Head of Internal Audit

SUMMARY:
Ready to build something from the ground up and have a real seat at the table?
A leading organisation in the education sector is looking for an exceptional Head of Internal Audit to establish, lead, and elevate its Internal Audit function.
This isn't a role where you'll inherit a mature department and simply maintain the status quo. This is an opportunity for a strategic audit leader who enjoys building frameworks, shaping governance, influencing executive decision-making, and becoming a trusted advisor to senior leadership and board-level stakeholders.
If you're the type of person who naturally asks "why?", isn't afraid to challenge constructively, loves turning data into meaningful insights, and enjoys helping organisations navigate risk while enabling growth, we'd love to hear from you.

POSITION INFO:
Job Description: The successful candidate can be based in Johannesburg or Cape Town and will be responsible for developing and executing a risk-based internal audit strategy that strengthens governance, risk management, and internal control environments across the organisation. Working closely with executive leadership and governance committees, you will lead financial, operational, compliance, technology, and risk audits while providing independent assurance and commercially relevant recommendations. This role requires someone who can see both the bigger picture and the finer details - identifying emerging risks, uncovering opportunities for improvement, and translating complex audit findings into practical business solutions. You will also play a key role in driving data-driven auditing, strengthening risk awareness, and ensuring that internal audit remains a value-adding business partner. Skills & Experience: Develop and execute a risk-based Internal Audit strategy and annual audit plan Lead financial, operational, compliance, governance, and technology audits Evaluate the effectiveness of governance, risk management, and control frameworks Present audit findings and recommendations to Executive Management and governance committees Drive the use of data analytics and technology-enabled audit methodologies Identify emerging risks, control weaknesses, and opportunities for improvement Monitor remediation plans and ensure effective resolution of audit findings Lead and mentor audit resources while managing external audit service providers Build strong relationships across the organisation while maintaining independence and objectivity Promote a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and sound governance Minimum 8 years' Internal Audit experience Proven experience in a senior Internal Audit leadership role Experience presenting directly to Audit & Risk Committees, Boards, or Executive Committees Strong knowledge of governance, enterprise risk management, internal controls, and regulatory frameworks Experience with data analytics, fraud risk assessments, and complex multi-site environments advantageous Qualification: Bachelor's Degree in Internal Auditing, Accounting or Finance Relevant postgraduate qualification advantageous CIA, CA(SA), or equivalent audit\/risk qualification preferred Connect with us on and Register your CV to create a profile and to view all our Financial recruitment vacancies. Let us assist you with your career. For further Finance jobs, Accountant jobs, Financial Manager vacancies and Management Accountant vacancies. If you have not had any response in two weeks, please consider your application unsuccessful. Your profile will be kept on our database, and we will connect with you with any other suitable roles or positions.