Senior External Auditor

Job Title: Senior External Auditor

Location: Dubai UAE

Line Manager: Head of Compliance and Internal Audit

PURPOSE

A leading investment company with a portfolio of investment in commodity trading logistics and FMCG companies is seeking a highly skilled and experienced Financial Professional with a strong background in external/statutory audits to join our dynamic team. The ideal candidate will be instrumental in ensuring the integrity of financial processes, optimizing operational and financial performance, and supporting the company’s risk management framework. This role also involves conducting due diligence, internal audits, and process improvement initiatives along with developing policies and procedures to support sustainable growth. The ideal candidate should possess experience in the commodity trading business, including accounting and auditing procedures.

• Identify, recommend, and implement (if required) improvements in financial and operational processes to drive efficiency and accuracy.
• Develop and lead a coherent and coordinated policy and research programme that supports internal audit to grow its influence and visibility.
• Develop and lead a robust approach to evaluating internal audit activities (including non-audit services) to demonstrate the impact and value of what we do.
• Establish, promote, and maintain relationships with our key stakeholders.
• Conduct comprehensive financial statement due diligence for mergers, acquisitions, and other strategic transactions.
• Analyze financial data, assess risks, and ensure compliance with international accounting standards and regulatory requirements.
• Engage in special engagements and projects as required by management, including forensic investigations, fraud detection, and efficiency audits.
• Provide strategic financial analysis to support business decisions and initiatives.
• Support the Head of Compliance and Internal Audit in delivering against the key priority goals.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES

Planning and performance

• Undertake audits (finance reviews and internal audits) to ensure the company meets its financial, operational, and compliance objectives.
• Support the development planning & reporting process.
• Report on control deficiencies to management and make recommendations to mitigate risk and add value.
• Challenge current processes across the company and identify opportunities for refinement.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams in compliance monitoring and reporting on a regular basis.
• Engage in remediation of identified issues through follow-up.
• Produce a wide range of high-quality deliverables, i.e., policies/SOPs/RCMs/process flow charts/methodology/any other document for various audiences, including high-quality, well-targeted, industry-related reports and policy outputs.
• Collaborate with a variety of line services and departments.
• Work closely with the Head of Compliance and Internal Audit and the team to ensure timely contribution.
• Update job knowledge and skills by participating in continuous professional development, e.g., training, professional/trade publications, maintaining personal networks, etc.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND EXPERIENCE

Technical and operational

• Considerable proven experience in executing and leading/managing external audits in Big 4 Consultancy firms.
• Considerable proven experience in leading policies for the internal audit.
• Proven experience in research and evaluation management and methodology, including analyzing quantitative and qualitative data.
• Knowledge and demonstrable experience of developing, delivering, and evaluating respective deliverables.
• Proven experience with a successful track record of dealing with key stakeholders and various teams within the organization.
• Extensive knowledge of policies/SOPs/RCMs/process flow charts/methodology in internal audit (finance and operational) for trading/commodities industry.
• Excellent analytical and writing skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to negotiate and influence successfully.
• Ability to develop and maintain constructive senior-level relationships with key stakeholders.
• Strong organizational and planning skills with an eye for detail and accuracy.
• Ability to work on own initiative.
• Ability to work as a member of a team.
• Ability to inspire trust.
• Aware of and sensitive to equal opportunities issues.

Managerial

• Ability to operate at a senior level, including close working with the Senior Management.
• Experience of overseeing projects and ensuring they deliver on time.
• Ability to develop systems and procedures.
• Ability to lead and moderate meetings.
• Critical thinker with high attention to detail and excellent analytical skills.
• Ability to prioritize.

Education & experience qualifications

• Professional Qualifications (Chartered Accountant, CPA, CIA, CISA)
• SAP/S4Hana working knowledge
• University degree in Accountancy
• Hands-on expertise in IFRS
• Experience: Minimum of 8 years external audit experience with one of the Big 4. Knowledge about/experience in a trading/commodities company shall be preferred.