Head of Internal Audit

Up to £93,000 (depending on experience) + bonus & benefits

We offer two bonuses (personal performance paid quarterly and company performance paid annually) with private healthcare and dental cover and a generous pension scheme.

Head of Internal Audit

For over three decades our purpose hasn’t changed: we are here to make a positive difference to the lives of all. Through the exceptional products, services and value we offer, we are proud of how far we’ve come as a business, now we want to see you grow with us.

Your purpose

You will lead a team of internal auditors to undertake independent assessments of the robustness of financial and operational controls and provide a level of assurance to senior management as to their effectiveness. This should include identifying opportunities to reduce risk and improve business performance.

Your role

• Support the Group Director of Risk & Internal Audit with the creation of the Internal Audit function including developing the methodology, audit plan procedures and tools.
• Develop an audit approach and a risk-based programme of work for Specsavers operations to provide an appropriate level of assurance to the Specsavers Executive Board.
• Manage a small team of Auditors to deliver audits of financial and operating processes, to identify opportunities for improvements where risks exist and make practical recommendations.
• Ensure audits are fairly rated and actions agreed are realistic and appropriate.
• Communicate, via written reports and oral presentations to Executive Management, the results of audit and consulting projects, audit plans, and recommendations to resolve audit findings.
• Raise critical issues promptly with the relevant leadership team, making recommendations for improvement and ensuring they are effectively resolved.

What you’ll bring

• Fully qualified Accountant, with an Audit background
• Must have excellent interpersonal and communication skills to be able to build and maintain relationships across all levels of management to Board level.
• Able to build effective relationships with peers outside own team, understand the impact of their own behaviour on others and modify it accordingly to effectively influence.
• Able to make sound judgements based on balancing any operational risks against the impact (or benefit) to the customer.
• Commercial awareness: Identify opportunities to make controls more effective and enhance Commercial results.
• Ability to rapidly understand a business operation and the inherent risks.
• Ability to communicate difficult messages in a balanced way and work with all levels.

Please note although the role is predominently home based, there will be travel to our support offices in Nottingham, Southampton and Guernsey, so ideally you will be located within a commutable distance to one of our offices.