Internal Audit Manager

Location: Can be located either in our London (City) or Potters Bar (Hertfordshire) office

Canada Life UK looks after the retirement, investment and protection needs of individuals, families and companies. We help to build better futures for our customers, our intermediaries and our employees by operating as a modern, agile and welcoming organisation.

Part of our parent company Great-West Lifeco, Canada Life UK has operated in the United Kingdom since 1903. We have hundreds of respected and supported employees committed to doing the right thing for our customers and colleagues.

Canada Life UK is transforming to create a more customer-focused business by providing our customers with expertise on financial and tax planning, offering home finance and annuities propositions, and providing collective fund solutions to third party customers.

Job Purpose

Both Canada Life UK (CLUK) and the Internal Audit function have gone through considerable change over the last 2 years. Following an internal move, we are looking for someone to join the Internal Audit leadership team who can bring the attributes of strategic awareness, leadership, accountability and critical thinking.

As a leader you are accountable for providing guidance, coaching, and thought leadership across the team as well as supporting the Chief Internal Auditor in developing and delivering the audit plan, ensuring effective coverage of key risks and change projects.

Additionally, you will need a track record of building excellent stakeholder relationship skills with an ability to communicate across all levels of Canada Life with clarity, engagement and confidence.

As the third line of defence, Internal Audit is responsible for supporting CLUK’s business in delivering its strategy through the provision of assurance and consultancy. This is particularly relevant in a fast paced and changing business and environment, with the ability to adapt to change and take people with you being essential.

What You'll Do

• Provide people leadership through managing, engaging ,coaching and mentoring audit colleagues as they deliver the audit plan.
• Provide thought leadership around audit delivery including innovation of audit approaches to improve quality and speed of audit delivery.
• You will support the CIA in the Risk Assessment, Audit Plan development process ensuring effective coverage across key risks and change projects.
• Reviewing audit engagements and coaching the audit deliver delivering engagements, ensuring delivery is to the required quality and efficiency standards as set by global IA methodology and local regulators
• Managing relationships with Executive Directors and key stakeholders both during individual audit engagements and on a day to day basis.
• Attending relevant senior management meetings, providing insight and opinion.
• Proposing changes to Audit Plan to respond to changes in the risk profile and business assurance needs.
• To support the CIA in the preparation of Audit Committee and Executive Committee reports and deputise for CIA at governance committees and meetings, as necessary
• To support the Chief Internal Auditor in the preparation, oversight and delivery of the annual ICOFR (Financial Controls) testing requirements
• To liaise/co-ordinate with CLUK and LifeCo stakeholders regarding audit plan, delivery and insights to be shared, including but not limited to:
• Specialist IA IS, Change and Actuarial resources based in Potters Bar, Dublin and the global IA team
• To undertake ad-hoc investigations and due diligence exercises at the request of the CIA
• To represent the IA function at change programme and project meetings
  
  

What You'll Bring To The Role

Required

• Experience of robust leadership of teams, including coaching / developing staff and reviewing the quality of work produced by team members;
• Strong strategic awareness and the ability to think critically and analytically
• Strong interpersonal, communication and team skills; ability to work and communicate effectively with all levels of management and staff both in the UK and overseas;
• Ability to work under pressure within a team and individually to take ownership & accountability for ensuring deadlines are met.
• Ability to analyse complex business and technical situations, make informed decisions about appropriate corrective actions and convince others to act.
• Ability to display pragmatism whilst communicating persuasively at all levels with clarity and precision, both written and verbally;
  
  

Preferred

• Experience of working in a dynamic and changing business within a change culture environment
• A sound knowledge and understanding of the CIIA’s ‘Internal Audit Financial Services Code’ (2021).
• Demonstrable knowledge and experience in preparing and delivering risk-based audit plans
• Applied advanced knowledge and experience in using computer-assisted audit tools and techniques (e.g. Excel, ACL, Tableau) and internal audit management software.
• Professional and ethical approach.
  
  

Qualifications

• Relevant professional accounting and/or audit qualification is essential, e.g. ACA, ACCA, CIMA, CIA
• Bachelor’s degree from accredited college or university
• GCSE (or equivalent) English and Maths (essential)
  
  

Benefits Of Working At Canada Life

We believe in recognising and rewarding our people, so we offer a competitive salary and benefits package that’s regularly reviewed. As a Canada Life UK colleague, you’ll receive a competitive salary and comprehensive reward package including a generous pension and bonus scheme, along with, income protection, private medical insurance and life assurance. We have a fantastic number of other benefits and support services as well as regular personal and professional development.

How We Work At Canada Life

Our culture is unique and incredibly important to us. We care about doing the right thing for our people, customers and community and helping others to build better futures. Our blueprint behaviours shape and influence how we work, and are central to the relationships we have with others. Every day we are encouraged to be more curious, own the outcome, face into things together and find a way forward.

We want colleagues to have rewarding careers with us so we invest in the development of our people, technology and workplaces. That’s why we offer a range of training, flexible working and opportunities to grow and develop.

Diversity and inclusion

Building an inclusive workplace with a diverse workforce where everyone can feel they belong and achieve their potential regardless of gender, ethnicity or any other characteristic is a key commitment for us. We are proud of the progress we’re making in DEI, and we continue for it to be a significant focus.

“At Canada Life we believe in the power of great people from different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives coming together to build better futures. Emerging talent is crucial to our growth and creating an environment that continues to inspire us all.” Nick Harding, Chief People Officer, Canada Life UK

We appreciate that everyone has different work and life responsibilities. We’re happy to discuss flexible working arrangements, including part time, for any of our roles should this be a requirement for you.