Internal Audit Manager

Do you have an inquisitive mind, enjoy solving problems and seek 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? Are you ready to deliver high-impact assurance and commercial insight to senior leadership?? If so, we have a great opportunity to join the Partnership’s Internal Audit and Risk Team on a 12 month secondment/fixed term contract.

The newly launched strategic plan has bold ambitions to expand digital, virtual and delivery services to get closer to customers; to launch inspirational new services and partnerships to rebalance the business beyond just retail; as well as outlining major commitments to cutting waste and net zero carbon targets. This is an exciting time to join this high performing audit team and influence outcomes across the Partnership by providing independent objective assurance to the Audit & Risk Committee.
In your role you will lead the delivery of audits across the audit plan and support the Partnership to accomplish 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.
You will directly work with leaders and their teams across the Partnership and will present audit findings as required.

Salary: - £64,000 - £94,000

Contract type - This position is a Fixed Term contract until January 2028

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 team works in London on a Tuesday and you will also be expected to spend 2 further days at one of our Partnership locations.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead on delivery of internal audits, providing high quality, clear and concise reports and deliverables.
• Providing day-to-day assignment management and coaching to Senior Internal Auditors across reviews.
• Demonstrating independence of mind and professional scepticism to draw objective, logical, and evidence-based 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 and Central Compliance teams to align assurance activities  and share insight on control effectiveness.
• Drive the use of AI, data analytics and automated testing to increase audit coverage, rigour and efficiency
• Supporting  the design of improvements to Internal Audit’s auditing practices, methods, procedures, documentation and quality.

Essential skills and experience you’ll need 

• Practical experience managing internal audit 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 and experience you’ll need 

• Experience of large scale multi-site and /or omnichannel retailing or FMCG
• Practical experience applying data analytics and AI to audit engagements.

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 occasionally close vacancies early in the event we receive a high volume of applications, and therefore, we recommend you apply early. If you require a reasonable adjustment due to a disability which means you may need longer to complete your application please contact us as soon as possible.

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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