Audit Compliance Manager

About Us

We are a governance-oriented organization based in the United Arab Emirates, dedicated to enhancing internal controls, regulatory compliance, risk management, and audit excellence. Our operations emphasize integrity, accountability, transparency, independence, risk awareness, and continuous improvement through structured audits, compliance monitoring, and risk-based reviews.

Role Overview

We seek an experienced Audit Compliance Manager who will lead compliance audits, internal control evaluations, regulatory assessments, corrective action programs, and audit readiness activities. This role entails collaboration with internal audit, legal, risk, finance, operations, HR, IT teams, external auditors, regulators, and senior leadership to identify compliance gaps and reinforce controls.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and execute a risk-based audit and compliance strategy aligned with organizational priorities.
• Develop annual and multi-year compliance audit plans reflecting enterprise risk.
• Conduct internal compliance audits, operational audits, control and regulatory compliance assessments.
• Assess the effectiveness of internal controls, policies, procedures, and governance structures.
• Detect control weaknesses, regulatory gaps, process inefficiencies, and emerging risks.
• Prepare comprehensive audit findings, recommendations, corrective action plans, and management reports.
• Oversee the implementation and closure of corrective and preventive measures.
• Execute follow-up audits to validate remediation efforts.
• Maintain a detailed register of compliance obligations and regulatory requirements.
• Track and evaluate changes in UAE legal and regulatory frameworks affecting the organization.
• Collaborate with legal and compliance teams to interpret and implement regulatory mandates.
• Develop and update compliance policies, frameworks, and control standards.
• Perform risk and control self-assessments across different business areas.
• Identify key risks and controls, establishing appropriate testing procedures.
• Design and conduct audit testing programs including sampling and evidence evaluation.
• Review financial, operational, IT security, procurement, HR, and other relevant business controls.
• Coordinate all internal and external audit activities and act as the main liaison for external auditors, regulators, and certification bodies.
• Prepare the organization for inspections, audits, certifications, and compliance reviews.
• Monitor audit findings, management responses, remediation commitments, and overdue tasks.
• Develop dashboards and key compliance performance indicators for senior management.
• Analyze repeat audit issues to identify root causes and systemic challenges.
• Recommend process and control enhancements to mitigate compliance and operational risks.
• Conduct investigations into potential policy breaches, control failures, or compliance related concerns as necessary.
• Support frameworks addressing fraud risk, ethics, anti-bribery, conflicts of interest, and whistleblowing.
• Assess and manage third-party and supplier compliance risks and controls.
• Evaluate compliance risks posed by new products, services, projects, systems, or organizational changes.
• Ensure comprehensive documentation of audit workpapers, evidence, reports, and registers.
• Maintain objectivity, independence, consistency, and professionalism in all audit activities.
• Implement appropriate audit management and compliance monitoring technologies.
• Leverage data analytics and automated testing tools to uncover anomalies and potential control failures.
• Provide executive, audit committee, and board-level reports detailing compliance and control status.
• Offer practical recommendations that effectively balance regulatory demands with business goals.
• Lead, mentor, and develop teams of auditors, compliance specialists, and control personnel.
• Foster a culture emphasizing compliance, accountability, risk awareness, and continuous improvement.

Qualifications and Experience

• Undergraduate degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Law, Risk Management, Internal Audit, or related disciplines.
• Between 5 and 10+ years in audit, compliance, internal controls, risk management, governance, or assurance roles.
• Demonstrated success in creating and managing risk-based audit or compliance programs.
• Proficient knowledge of internal control frameworks, audit methodologies, and regulatory compliance.
• Experience in identifying control issues and directing remediation efforts.
• Strong understanding of risk assessments, audit testing, root cause analysis, and corrective action management.
• Capability to work effectively with senior leaders, external auditors, regulators, and multidisciplinary teams.
• Excellent analytical, report writing, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Preferred familiarity with the UAE regulatory and compliance landscape.
• Advanced degrees or certifications (Master's, MBA, CIA, CISA, CFE, CPA, ACCA, CRMA, CAMS) are advantageous.
• Knowledge of recognized audit standards such as COSO, ISO 31000, ISO 37301, ISO 19011.
• Experience with enterprise risk management, compliance management systems, governance frameworks, and technology platforms (GRC, audit management, Power BI, SQL).
• Additional experience in technology, cybersecurity, third-party, operational, or regulatory audits is a plus.
• Experience in regulated industries like financial services, healthcare, aviation, energy, telecom, government, construction, or logistics is highly valued.
• Experience working with professional firms or across UAE and GCC regions is desirable.
• English fluency is required, Arabic language skills are a benefit.

What We Offer

• A full-time role based in the UAE.
• Competitive salary with performance-linked bonuses.
• Opportunity to direct enterprise-wide audit and compliance initiatives.
• Interaction with senior executives, audit committees, regulators, and assurance entities.
• Support and resources to obtain relevant professional certifications.
• Access to modern audit, governance risk compliance, data analytics, and compliance technology tools.
• Collaborative work environment focused on governance.
• Career growth and leadership development pathways.
• Comprehensive employee benefits.