Senior Internal Auditor - Financial Systems
Hertfordshire (Full-Time Hybrid - 3 days in office)
£65,000 - £75,000 + Benefits Package
This is a newly created role that will focus on supporting the development of the overall effectiveness of the financial systems and operational internal control framework across this highly successful group. Implement and evaluate the control and design effectiveness, advise the business on remediation of control failures and monitor the line of defense to minimize risk exposure. The role represents a great opportunity to grow, help build an internal control function, support the business with risk assessments, mitigation strategy, monitor, report and advice to the business on remediation plans. Assistance in ad hoc projects, strategic developments and other finance related projects driven by the growth of the business.
You'll liaise with stakeholders across the business to build end to end process knowledge and evaluate the controls required. Ultimately, you will be improving reliability of the financial reporting and control environment.
As a qualified Accountant as you will become the Subject Matter Expert (SME) on core financial and operational systems as a key member of the Finance and Controls team. You will be responsible for the advancement of the controls roadmap and implementation of additional requirements arising from the regulatory landscape.
What we are looking for
- ACA, ACCA, CISA or equivalent qualification is required.
- Ideally from and Audit / Practice background but will consider people with significant experience of financial systems controls from commerce.
- You'll require excellent interpersonal and presentation skills as you will be expected to present to management, auditors and non-accounting stakeholders so you'll need to easily adapt your communication style.
- Experience performing IT audits is not essential but would be a bonus.
- Experience of assessing financial control either through audit engagements or from roles working in industry.
- Desire to assess and challenge effectiveness and optimise financial systems to drive change
- Experience of COSO frameworks or SOX an advantageous
Key Responsibilities
- Perform a review and oversight of financial and operational controls, coordination of testing, root cause analysis, control design, and examining key metrics to evaluate the effectiveness of established internal controls.
- Liaise closely with the financial reporting team to drive continuous improvement and implement a strong controls culture.
- Understand the impact of operational/system changes to procedures and core systems, assessing the accounting and control implications of proposed system changes
- Participate in scoping activities to identify key risk areas for audit.
- Where appropriate, design tailored procedures and execute audit projects in an efficient manner.
- Own the communication of audit findings and recommendations to members of the leadership team.
- Perform controls testing and substantive audit work to a standard that may be relied upon by the external auditors for the statutory financial audit.
- Understand the interaction/impact of subsidiary systems on accounting systems to ensure system integrity
- Understand all relevant controls and make suggestions on developments and improvements
- Be one of the key points of contact for External Auditors for process and financial system overviews, ensuring any audit impact is identified, evaluated and agreed
- Serve as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) of internal financial systems controls.
- Help implement the strategy for internal control
- Identify opportunities to improve and strengthen the control environment.
- Advise senior management on the status of their control environment and escalate issues and findings to appropriate stakeholders
- Working with process owners to prepare and update process documentation, ensuring that key financial reporting controls across the business are identified and documented.
- Establish financial controls design improvement and training to embed improved processes and controls.
- Work closely with the wider business to promote control awareness and accountability and provide input into business processes.
- Ongoing maintenance and monitoring of Financial Controls Framework and adherence to policies.
- Inputting into the vision for future development of the financial control environment alongside increasing automation
- Ad hoc projects to drive improvements to accounting and reporting processes that support the growth of the business
- Develop strong business partnerships with key stakeholders remaining embedded in the business and coordinating any required trainings to ensure compliance requirements are known and understood.
- Liaise with the internal and external audit teams to align on audit plan and discuss any new expectations or changes in approach, advocating on behalf of the business where needed.
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