Director - QA & Improvements

Job Description

Majid Al Futtaim invites you to join us in our quest to create great moments for everyone, everyday! We are the leading shopping mall, residential communities, retail and leisure pioneer across the Middle East, Africa and Asia, serving over 560 million visitors a year. For the past two decades, we have shaped the consumer landscape across the region, transforming the way people shop, live and play, while maintaining a strong sustainability track record and the largest mall in the world to attain LEED Gold EBOM Certification. We have over 40,000 team members in 15 international markets representing over 100 nationalities ? all keeping the customer at the heart of everything we do. If you enjoy being BOLD, PASSIONATE and TOGETHER, then Majid Al Futtaim is the destination for you.Role Purpose:The Internal Audit (IA) function provides independent assessments of the companys governance, risk management and internal control environment for key stakeholders including the Board of Directors and senior management. IA is a change agent within the organization to enhance the control culture of MAF and thereby support senior management decision making.IA is looking to hire a Director of Quality Assurance & Improvement Program (QAIP) that provides independent assurance that IA has achieved and is maintaining appropriate standards of internal audit delivery (set against both IA?s own internal standards and the Standards and Code of Ethics of the Institute of Internal Auditors). The role involves leading the development of the Audit Methodology and Audit Charter and to close liaison with the audit teams across the group to ensure appropriate understanding, access to and the correct application of the IA methodology.Additionally, the role will be responsible for the IA budgeting and resource planning, maintaining and tracking the IA function?s KPIs, tracking and reporting of audit issues and maintenance and administration of the audit management software.The role is based in Dubai, U.A. E. and will report to the Head of Internal Audit.Role Details ? Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities:Audit Management & Reporting:

• Lead the IA budgeting and resource planning cycles in order to for the function to deliver on its audit plan by closely coordinating with IA leads on team capacity, availability and timing of deployment
• Lead the performance management by maintaining and regularly reporting on Internal Audit KPIs
• Tracking audit issues and recommendations and developing reports to provide timely and accurate updates to the Audit Committee, senior management and action owners.

Audit Support:

• Lead the development of the Internal Audit function?s Audit Methodology, Audit Manual and Audit Committee Charter, with inputs from the Head of IA and Leads.
• Implement approved departmental policies, processes, procedures. Provide training to audit teams and monitor their adherence so that work is carried out in a controlled manner.
• Maintain and conduct periodic review on all internal audit related documents (Internal Audit Charter, Internal Audit Manual, Audit Committee Charter, JDs, etc.) to ensure alignment with the International Standards for the Professional Practice of Internal Auditing and with best practices.
• Act as the Administrator of the Audit Management Software to ensure it is setup in line with Audit Methodology.

Quality Assurance:

• Operate as a QA subject matter expert, to provide centralized QA support across the Internal Audit (IA) teams.
• Provide assurance over the quality of IA?s work via formal QA products including reviews of Issue Validation strategies and work papers.
• Perform QA?s check and challenge of IA?s validation work; identify thematic areas for improvement.
• Design and assist in the delivery of methodology training to auditors (and stakeholders, as needed), including tailored training if required.
• Provide day-to-day support and guidance to the assigned audit teams on methodology-related matters by leveraging experiencing and using professional judgement.
• Be a change agent in the continuous improvement program to deliver and maintain a best in class QA function, sharing best practices and lessons learned with the IA teams.
• Plan for and coordinate for external assessment to be conducted by qualified, independent assessors as required by the IIA Standards.
• Prepare departmental reports to capture the progress, performance and quality in order to verify all the processes that has been implemented through the month.

Financial KPI?s

• Participate in developing & monitoring the audit plan to be on time and on budget
• Aid in delivering quality audit reports that comply with the Audit Methodology and IIA Standards.
• Maintaining the quality of audit documentation including audit planning, testing and workpapers in Teammate+ in accordance with IIA Standards & Audit Manual

Other Context (if applicable):Functional/Technical CompetenciesQualifications / Education

• 10+ years of experience in a related role
• Experience leading the QAIP of an internal audit function in a large organization
• Related certifications (CPA, ACA, CFA, CIA, CISA or similar) preferred
• Consistently demonstrates clear and concise written and verbal communication
• Demonstrated ability to remain unbiased in a diverse working environment

Personal Characteristics and Required Background:

• Expert knowledge of leading standards, practices and audit methodologies
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (oral and written)
• Strong people and negotiation skills - capable to easily build relationships across all levels and beyond business boundaries is essential
• Excellent written and spoken English language skills
• Proficiency in TeamMate+
• Proficiency in MS Office suite

Keyskills :