Head of Internal Audit Department

We are looking for a highly experienced Senior Head of Internal Audit to lead and transform the Internal Audit function within a diversified business environment based in Karachi, Pakistan. This senior leadership role requires extensive experience in listed or public companies, a deep understanding of corporate governance and regulatory frameworks, and the ability to engage effectively with Boards, Audit Committees, CEOs, CFOs, and senior management. The successful candidate will establish a modern, independent, and risk-based Internal Audit function that delivers meaningful assurance over financial controls, operational risks, governance, fraud risk, ERP/IT controls, and key business processes.

Key Responsibilities

Internal Audit Leadership: Develop and implement a comprehensive risk-based annual and multi-year Internal Audit Plan. Establish the Internal Audit Charter, methodology, policies, and reporting framework in accordance with professional standards. Maintain the independence and objectivity of the Internal Audit function. Build and lead a high-performing internal audit team, ensuring audit resources focus on the highest financial, operational, regulatory, and strategic risks.

Board & Audit Committee Reporting: Serve as a key assurance partner to the Board Audit Committee. Present audit plans, significant findings, control weaknesses, investigations, and remediation progress directly to the committee. Provide independent assessments of internal controls, risk management, corporate governance, financial reporting controls, and compliance frameworks. Escalate material control failures and unresolved high-risk issues appropriately.

Listed Company Governance & Compliance: Ensure the Internal Audit function meets the requirements of a listed company environment. Review compliance with corporate governance standards, company policies, delegated authorities, and regulatory obligations. Assess governance structures and management oversight effectiveness. Coordinate with external auditors, regulators, and other assurance providers while preserving Internal Audit’s independence.

Financial & Commercial Audit: Lead or oversee detailed reviews of revenue, receivables, procurement, payables, treasury, working capital, inventory, CAPEX, fixed assets, related-party transactions, payroll, tax compliance, financial closing, budgeting, and approval matrices. Identify accounting errors, commercial leakages, control gaps, and opportunities for financial improvement.

Operational & Process Audits: Conduct risk-based audits across key business functions such as procurement, supply chain, manufacturing, plant operations, logistics, sales, inventory management, projects, HR, finance, commercial contracts, and IT/ERP environments.

Internal Controls & Risk Management: Evaluate the design and effectiveness of internal controls. Develop and maintain Risk & Control Matrices (RCMs). Assess entity-level and process-level controls, segregation of duties, and system access controls. Review management’s remediation efforts and support the development of a strong enterprise-wide risk and control culture.

Fraud Risk & Investigations: Establish a robust fraud-risk assessment framework. Lead or supervise investigations related to fraud, procurement manipulation, conflicts of interest, financial misconduct, asset misappropriation, policy violations, and management override. Ensure investigations are evidence-based, confidential, and well-documented. Recommend preventive controls based on findings.

IT, ERP & Data Analytics: Strengthen audit coverage of ERP controls, user-access management, segregation of duties, cybersecurity governance, IT general controls, and business continuity. Promote the use of data analytics and continuous auditing to detect anomalies, duplicate payments, unusual transactions, and control exceptions.

Audit Issue Management: Implement a disciplined process for tracking audit observations, assigning risk ratings, ownership, and remediation deadlines. Independently validate closure of significant findings and provide regular reporting to the Audit Committee on overdue or recurring issues. Escalate unresolved high-risk findings as necessary.

Required Qualifications

Education & Professional Certifications: CA, FCA, ACCA, CPA, or an equivalent internationally recognized professional qualification is required. CIA qualification is a significant advantage. A background with a Big 4 audit or advisory firm is strongly preferred.

Experience: A minimum of 12–15 years of relevant professional experience with substantial senior-level responsibility in Internal Audit, Risk, Assurance, or Governance. Proven experience in a listed/public company environment is highly desirable and may be a key selection criterion. Prior roles as Head of Internal Audit, Chief Internal Auditor, Director Internal Audit, or equivalent senior positions are preferred. Demonstrated experience presenting directly to Board Audit Committees and managing complex, multi-business or multi-location audit environments is essential. Exposure to financial, operational, compliance, and systems audits is required. Experience in manufacturing, chemicals, petrochemicals, commodities, industrial, energy, or other asset-intensive sectors will be an advantage.

This role offers the opportunity to lead a critical function within a dynamic and diversified organization, driving improvements in governance, risk management, and internal controls at the highest level.