Head, Internal Audit at Food Concepts Plc

Job Objective and Summary

• To examine, evaluate and improve the effectiveness and adequacy of risk management, control and governance processes.
• To be the catalyst to improving governance and internal control and also supporting the organisation in its wider business objectives through execution of proactive Audit activities.

Core Responsibilities and Key Result Areas

• Strategic Leadership and Management
• Provide overall direction to drive the vision of the audit function
• Build audit to understand the use of new and effective audit tools
• Ensuring audits are completed to a high level of quality, integrity and agreed timelines
• Communicating audit findings effectively through professionally designed audit reports
• Effectively communicate, verbally and in writing, to the Boards, Audit Committees, and Management
• Build awareness of external leading practices and benchmarks to embed within the internal audit function
• Be the final layer of identification of risk management and exposure before external parties
• Provide necessary support to external auditor, external co-sourcing firms and regulators, as required

Risk / Quality Monitoring and Management

• Provide teaching, training and coaching of audit staff
• Ensure projects are prioritised based on risk and exposure
• Develop and maintains productive audit staff relationship through communication and meetings with other departments
• Proactive identification of potential risk or exposure from current policies processes and procedures
• Establish quality control programmes during internal audit activities through project planning, resource management, file review, reporting and follow up
• Conduct risk assessment for audit coverage area
• Ensures prioritisation of projects based on risk and exposure
• Provide advice on internal control and participate in enhancing internal audit standards and practices within the company. 

Reporting and Supervision

• Plan, assigns and supervises audit staff
• Direct the overall internal audit operations on behalf of the Board Audit Committee and the management
• Plan, schedule, coordinate, review and report on the work of audit staff
• Conducts follow-up audits to ensure that regulations and sector rules are being met and best practices are followed

Audit planning

• Lead the development of the strategic audit plan adopting a risk-based approach
• Provide direction in the cascading of strategic audit plan into annual plans
• Develops procedures, schedules , priorities and programmes for achieving audit objectives and goals

Relationship Management and Capacity Building

• Prepare and issue complex audit reports to management using advanced audit skills
• Conduct ad-hoc special projects as requested by the Board of Directors, Audit Committee or the MD
• Advise and coaching of Management to address risks and exposure.
• Attend the executive committee and shared services meetings
• Ensure internal audit staff develop skills and knowledge through professional education, seminars, workshops etc.

Key Performance Indicators

• Achievement of Company Sales, EBITDA, GP, PAT targets
• Achievement of the Internal Audit Departments’ budget/targets/objectives
• Achievement of Individual Personal Development Plans

Knowledge Requirements

• Understanding of policy formulation and regulation
• Understanding of audit and investigation principles and practice
• Understanding of international accounting standards
• Knowledge of documentation
• Deep understanding of the business
• Knowledge of risk management techniques
• Understanding of practice and related policy issues, their implications and applications within the QSR industry
• Understanding of financial and accounts statements

Job Specifications

• A good first degree in Accounting/Finance
• Possession of a Post graduate degree in Finance/Accounting or related degree is an added advantage
• Membership of the CPA or any other related professional qualification is required.
• Minimum of 10 years Internal Audit work experience in a similar organization, professional services firm or retail business

Decision Expectations

• Acts on defined procedures and decisions
• Plans own work schedule and work schedule of subordinates
• Assigns work to subordinates
• Monitor subordinates’ work performance
• Appraises/evaluates subordinates’ performance
• Recommends operational, strategic and financial decisions