Published: May 8, 2025 - The Head of Internal Audit leads strategic audit activities, including risk assessments and audits across key business areas. This role ensures audit quality, compliance, and timely reporting to senior management. The head also manages the risk register and supports ISO 27001 and security systems.

An Introduction to Professional Skills and Functions for Head of Internal Audit with a Cover Letter
1. Details for Head of Internal Audit Cover Letter
- Provide input into the Integrated Annual Report
- Compile Reports for Quarterly Governance committee presentations (CEO and CFO) and present
- Responsible for budget and projections relating to the specific cost centre
- Performs monthly monitoring of actual expenses versus the budget
- Attend Board subcommittee meetings
- Ensures the quality and completeness of fieldwork
- Conducts high-impact/strategic advisory and assurance projects
- Responsible for managing the relationship and approving the scope of engagements
- Manage relationships with other assurance providers
- Responsible for the preparation of the annual risk-based internal audit plan
- Responsible for leading the internal audit department in the planning, execution, and delivery of each internal audit assignment
- Responsible for the presentation of a quarterly update to the Audit Committee
- Responsible for the preparation of the Internal Audit Committee Report for the Annual Report
- Liaise and work with senior management in executing responsibilities and maintaining good relations at all levels of management
- Provide guidance and development to the internal audit team
Skills: Audit Planning, Budget Monitoring, Report Preparation, Stakeholder Management, Risk Analysis, Committee Reporting, Team Leadership, Assurance Delivery
2. Roles for Head of Internal Audit Cover Letter
- Roll out risk risk-based Annual Audit Plan
- Participate in the execution of multiple internal audit projects including risk assessment, testing/ evaluation of records, and designing/ conducting the internal audit process
- Explain to team members how internal audit projects contribute to meeting the expectations of stakeholders and the objectives of the organization
- Utilize and apply best practices using carefully crafted internal audit programs
- Conduct operational, performance, information technology and compliance audits on programs and service departments
- Ensure completion of internal audit projects within the budgeted time
- Manages the quality of internal audit reports
- Attend internal audit closure meetings with the Head of functions and de-briefing meetings with team members
- Prepare and issue internal audit reports and deliver presentations to process owners in a formal setting
- Prepare periodic reports and submit to the Director, Internal Oversight regarding internal audit performance relative to its Annual Audit Plan and approved key performance indicators
- Develop specialized knowledge/ expertise in areas related to the operation of Centers/ programs
- Act as a resource on complex matters, identifies, anticipates and resolves practical issues
- Work with the Director, Internal Oversight in preparing complex written documents and presentations
- Create an environment that encourages improvement and innovation, challenges traditional approaches
Skills: Audit Execution, Risk Assessment, Stakeholder Alignment, Best Practices, Compliance Audits, Report Quality, Performance Monitoring, Innovation Support
3. Functions for Head of Internal Audit Cover Letter
- Develop and maintain the Internal Audit Manual, inclusive of related policies, procedures and risk management sections
- Develop and submit the following Audit plans for the approval of the board audit committee
- Carry out the approved Internal Audit Plan and report progress thereof to the board audit committee every quarter
- Keep the board audit committee informed of relevant developments in audit standards
- Assist the board audit committee with matters concerning the External Auditors
- Recognize ineffective processes/ controls and recommend alternative approaches or solutions to capitalize on change
- Work with the Director, Internal Oversight, in investigations of reported incidents related to fraud and reports thereon
- Participate and support the organization's anti-fraud programs
- Performs risk assessment to identify key risks and risk mitigation strategies
- Provide the organization with technical support in establishing an effective anti-fraud program and mitigating the risks in the implementation of processes
- Lead and oversee the internal audit assignments including preparing audit reports, plans
- Identifying internal control deficiencies and providing sound recommendations to management and the audit committee
- Conduct regular review of audit standards and formulate changes to audit policies, procedures
- Manage the relationship with internal and external stakeholders
- Provide advisory services to the business and to support units on related internal control
Skills: Audit Planning, Policy Development, Risk Assessment, Fraud Investigation, Control Evaluation, Standards Review, Stakeholder Management, Advisory Support
4. Job Description for Head of Internal Audit Cover Letter
- Formulate the Company’s audit plan and define the internal audit scope to identify internal controls to mitigate risks
- Perform and control the full audit cycle including risk management and control management over operations’ effectiveness, financial reliability and compliance with all applicable regulations and the Company’s policies and procedures
- Lead the preparation and review of audit documentation according to the audit schedule and deadline
- Identify, prioritize and communicate to business process owners regarding internal control deficiencies found during testing and provide recommendations to remediate internal control deficiencies
- Draw up regular reports, communicate progress and results of the audit plan and make recommendations to the Audit Committee
- Monitor follow-up actions by the audit plan approved by the Audit Committee
- Liaise and manage relationships with business process owners, management and third-party internal service providers
- Oversee the delivery of insightful audits, including technical or complex audits
- Provide overall quality control in the area of responsibility/portfolio to ensure delivery is to the required standard and on time
- Identify areas for improvement in the operation of the audit team and the wider global function
- Lead the development and delivery of the Life audit plan
- Communicate and report to relevant stakeholders regarding the assessment of the effectiveness of the framework controls
- Directly manage a team of 3-4 direct reports and contribute to the wider Life Internal Audit Senior Leadership team
- Lead the department/team, ensure that the appropriate people strategy is in place to recruit, manage, reward, and develop staff effectively, driving high performance
- Prepare reports to internal audit key stakeholders (e.g., Audit Committees, Risk Committees, Board Committees, etc) and through these influence management actions to deliver a more effective control framework
Skills: Audit Planning, Risk Management, Documentation Review, Control Assessment, Report Delivery, Stakeholder Liaison, Team Leadership, Quality Assurance
5. Accountabilities for Head of Internal Audit Cover Letter
- Provide strategic and technical leadership for audit activities and support the Audit Committee
- Lead and coordinate an annual risk assessment to support the development of the annual audit plan
- Oversee financial, operations, and technology audits
- Ensure overall audit quality of Internal Audit activities and that the Internal Audit team complies with the Internal Audit policy and manual and communication standards
- Participate in the Group Audit Committees and be responsible for the presentation of audit results to the Committee and senior management
- Provide timely and accurate reporting on control gaps and the status and remediation of audit findings
- Provide internal audit input (compliance, governance, financial control) to Group-wide projects and initiatives
- Lead investigations into any suspected Fraud, Whistle-blowing or other areas
- Maintain the corporate risk register
- Ensure the Group’s ISO 27001 accreditation is maintained by managing the Group Quality Manager
- Establish processes for the Quality Management System (QMS) and Information Security Management System (ISMS)
Skills: Strategic Leadership, Risk Assessment, Audit Oversight, Quality Assurance, Committee Reporting, Control Reporting, Fraud Investigation, ISO Management
What are the Qualifications and Requirements for Head of Internal Audit in a Cover Letter?
1. Knowledge and Abilities for Head of Internal Audit Cover Letter
- Working experience in Enterprise Risk Management / Risk-Based Internal Audit
- Must be fluent in English and Bahasa
- Collaborative team player with cross-functional teams and external stakeholders
- Dynamic personality with positive attitude and self-motivation
- Strong planning skills, meticulous, well-organized and results-driven
- Strong focus on relevance, quality & accuracy (including good helicopter view & business orientation)
- Good written and verbal communication skills (confident, clear, precise, especially for presentations)
- Proactive (proposes improvement ideas, quickly raises potential issues and potential solutions)
- Good problem-solving skills and able to provide analysis to understand root causes
- Strong experience in Accounting, Auditing, Compliance, or related fields
- Previous working experience either at public accounting firms (e.g., Big 4) or in publicly traded companies
- Exceptional project management skills
- Deep technical knowledge of internal controls, and the ability to identify risks in business and IT processes including system interdependencies
Qualifications: BA in Accounting with 6 years of Experience
2. Experience and Requirements for Head of Internal Audit Cover Letter
- Work experience in the management of Internal Audit and/or Finance
- Expert skills in auditing techniques, accounting and management principles
- Superior knowledge of international accounting and auditing policies, procedures, principles and standards
- Strong working knowledge of budgeting and accounting policies, procedures and standards
- Prior experience in organizing, planning, managing and supervising the audit functions and in conducting financial reporting
- Experience with ERP financial systems
- Highly developed organizational, communication and presentation skills
- Exceptional negotiating and decision-making skills
- Strong management or leadership skills as exhibited by experience in effectively leading a team and /or chairing committees
- Superior interpersonal skills as demonstrated by the ability to form professional relationships at all levels of the organization and with appropriate external stakeholders
- Previous experience working in a higher education or training institution
- Significant proven experience in the field of internal audit, potentially also combined with external audit experience gained in a Big 4
- Excellent analytical skills, strategic thinking, and business acumen with the ability to deal with ambiguity and change
- Proven ability to work in a fast-changing environment and execute with urgency
Qualifications: BA in Business Administration with 8 years of Experience
3. Requirements and Experience for Head of Internal Audit Cover Letter
- Good knowledge of airline operations and related regulatory requirements
- Possesses a high level and a strong work ethic with a commitment to continuous improvement in a dynamic and changing environment that strives to exceed expectations
- Strong leadership and analytical skills, and the ability to work independently and in a matrix and remote environment
- Strong interpersonal, communication and presentation skills, including managerial courage, dealing with ambiguity
- Superior problem-solving ability
- Able to be a team leader who is self-initiated, independent and able to meet tight schedules
- Ability to create and maintain good working relationships with teammates and all levels of staff members from various business units
- Familiar with Data Analytics tools such as ACL or equivalent
- Excellent computer skills including Excel, Word, PowerPoint, ACL, IDEA, and Tableau
- Fluent in writing and speaking in English and in Chinese
- Good understanding of regulatory requirements
- Experience maintaining dual reporting lines
- Confident individual with a strong technical background in internal audit
- Strong understanding of best practice approaches to risk management and internal controls
Qualifications: BA in Public Sector Audit with 4 years of Experience
4. Education and Experience for Head of Internal Audit Cover Letter
- Experience in an Internal Audit function gained in-house at MNCs/FIs/Banks or Payments/FinTech companies and/or at leading/reputable audit firms
- Strong in processes (including process flows and maps), systems, and controls, especially about the Internal Audit environment
- Outstanding stakeholder and change management capabilities
- Ability to work under pressure, autonomously and juggle multiple competing priorities
- Ability to communicate clearly and with independence and conviction
- Comfortable delivering difficult news to senior management
- Creative thinker and able to come up with practical solutions to problems
- Solid exposure to and understanding of payments/FinTech industries and the issues impacting those industries
- Exceptional written and verbal English communication and presentation skills
- Previous experience as a PCF 13 with the CBI
- Excellent command of both English and Chinese
- Analytical, articulate and willing to build the team from scratch
- Working experience in internal or external auditing work
- Experience with all aspects of planning, executing and reporting audit projects that address a combination of operational and technology objectives
Qualifications: BA in Risk Management with 5 years of Experience
5. Professional Background for Head of Internal Audit Cover Letter
- Managerial experience in external and internal audit work, with demonstrable experience in leading audit activities
- Strong academic background (university degree in economics, accounting, or finance) and relevant professional certifications such as CIA (Certified Internal Auditor) or CPA
- Data-driven and experienced in IT-supported audit approaches
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
- Proven experience in efficiently working in an international environment and collaborating to drive solutions
- Proven experience in managing an international, diverse and multidisciplinary team of professionals
- High professional and ethical standards with the ability to handle confidential information
- Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, to all levels of the company, including experience of reporting to the top/ supervisory board
- Ability to interact with stakeholders at any level
- Ability to quickly grasp new concepts, make objective assessments and see the big picture
- Fluent in English and German
- Experience working in a highly outsourced environment
- Advanced ability to write and edit clear and concise work papers and reports
- Advanced skills in MS Office applications
Qualifications: BA in Business Law with 7 years of Experience