Head - Internal Audit

Job Description:

Job Description

Head - Internal Audit (East Africa Region)

Position Title

Head - Internal Audit

Location

East Africa Regional Headquarters – Uganda Kampala City

Reporting To

Chief Executive Officer / Managing Director (administrative reporting)

Direct Reports

Internal Audit Managers, Senior Auditors, IT Auditor, Compliance Auditors (as applicable) Expats ( 1 ) & National Staff ( 6 )

Job Purpose

To provide independent, objective assurance and consulting services designed to improve the organization's operations. The Head of Internal Audit will evaluate and enhance the effectiveness of risk management, internal controls, governance processes, compliance frameworks, and operational efficiency across manufacturing plants, distribution centre’s, commercial operations, and regional offices within Uganda & Rwanda.

The role is responsible for developing and executing a risk-based audit plan that safeguards company assets, improves operational effectiveness, ensures regulatory compliance, and supports sustainable business growth.

Key Responsibilities

1. Internal Audit Strategy & Leadership

• Develop and implement the Regional Internal Audit Strategy aligned with organizational objectives.
• Establish a risk-based annual audit plan for Management Committee approval.
• Lead all internal audit activities across multiple Rwanda & Uganda.
• Build a high-performing internal audit team with strong technical and commercial capabilities.
• Ensure adherence to International Professional Practices Framework (IPPF) and IIA standards.

2. Enterprise Risk Management

• Assess key enterprise risks across operations, finance, supply chain, commercial functions, and IT.
• Support management in identifying emerging business risks.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of risk mitigation measures.
• Present risk insights and recommendations to executive leadership and the Audit Committee.

3. Operational Audits

Lead audits covering:

Manufacturing Operations

• Production efficiency
• Inventory management
• Plant controls
• Yield and wastage management
• Quality assurance processes
• Maintenance controls

Supply Chain & Logistics

• Procurement controls
• Vendor management
• Warehousing operations
• Fleet management
• Distribution network effectiveness

Sales & Commercial Operations

• Route-to-market controls
• Trade promotions and discounts
• Distributor management
• Revenue assurance
• Pricing compliance
• Credit management

4. Financial & Compliance Audits

• Review financial controls to ensure accuracy, completeness, and reliability.
• Assess compliance with IFRS, company policies, and regulatory requirements.
• Identify fraud risks and control weaknesses.
• Conduct investigations into suspected fraud, misconduct, or policy violations.
• Monitor implementation of audit recommendations.

5. IT & Digital Controls

• Evaluate ERP controls (SAP, Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics or equivalent).
• Review cybersecurity controls and data governance frameworks.
• Assess system access controls and IT general controls.
• Audit automated business processes and digital transformation initiatives.

6. Governance & Regulatory Compliance

• Ensure compliance with local regulatory requirements across East African markets.
• Assess adherence to tax, statutory, labor, environmental, and corporate governance requirements.
• Coordinate with external auditors, regulators, and other assurance providers.
• Support whistleblower investigations and ethics programs.

7. Reporting & Stakeholder Management

• Prepare high-quality audit reports highlighting risks, findings, and recommendations.
• Present audit outcomes to senior management, Executive Committee, and Board Audit Committee.
• Provide periodic updates on audit plan execution and issue remediation.
• Act as a trusted advisor to business leaders.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Annual audit plan completion rate.
• Closure rate of audit findings.
• Reduction in repeat audit observations.
• Improvement in internal control maturity.
• Fraud prevention and detection effectiveness.
• Audit Committee satisfaction rating.
• Regulatory and compliance audit outcomes.
• Quality assurance review results.

Education & Professional Qualifications

Essential

• Bachelor's Degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Commerce, Economics, or related discipline.
• Professional certification such as:
• CIA (Certified Internal Auditor)
• CPA / ACCA
• CMA (advantage)

Preferred

• Master's Degree (MBA, Finance, Risk Management, or related field).

Experience

Essential

• 12-15+ years of progressive experience in Internal Audit, Risk Management, Compliance, or Finance.
• Minimum 5 years in a senior leadership role.
• Extensive FMCG industry experience.
• Experience auditing manufacturing, supply chain, distribution, and commercial operations.
• Experience working across multiple African markets.

Preferred

• Experience interacting with Board Audit Committees.
• Exposure to multinational or regional FMCG organizations.
• ERP audit experience (SAP HANA S/4, Oracle, Dynamics).

Technical Competencies

• Risk-Based Internal Auditing
• Enterprise Risk Management
• Corporate Governance
• Fraud Risk Management
• Financial Controls & Assurance
• Operational Auditing
• IT Auditing & Cybersecurity Controls
• Data Analytics & Continuous Auditing
• Regulatory Compliance
• Investigation & Forensic Auditing

Behavioral Competencies

• Strategic Thinking
• Strong Business Acumen
• Leadership & Team Development
• Stakeholder Management
• Integrity & Ethical Judgment
• Influencing & Negotiation Skills
• Analytical Thinking
• Decision Making
• Communication & Presentation Skills
• Results Orientation

Travel Requirement

• 30% to 50% travel across East African markets, manufacturing facilities, distribution centers, and sales operations.

Ideal Candidate Profile

A seasoned Internal Audit leader with deep FMCG sector experience, capable of partnering with executive management and the Board to strengthen governance, enhance operational efficiency, manage regional risks, and drive a strong culture of accountability and compliance across East Afric