Compass Group – Internal Audit Manager – CA

Job Description:

We are looking for an experienced Internal Audit professional with strong expertise in risk management, fraud investigations, whistleblowing, and corporate governance. The candidate will be responsible for leading internal audit assignments, managing investigations into suspected fraud and misconduct, handling whistleblower complaints, and strengthening internal controls across the organization.

The role requires a qualified Chartered Accountant with the ability to independently manage complex audit engagements, conduct sensitive investigations, coordinate with outsourced audit partners, and provide actionable recommendations to senior management. The individual will play a key role in promoting transparency, accountability, ethical business practices, and compliance with organizational policies.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Internal Audit & Risk Management:

– Lead and manage internal audit assignments across business functions, operations, and locations.

– Develop risk-based audit plans, audit schedules, and execution strategies.

– Conduct risk assessments to identify operational, financial, compliance, and control-related risks.

– Evaluate the effectiveness of internal controls, governance processes, and risk mitigation measures.

– Identify control gaps and recommend corrective and preventive actions.

– Prepare detailed audit reports highlighting observations, risks, and improvement opportunities.

2. Whistleblowing & Speak-Up Investigations:

– Lead the investigation of whistleblower complaints, Speak Up cases, allegations of misconduct, and unethical practices.

– Assess complaints, determine their severity, and establish appropriate investigation plans.

– Conduct confidential investigations involving suspected fraud, financial irregularities, conflicts of interest, and policy violations.

– Perform interviews, review documents, examine financial transactions, and collect relevant evidence.

– Maintain confidentiality, objectivity, and independence throughout the investigation process.

– Document investigation findings and present recommendations to senior management.

– Ensure timely closure of whistleblower cases and monitor corrective actions.

3. Fraud Risk Management & Investigations:

– Lead investigations into suspected fraud, financial misappropriation, corruption, and other fraudulent activities.

– Identify fraud indicators, control weaknesses, and potential areas of financial exposure.

– Conduct root cause analysis and recommend measures to prevent recurrence.

– Collaborate with legal, compliance, HR, finance, and business teams during investigations.

– Maintain proper investigation documentation and evidence records.

– Recommend improvements to fraud prevention and detection mechanisms.

4. Audit Planning & Execution:

– Prepare annual and periodic risk-based internal audit plans.

– Define audit scope, objectives, timelines, and resource requirements.

– Oversee audit fieldwork, testing procedures, evidence collection, and reporting.

– Review audit findings and ensure recommendations are practical and actionable.

– Monitor implementation of management action plans and closure of audit observations.

– Ensure audit assignments are completed within established timelines.

5. Management of Outsourced Audit Partners:

– Manage relationships with external and outsourced audit firms.

– Define audit scope, deliverables, timelines, and quality expectations.

– Review audit reports and validate the quality of audit findings.

– Monitor partner performance and ensure adherence to audit standards.

– Coordinate with external auditors and internal stakeholders to ensure effective audit execution.

6. Team Management & Stakeholder Engagement:

– Lead, mentor, and manage internal audit team members.

– Allocate audit assignments and monitor team performance.

– Coordinate with senior leadership and functional heads on audit findings and investigation outcomes.

– Communicate sensitive matters with professionalism and sound judgment.

– Drive awareness of internal controls, ethical conduct, and fraud prevention practices.

7. Audit Technology & Continuous Improvement:

– Leverage audit management tools and data analytics to improve audit effectiveness.

– Utilize data analytics techniques to identify unusual transactions, control exceptions, and potential fraud indicators.

– Support continuous control monitoring initiatives.

– Drive improvements in audit methodologies, investigation processes, and reporting frameworks.

– Maintain accurate audit documentation and investigation records.

Required Skills & Qualifications:

– Chartered Accountant (CA) qualification is mandatory.

– 10 – 12 years of relevant experience in Internal Audit, Risk Management, Fraud Investigations, or related domains.

– Hands-on experience in leading whistleblowing, Speak Up, and fraud investigation cases.

– Strong understanding of internal audit methodologies, risk assessment, and internal control frameworks.

– Experience in investigating financial irregularities, misconduct, fraud, and compliance violations.

– Strong knowledge of audit planning, execution, reporting, and remediation tracking.

– Experience managing internal audit teams and outsourced audit partners.

– Excellent stakeholder management, communication, and report-writing skills.

– Ability to independently manage sensitive investigations and multiple priorities.

– High levels of integrity, confidentiality, discretion, and professional judgment.

– Willingness to travel across India as required.

Preferred / Desirable Skills:

– Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) or Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) certification.

– Working knowledge of SAP and financial/ERP systems.

– Experience with audit management platforms such as TeamMate, Pentana, or AuditBoard.

– Exposure to data analytics and continuous control monitoring tools such as ACL, IDEA, and Power BI.

– Experience in corporate investigations, ethics and compliance, and fraud risk management.