Internal Audit Director

CharteredPartners is seeking an Internal Audit Director to lead delivery within the risk & internal audit practice of a leading accounting firm in Sydney. The role centres on owning audit methodology and quality, leading internal audit and enterprise risk engagements, and managing relationships with chief audit executives and audit committees across regulated Australian clients. Working alongside the partner group, the successful candidate will set delivery standards, resolve complex technical matters and support practice growth. Specific qualifications, regulatory fluency and technical breadth are detailed in the sections that follow.

Confidential Client. Applying to this position means that you are interested to have an initial confidential discussion about how we can help you to identify and join a new accounting-firm practice. With your authorisation we will exclusively run the entire application and recruitment process for you, keeping you apprised at every step. With over 30 years' combined experience of helping the most talented accounting, audit, tax and advisory professionals to make safe, well-judged moves into rewarding new roles, we have the experience, network and ability to help you.

• Lead the delivery of internal audit, enterprise risk and controls advisory engagements across a portfolio of clients.
• Own audit methodology and quality, ensuring engagements meet the Global Internal Audit Standards 2024 and internal quality benchmarks.
• Manage chief audit executive and audit committee relationships as the senior delivery lead beneath the engagement partner.
• Direct risk assessments and audit planning aligned to the three lines model and COSO internal control frameworks.
• Oversee engagements addressing APRA prudential standards, including CPS 220 risk management, CPS 230 operational risk and CPS 234 information security.
• Review internal controls over financial reporting, including SOX/ICFR for US-listed groups where relevant.
• Support partners with proposals, scoping and the conversion of new mandates.
• Coach and develop managers and seniors, raising the technical capability of the team.

Required Qualifications and Skills:

• A recognised professional qualification such as CA ANZ, CPA Australia or equivalent, ideally complemented by CIA.
• Typically twelve or more years of internal audit and risk advisory experience, with substantial delivery-leadership time.
• Deep command of the Global Internal Audit Standards 2024, the three lines model and COSO internal control frameworks.
• Strong working knowledge of APRA prudential standards, including CPS 220, CPS 230 and CPS 234.
• Familiarity with the ASX Corporate Governance Principles and ASIC expectations.
• Demonstrable experience owning audit methodology, quality and technical standards.
• Practical experience of SOX/ICFR scoping, walkthroughs and controls testing.
• Proven ability to manage senior client relationships and complex multi-engagement portfolios.
• Awareness of the Privacy Act and the Australian Privacy Principles as they affect audit scope.
• Active engagement with IIA Australia and the broader professional community.

Preferred Experience:

• Prior director or senior manager experience within a professional services or accounting firm.
• Exposure to financial services, superannuation, energy or public sector clients regulated by APRA or ASIC.
• Experience leading methodology refresh or audit-quality uplift programmes.
• Capability in technology risk, cyber reviews or data analytics applied to internal audit.
• A track record of coaching and developing high-performing audit teams.
• CISA, CISM or CRISC certification alongside the core accounting qualification.

Compensation:

Competitive package commensurate with seniority and experience, including base, performance-based bonus, long-term incentives and (where applicable) partner-track participation.

Next Steps:

This opportunity is open to Australian citizens, permanent residents and candidates holding or eligible for the relevant Australian work rights who match the above criteria. Please apply to receive prompt contact from an experienced and specialist accounting-firm recruitment consultant.

Chartered Partners is a trading style of Feltan Associates Pte Ltd; an international Executive Search, Recruitment and Consulting business based in Singapore, licensed and regulated by the Singapore Ministry of Manpower to conduct recruitment services for clients. UEN: 202225620G. EA Licence 23S1672. All rights reserved.

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