Assistant Manager - Internal Audit Quality Advisory
- Full-time
- Business unit: Internal Audit
- Division: Internal Audit
Company Description
Masdar is the UAE’s clean energy champion and one of the largest companies of its kind in the world, advancing the development and deployment of renewable energy and green hydrogen technologies to address global sustainability challenges. Established in 2006, Masdar is today active in over 40 countries, helping them to achieve their clean energy objectives and advance sustainable development. Masdar is jointly owned by Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), Mubadala Investment Company (Mubadala), and Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (TAQA), and under this ownership the company is targeting a renewable energy portfolio capacity of at least 100 gigawatts (GW) by 2030 and an annual green hydrogen production capacity of up to 1 million tonnes by the same year.
Job Description
To perform individual internal audit engagements, as part of the total internal audit plan in order to contribute to providing reasonable assurance that Masdar’s internal controls achieve objectives and promote efficiency, effectiveness and reduce the risk of loss, as well as help ensure the compliance with laws and regulations. To perform annual risk assessment and develop internal audit plan:
- Supervise advisory and internal audit engagements from the planning phase to the reporting phase to ensure high-quality audit/advisory reports and timely completion of engagements.
- Perform internal audit or advisory engagements covering investment cases (initiated and managed by various functions within Masdar Head Office, Platforms and subsidiaries) with an objective to add value, enhance efficiency, and effectiveness of underlying processes, and recommend best practices.
- Review, as part of audit or advisory engagements, the renewable energy asset portfolio optimization strategies in place to maximize financial performance of large-scale renewable energy operating assets. This includes, but not limited to, initiatives for revenue optimization, operating cost reduction, and maximize overall returns.
- Review the adequacy of controls over asset portfolio performance setting, monitoring, financial management, key contracts management (e.g., O&M, PPA), asset lifecycle management, and regulatory compliance, etc.
- Review as part of audit/ advisory engagement, the Merger & Acquisition (M&A) investment cases and provide value add recommendations to enhance the value creation focusing on financial data accuracy, compliance, and risk assessment. Evaluate the Internal Rate of Return (IRR) for investment case, analysing factors such as cash flows, discount rates, and investment horizons.
- Conduct thorough due diligence reviews or review adequacy of investment/ divestment due diligences performed covering of financial statements, valuation models, and investment agreements to identify potential risks and opportunities.
- Utilize advanced data analytics techniques to identify patterns, trends, and anomalies in financial and operational data as part of audit and advisory engagements.
- Prepare/ review the risk and control matrix (RCM) prepared by external consultant /audit engagement team prior to the start of the audit fieldwork and submit to the quality reviewer/ senior management for approval.
- Execute or supervise execution of all tests in accordance with approved RCM and within the agreed timelines.
- Identify and document the audit observations in the work papers.
- Perform regular supervisory review of the work papers prepared by assigned audit team members/ co-sourced service provider.
- Review the work and observations of assigned audit team members/ co-sourced service provider, to assess if further examination of additional areas, including technical aspects, is needed for an accurate portrayal of the company's commercial health.
- Develop and submit work papers for review to quality reviewer.
- Develop audit preclosing presentation and present observations to auditee.
- Prepare draft audit reports to meet the desired quality and standards.
- Support in audit closing meetings, ensure final reports meet the desired quality and standards.
- Manage client relationships (auditee) on assigned individual assignments and ensure achievement of targeted percentage in audit satisfaction survey issued upon completion of the assignments.
- Implement action plans addressing on as of improvements identified by clients in the satisfaction survey.
- Upload and ensure that audit /advisory engagement deliverables are uploaded into the internal audit database/software according to the specified audit timelines.
- Monitor fieldwork performed by the internal audit service provider’s assigned resources during the execution of audit fieldwork, including reviewing the draft output documents developed by the assigned resources.
- Assist in evaluation of the performance of service provider’s assigned resources for each audit advisory engagement and communicate and discuss any concerns with the Engagement Lead.
- Support in the follow-up audit exercise regularly.
- Ensure compliance to requirements of “Continuous Monitoring” outlines in the Masdar QAIP manual.
- Lead/Support “periodic self-assessments” to validate its continued conformance with the IPPF Standards and Code of Ethics.
- Develop tools for implementation of the QAIP across all engagements.
- Oversee/ Contribute to successful implementation of the QAIP Program by guiding Internal Audit Team.
- Lead/ Support benchmarking of Internal Audit activities against leading practices and drive enhancements within Internal Audit function.
- Use risk-based selection approach of audit files and other audit-related documentation for quality reviews.
- Lead/ support in performing quality assurance reviews of audit reports and corresponding issues memos, and audit engagement files to assess adherence with internal audit policies and procedures contained within the Internal Audit Manual. Provide constructive feedback to reinforce audit execution practices and procedures and develop specific training needs based on review results.
- Arrange external third parties for the mandatory quality assurance reviews for internal audit department including facilitating external assessors by arranging necessary documentation and interviews with senior management and Audit, Risk & Compliance Committee members.
- Present results of quality assessment (both self-assessment and external third-party assessment) to the Line Manager.
- Work with management to identify advisory engagement opportunities and support management in delivering such advisory engagements specially in the domain of asset management of renewable energy portfolio.
- Perform Advisory Engagement in line with the requirements of Internal Audit Standards.
- Support on the annual risk assessment exercise by meeting process owners and reviewing underlying documents to develop/ update risk registers and validate the same with process owners.
- Support the development of advisory internal audit plan in line with the results of annual risk assessment exercise.
- Contribute to the divisional strategy in line with Masdar’s vision, mission, overall strategy, and international audit standards (IPPFs).
- Ensure that the strategy is translated into annual operational business plans and KPIs for the unit that is under own leadership and that performance is monitored and reported so that any necessary actions are taken in a timely manner.
- Implement approved Internal Audit Department policies, processes, and procedures to ensure that work is carried out in a controlled and consistent manner while delivering a quality service to customers and stakeholders.
Qualifications
Preferred Qualifications:
• A master's degree in Finance, CFA, CPA, ACA, ACCA, ACAEW Certification such as CIA will be an asset.
Preferred Experience:
• 6-8 years of experience in advisory and audit roles with majority of the experience gains in Big 4 Audit Firms with specialization in value creation within asset management portfolio of large-scale projects to maximize financial and operational performance.
Additional Information
Job-Specific Skills:
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills leading to a consultative approach within a corporate / multifunctional environment.
• Ability to manage cross-functional teams.
• Advanced IT skills, including proficiency in data analytics tools and software such as Power BI, audit based analytical tools, AI tools and ERP.
• Good knowledge of and skill in providing advisory and audit engagements with specialization in value creation within asset management portfolio of large-scale projects to maximize financial and operational performance of individual operating projects.
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills, with the ability to interpret complex financial information and identify key insights.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Excel, PowerPoint, and Word, as well as data visualization tools such as Power BI, utilization of AI tools, working knowledge of ERP systems.
• Good knowledge of the Standards for the Professional Practice of Internal Auditing and the Code of Ethics developed by the Institute of Internal Auditors.
• Good knowledge of industry program policies, procedures, regulations, and laws.