Vice President Internal Audit & Director

Description:

This isn’t a role for someone who sits back and reports what went wrong.
We’re looking for a strategic partner — someone who knows the terrain, anticipates risk, and shapes the governance culture in a fast-moving, consumer-led Saudi organization.
🛠 The Mandate
As the internal conscience of the business, you’ll lead the full audit and governance agenda for one of Saudi’s most dynamic FMCG/retail players. The scope spans plants, warehouses, commercial ops, digital channels, and support functions — with clear accountability to the Audit Committee and direct partnership with the CEO.
This is a ground-up transformation brief: build the audit plan, set the control narrative, drive risk education, and future-proof the business for next-stage growth.
🧭 What You'll Actually Do
🟪 Saudi-Focused Audit Strategy
Design and execute a risk-based internal audit plan for all operations within the Kingdom Cover core areas: manufacturing, route-to-market, financial controls, and cyber/information risk. Embed field audits and real-time risk tracking into operational decision-making
🟪 Governance & Risk
Establish strong governance protocols across Board, ExCo, and senior functions. Oversee whistleblower, fraud investigation, and internal reporting programs. Drive cultural adoption of proactive risk awareness — not checkbox compliance
🟪 IPO & Audit Committee Readiness
Prepare control frameworks, audit trails, and risk registers aligned to IPO standards. Regularly engage the Audit Committee, preparing insight-rich reports — not just documentation
🟪 Team & Tools
Build and lead a commercially fluent audit team
Leverage ERP, analytics (e.g., SAP, Power BI), and automation to ensure smarter oversight
💡 What You Bring
✅ 18 + years of progressive audit, risk, or compliance experience, with board-facing exposure
✅ Strong grounding in FMCG, retail, or operationally intense industries
✅ Saudi national with deep local market understanding and business acumen
✅ Built or rebuilt audit and governance functions from scratch — not just inherited legacy systems
✅ Ability to manage confidentiality, diplomacy, and influence across functions
✅ Technically strong — comfortable with systems (SAP), data, and digital controls
✅ Able to operate in a fast-paced, founder-led environment with evolving governance maturity
🚫 What Won’t Work
Talent without experience interacting directly with Boards or Audit Committees
📣 Tagline
If your idea of audit is just ticking boxes, this isn’t your seat.
We need a hashtag#Saudi leader who knows how to challenge with clarity, guide with integrity, and protect what’s next.