Internal Audit Manager

About the role

Do you have an inquisitive mind, enjoy solving problems and want exposure to leaders from across the business? Can you think clearly when presented with multiple pieces of information to quickly get to the nub of an issue? Would you like the opportunity to practise your report writing skills? If so, we have a great opportunity to join the Partnership’s Internal Audit team.

The Partnership is midway through its five year transformation plan with a key focus on providing a brilliant retail experience for our customers, inspired by our Partners, and supporting our ultimate purpose of:

- Happier People - our Partners enjoying worthwhile and satisfying work in a supportive environment;
- Happier Business - we act for the long term, aiming to make sufficient profit to retain our financial independence, invest in our Partners and pursue our Purpose; and a
- Happier World - we build trusted relationships acting with integrity and doing what’s right, taking responsibility for our impact on the planet, creating a more sustainable future for generations to come.

We operate two iconic brands - John Lewis and Waitrose - along with our growing Build to Rent and Financial Services businesses and so this is an exciting time to join this high performing audit team.

In your role you will lead the delivery of audits across our two iconic brands John Lewis and Waitrose, our growing Build to Rent and Financial Services businesses and our shared capability functions. You will support the Partnership in accomplishing its objectives by bringing a systematic approach to evaluate and improve the effectiveness of risk management, control and governance processes through assurance and advisory reviews, influencing outcomes and providing independent objective assurance to the Audit & Risk Committee.

You will directly work with leaders and their teams across the Partnership and will present audit findings as required.

• Salary - £62,500 - £94,000.

• Contract type - This position is a permanent contract.

• Working pattern/flexible working - The Partnership has adopted a hybrid working approach, meaning you'll be able to work a mixture between the office and home based upon your personal needs whilst balancing the needs of the business. The Internal Audit team aims for around 2 days a week in the office to connect and on a more ad-hoc basis to attend key meetings. 

• Location - This role is based at our Pimlico Head Office, with occasional travel to other Partnership locations as required.

Key responsibilities

• Lead on delivery of internal audits, providing high quality, clear and concise reports and deliverables.

• Acting with an independent mind and demonstrating an ability to draw objective, logical and fit for purpose conclusions.

• Engaging with stakeholders from across the Partnership to understand change priorities, providing advice on internal controls and aligning / amending audit work accordingly to deliver value in key risk areas.

• Working closely with the Risk Management team to inform operational focus and share insight into control effectiveness.

• Supporting  the design of improvements to Internal Audit’s auditing practices, methods, procedures, documentation and quality.

Essential skills/experience you’ll need

• Practical experience managing internal audit teams and engagements within industry, or in a governance, risk and controls oversight role.

• Strong ability to interpret numerous pieces of information, and identify what is important to form a point of view and course of action.

• Experience in building and managing relationships with stakeholders whilst being comfortable engaging, challenging and influencing them.

• Hold relevant qualifications aligned to a specialism, e.g.:

• Professional accountancy qualification

• Chartered Internal Audit qualification

• COBIT / ITIL / PRINCE2/ CISA / MSP

Desirable skills/experience you may have

• Experience of large scale multi-site and/or omnichannel retailing or FMCG.

• Practical application in using data analytics in conducting audits. 

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The Partnership

We’re the largest employee owned business in the UK and home of our cherished brands, John Lewis and Waitrose. We’re not just employees, we’re Partners, driven by our purpose to build a happier world. As we look to our future, there’s never been a more exciting time to join us.  

We’re ruthlessly focused on being brilliant at retail. We continue to innovate, adapt and diversify. Never Knowingly Undersold on price, quality and service in John Lewis and passionately serving food-lovers in Waitrose.   

As Partners we all share the responsibility of ownership and in its rewards. We use our voices to contribute to our success, working together through the good and challenging times, holding true to our behaviours and treating everyone with kindness and respect. 

We all own making the Partnership somewhere we belong. Embracing our differences and creating an environment where we’re free to be ourselves and can THRIVE. Growing ourselves individually, and as a collective. 

As Partners, we make all the difference. And, we all own it.  

Important points to note:  

It’s important to note that some of our roles are subject to pre-employment vetting (which may include DBS checks for successful candidates). If required, you’ll be informed and provided with information about vetting during the recruitment process and we encourage you to complete any vetting documents quickly to avoid delays. Any DBS checks required will be carried out by a third-party registered body and financial probity checks may also be required for some of our roles.  

We also recommend that you apply as soon as possible as vacancies can close early if we see a high number of applicants.  

We want all of our Partners to have a good work-life balance and we support flexible working. This might mean flexible or compressed hours, job sharing or shorter hour contracts, where possible. Please discuss this further with the hiring manager during your interview. 

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