable experience reporting to and engaging with Boards, Audit and Risk Committees, Chief Executive Officers, executive leadership teams, external auditors and other senior assurance stakeholders.
• Strong understanding of Irish corporate governance, risk management, internal control and assurance expectations, with experience in an Irish-headquartered, Irish-regulated, semi-state, infrastructure, financial services or similarly complex environment desirable.
• Experience leading assurance across a broad risk agenda, including financial, operational, regulatory, technology, cyber, data protection, third-party, programme, transformation, procurement and sustainability risks.
• Experience leading, developing and resourcing internal audit teams, including the effective use of co-sourced or specialist audit providers where required.
• Relevant professional qualification required, such as ACA, ACCA, CPA, CIMA, CIA or equivalent, with membership of a recognised professional body.
• Additional specialist qualifications or certifications such as CIA, CISA, CFE, CRMA, data analytics or technology risk credentials would be advantageous.

Skills

• Strategic internal audit leadership, with the ability to set direction, prioritise material risks and deliver a high-quality, risk-based assurance plan across a complex Group environment.
• Strong technical knowledge of internal audit, governance, risk management, internal control and assurance standards, including expectations relevant to an Irish-headquartered organisation.
• Excellent judgement, independence and professional scepticism, with the confidence to provide constructive challenge to senior leaders while maintaining trusted relationships.
• Highly effective stakeholder management and influencing skills, including the ability to engage credibly with the Board, Audit and Risk Committee, Chief Executive Officer, executive team, regulators and external auditors.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capability, with the ability to identify root causes, assess control effectiveness and translate complex findings into clear, actionable recommendations.
• Capability to use data analytics, technology-enabled auditing and continuous monitoring to strengthen audit insight, coverage and efficiency.
• Excellent written, verbal and presentation skills, with the ability to produce concise, Board-level reporting on risk themes, control issues and management actions.
• Strong people leadership and team development skills, with the ability to build capability, manage performance and effectively deploy internal, co-sourced and specialist audit resources.

Formal Education Qualifications

• Qualified Accountant - ACA, ACCA, CPA or equivalent
• Degree in business or finance and accounting
• Qualified Accountant - ACA, ACCA, CPA or equivalent
• Member of the Chartered Institute of Internal Auditors