AVP Internal Auditor

Summary: The AVP Internal Auditor role is a 3-4 month hybrid contract focused on auditing Human Resources and Payroll processes within a global investment banking context. The position requires assessing governance, risk management, and control processes while ensuring compliance with regulatory frameworks. The auditor will lead risk-based audits, evaluate controls, and communicate findings to senior stakeholders. A strong background in internal audit within financial services, particularly in HR and payroll, is essential for success in this role.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead and execute risk-based audits across HR and Payroll processes, ensuring alignment with internal policies, regulatory requirements, and industry best practices.
• Evaluate controls over key processes including payroll execution, benefit disbursement, expatriate and mobility compensation, employee onboarding/offboarding, and HR data integrity.
• Assess compliance with UK and global regulatory frameworks relevant to HR, including SMCR, GDPR, Equal Employment legislation, and local labor laws in operating jurisdictions.
• Review the effectiveness of variable compensation programs including bonus schemes, carried interest, deferred compensation, and alignment with risk appetite.
• Liaise with senior stakeholders in HR, Finance, Compliance, and Legal functions to communicate audit results, influence improvements, and drive remediation efforts.
• Use data analytics to identify anomalies, perform trend analysis, and enhance audit efficiency in areas such as overtime, absenteeism, compensation anomalies, or outlier trends.
• Draft clear and concise audit reports, articulating findings, risks, and recommendations to senior management and Audit Committee-level audiences.
• Participate in the annual risk assessment and audit planning process for corporate functions.
• Monitor evolving regulatory and market expectations regarding HR governance and conduct risk.

Key Skills:

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, HR, Business Administration or a related discipline; Master’s degree is advantageous.
• Professional Accounting qualifications.
• Minimum of 5–7 years of internal audit or risk experience in a financial services or investment banking environment, with a strong focus on HR and/or payroll.
• Solid understanding of payroll systems (e.g., Workday, SAP SuccessFactors, ADP) and HR governance frameworks within regulated institutions.
• Knowledge of compensation structures and deferral mechanisms common to investment banking (e.g., deferred bonuses, LTIPs, carried interest).
• Familiarity with UK SMCR, GDPR, SOX 404, and equivalent global HR compliance regimes.
• Excellent communication and report-writing skills, with the ability to present issues to senior stakeholders clearly and persuasively.
• Experience with data analytics tools (e.g., ACL, Tableau, Power BI, Python) a plus.

Salary (Rate): undetermined

City: London

Country: United Kingdom

Working Arrangements: hybrid

IR35 Status: undetermined

Seniority Level: undetermined

Industry: Other