Head of Internal Audit
Posted 1 day ago by BDO LLP
Negotiable
Inside
Hybrid
Crawley
Summary: The Head of Internal Audit for IT & Change in Crawley is responsible for leading the strategic development of a high-performing audit function that provides insights and assurance across technology and transformation initiatives. This role emphasizes strengthening stakeholder relationships, enhancing the perception of audit value, and supporting the organization's growth agenda. The position requires delivering impactful audits and building a capable team through coaching and mentoring. Additionally, the role involves overseeing ISO 27001 assurance efforts and optimizing co-source partnerships to enhance audit quality.
Key Responsibilities:
- Drive strategic audit leadership across IT and change, aligning assurance activities with the organisation’s transformation and growth agenda.
- Deliver impactful, risk-based audits that provide deep insight into technology, cyber security, and change initiatives.
- Champion stakeholder trust and influence, reshaping perceptions of Internal Audit through strong relationships and visible value delivery.
- Lead ISO 27001 assurance efforts, embedding robust information security controls and building internal capability in cyber and compliance.
- Optimise co-source partnerships, leveraging external expertise to enhance audit quality, agility, and specialist knowledge.
- Build a high-performing, future-ready team, developing internal capability through coaching, mentoring, and targeted upskilling.
- Shape and execute the IT & Change audit strategy aligned with the organisation’s strategic objectives and risk appetite.
- Manage relationships with co-source internal audit partners and subject matter experts.
- Oversee the planning, execution, and reporting of audits across IT, cyber security, data, digital transformation, and change programmes.
- Drive a strong quality assurance culture across the audit lifecycle.
- Build and maintain strong, trusted relationships with senior stakeholders across Technology, Change, Risk, and the Executive Committee.
- Identify and address skills gaps, leveraging external resources or training where needed to build a future-ready audit function.
Key Skills:
- Deep expertise in IT audit, cyber security, and ISO 27001.
- Strong leadership and team development skills.
- Ability to shape and execute audit strategies aligned with organizational objectives.
- Excellent stakeholder engagement and relationship management skills.
- Experience in risk-based audit methodologies.
- Capability to drive quality assurance and compliance within audit processes.
- Strong analytical and decision-making skills.
- Experience in managing co-source partnerships effectively.
Salary (Rate): undetermined
City: Crawley
Country: undetermined
Working Arrangements: hybrid
IR35 Status: inside IR35
Seniority Level: undetermined
Industry: IT
Head of Internal Audit - Crawley
Role details: The Head of Internal Audit, IT & Change is pivotal role to drive the strategic development of a high-performing audit function that delivers meaningful insight and assurance across technology, transformation, and change portfolios. Key responsibilities include strengthening stakeholder relationships, enhancing audit value perception, and supporting the ambitious growth and transformation agenda.
Drive strategic audit leadership across IT and change, aligning assurance activities with the organisation’s transformation and growth agenda.
Deliver impactful, risk-based audits that provide deep insight into technology, cyber security, and change initiatives, enabling better decision-making.
Champion stakeholder trust and influence, reshaping perceptions of Internal Audit through strong relationships and visible value delivery.
Lead ISO 27001 assurance efforts, embedding robust information security controls and building internal capability in cyber and compliance.
Optimise co-source partnerships, leveraging external expertise to enhance audit quality, agility, and specialist knowledge.
Build a high-performing, future-ready team, developing internal capability through coaching, mentoring, and targeted upskilling.
Job description:
Leadership & Strategy
- Lead, inspire, and develop the IT and Change Audit Managers, fostering a culture of excellence, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
- Shape and execute the IT & Change audit strategy aligned with the organisation’s strategic objectives and risk appetite.
- Contribute to the overall Internal Audit strategy and leadership team, supporting the evolution of a modern, insight-driven audit function.
- Manage relationships with co-source internal audit partners and subject matter experts, ensuring effective collaboration, high-quality delivery, and value for money.
- Leverage co-source arrangements to enhance capability, capacity, and specialist knowledge within the function.
Audit Delivery & Oversight
- Oversee the planning, execution, and reporting of audits across IT, cyber security, data, digital transformation, and change programmes.
- Ensure audit work is risk-based, forward-looking, and provides actionable insights that drive business improvement.
- Lead the Internal Audit contribution to the organisation’s ISO 27001 certification, including controls testing and assurance over information security management systems.
- Drive a strong quality assurance culture across the audit lifecycle, ensuring audit work meets professional standards, regulatory expectations, and internal quality benchmarks.
Stakeholder Engagement
- Build and maintain strong, trusted relationships with senior stakeholders across Technology, Change, Risk, and the Executive Committee.
- Act as a strategic partner, influencing and challenging constructively to enhance governance, risk management, and control effectiveness.
- Champion the value of Internal Audit, improving visibility, credibility, and impact across the business.
Capability Building
- Bring deep expertise in IT audit, cyber security, and ISO 27001 to upskill and mentor the wider audit team.
- Identify and address skills gaps, leveraging external resources or training where needed to build a future-ready audit function.
Additional details: Duration: Initial 3 months Location: Crawley – Hybrid working Day Rate: Through an Umbrella company