Principal Auditor

**Role**:
Auditor / Principal Auditor

**Role typically reports to**:
Principal Audit Manager

**Profession**:
Internal Audit

**Role Overview**

Group Audit is a professional, business focused, proactive risk-based global audit function that operates with openness, integrity, and independence, in order to examine, evaluate, and report objectively on the adequacy of both the design and operating effectiveness of the systems of internal control and the effectiveness of risk management and governance processes.

The Principal Auditor leads or participates independently in audits of a specific business/function area in accordance with the Audit methodology and evaluates the adequacy and effectiveness of internal controls. In addition, the Principal Auditor may occasionally lead or participate in ad hoc projects and special investigations.

The Principal Auditor uses a range of sources and methods to obtain knowledge and applies judgment based on sound business knowledge of day-to-day audit work; this includes conducting regular business monitoring and risk assessments, identifying and assessing key risks and designing testing to assess the design and operating effectiveness of the key controls in place to mitigate risk. The Principal Auditor needs a good understanding of the relevant business area’s market place and needs to continuously develop technical expertise relevant to the industry.

The Principal Auditor will proactively develop and maintain professional consultative working relationships with the audit team, with internal stakeholders, clients and respective support areas and must use a range of approaches to collect relevant and readily available information to assess risk, resolve issues or carry out tasks.

**Key Responsibilities**
- Plans audits e.g. documenting activity flows of the processes to be reviewed, identifies risks and the key controls in place to mitigate the identified risks and attends meetings with internal stakeholders; executes audit fieldwork in line with the agreed audit approach e.g. testing of key controls to determine whether they are properly designed and are operating effectively and documenting work in accordance with divisional standards; drafts high quality audit reports for review by audit management, facilitates issue tracking, validates the closure of issues and approves closure of Important Audit Issues; may lead a team on individual assignments
- Reviews and provides expert opinions on action plans provided by clients, helping them develop robust remediation plans and acts as a competent partner and challenger to clients in the closure process of findings
- Partners with other divisional/teams during audit engagement to guarantee an integrated approach and communicates openly with divisional management and the internal stakeholders; keeps informed of potential issues and escalate problems/delays accordingly and presents complex and sensitive messages (such as audit issues) comprehensively, professionally and reduces complex topics to simple statements
- Proactively keeps abreast of pertinent industry, regulatory and business practices and establishes and maintains a client service/relationship approach with clients in order to understand their business needs; interprets stakeholder feedback on key business developments/risks and understands the clients’ marketplace in order to address their needs and expectations while delivering ‘one voice’ to the client in all communications and correspondence
- Takes ownership for own career management, seeking opportunities for continuous development of personal capability and improved performance contribution and acts as a role model within their own team; reinforces an environment where people management and development is a key priority and acts as a role model for their own team and others

**Skills & Qualifications**
- Master Degree (or equivalent) from an accredited college or university (or equivalent) or equivalent work experience; professional/industry recognised qualifications e.g. CISA (for IT auditors), Accounting qualifications such as ACA and CPA
- Sound audit/business knowledge and experience and an understanding of the risks and regulatory requirements in one or more of the following business/functional areas: Investment Banking, Transaction Banking, Retail & Corporate Banking, Asset & Wealth Management, Business Services (operations), Risk, Legal & Compliance, Anti-Financial Crime, Finance, and Information Technology
- Strong communication skills in English, communicating with clarity, both orally and in writing, in a logical order and structured approach as well as strong relationship management, analytical, problem solving, communication, influencing, planning and presentation skills
- Ability to work in a fast-paced business environment and in virtual, global teams in a matrix organisation, transfer knowledge and develop capability of team members

Our values define the working environment we strive