Head of Internal Control

Role Purpose

The Head of Internal Control is responsible for the overall design, implementation, and continuous improvement of the Group’s internal control system. This role provides strategic assurance over financial reporting integrity, operational effectiveness, and regulatory compliance. As a key member of the finance leadership team, the role drives a strong control culture, oversees risk mitigation, and acts as the primary interface with the Audit Committee and external auditors.

Key Responsibilities

• Control Strategy & Framework
• Define the group‑wide internal control strategy, aligning it with the corporate risk appetite and business objectives.
• Establish and maintain a robust internal control framework based on COSO and applicable regulatory standards (SOX, IFRS, local GAAP).
• Ensure that control considerations are embedded in all major business changes, including system implementations, new product launches, and geographic expansions.
• Governance & Policy
• Own and periodically update the Group’s Delegation of Authority, financial policies, and accounting manuals.
• Set clear standards for segregation of duties, authorisation limits, and documentation requirements across finance and operations.
• Monitoring, Testing & Reporting
• Design and execute a risk‑based annual testing plan, covering key financial cycles and IT general controls.
• Analyse control deficiencies, perform root‑cause analysis, and oversee remediation actions with process owners.
• Prepare comprehensive internal control reports for the CFO, executive management, and the Audit Committee, highlighting material weaknesses and action progress.
• Risk Management Integration
• Partner with the enterprise risk management (ERM) function to identify emerging financial and operational risks.
• Translate risk assessments into control enhancements and proactive mitigation plans.
• Audit Coordination
• Serve as the central point of contact for external and internal auditors, coordinating all audit requests and resolving audit findings.
• Drive the closure of management action plans arising from audit observations.
• Team Leadership & Culture
• Lead, mentor, and develop the internal control team (including regional/entity controllers).
• Foster a culture of “control awareness” through training, communication campaigns, and advisory support to business units.
• Continuous Improvement
• Champion automation and digitisation of controls (e.g., continuous monitoring, robotic process automation) to enhance efficiency and reduce manual effort.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field; Master’s/MBA preferred.
• Professional certification (CPA, CIA, CISA, or equivalent) is mandatory.
• Minimum 12+ years of progressive experience in internal control, internal audit, or risk management, with at least 5 years in a leadership role, preferably in a multinational or publicly listed company.
• Deep expertise in COSO, SOX, IFRS/US GAAP, and data analytics.
• Proven ability to influence senior stakeholders and challenge business practices constructively.
• Strong strategic thinking, project management, and people‑management skills.
• Excellent written and spoken English; additional languages an advantage.