Principal, Audit Manager (Front office & Risk Management)

Purpose of Job

The Principal, Audit Manager (CSG) leads and coordinates audit activities across multiple business functions, applying strong influencing, communication and relationship building skills to secure stakeholder engagement and support effective audit delivery. They convey complex audit issues with clarity, tailoring messages to diverse and senior audiences, and establish constructive relationships that enable open dialogue and collaboration. Operating with a high degree of autonomy, they guide multidisciplinary audit teams—including guest auditors and co-sourced staff—providing direction and feedback to ensure high-quality and timely outputs. The role also requires sound judgement and the ability to navigate sensitive or complex situations with diplomacy, shaping outcomes that support strong governance and effective risk management across the Bank.

This position focuses on audits within the EBRD’s Client Services Group (CSG), relating to a wide range of front-end banking and donor funded operations and activities in HQ and in countries of operations (including EBRD’s new region in Sub Sahara Africa & Iraq), risk management & compliance, including specialist credit file reviews, compliance (KYC/AML), ESG/sustainability reviews, though not exclusively. The role may involve a limited amount of travelling.

Background

The Board of Directors established IAD as part of its oversight role. IAD, as a trusted independent third line of defence, and in accordance with the Institute of Internal Auditors’ International Professional Practices Framework, provides timely risk-based and objective assurance and advice to Executive Management and the Board of Directors on the adequacy and effectiveness of the EBRD's risk and control framework. IAD aspires to be a function of excellence, valued by stakeholders for insights and foresight, objective assurance and advice. 

Facts / Scale

• The Principal, Audit Manager has no budget or line management responsibilities. They are expected to supervise other team members, guest auditors and/or external consultants in performing assigned tasks/projects as delegated by the IAD leadership team. In doing so, they provide formal supervision and coaching to audit teams.
• Innovates within the function, solving complex or ambiguous internal audit problems.
• In addition to interaction with other members of IAD as necessary, this role requires close and effective interaction with stakeholders – generally, but not exclusively, up to Director level.

Accountabilities & Responsibilities

Audit risk assessment and delivery

• Continuously monitors and assesses organisational, risk and control developments in their assigned portfolio of coverage (“business monitoring”).
• Independently plans and executes audit engagements and business monitoring work with minimal supervision to the quality standards expected by the IIA.
• Effectively supervises multi-disciplinary teams, guest auditors and external consultants, and provides timely, open and constructive performance feedback. Takes accountability for all aspects of the end product, ensuring that work adheres to schedules and is completed to the required standard.
• Ensures timely and adequate monitoring and validation of open audit issues as assigned.

Other responsibilities

• Develops and manages open and constructive working relationships with stakeholders.
• Delivers engagements and activities in in accordance with Institute of Internal Auditors’ standards, Code of Ethics, and related guidance.
• Proactively supports other departmental initiatives and deliverables as assigned, including developing annual work plans, regular reporting to the Board of Directors, ad hoc advisory engagements, and departmental improvements.
• Keeps abreast of relevant industry, professional and organisational developments to update risk assessments, inform audit coverage, and drive innovation and improvement in IAD practices.

Knowledge, Skills, Experience & Qualifications

Academic/professional qualifications

• University degree, preferably with a finance, business, economics, law focus or a related discipline.
• Relevant professional qualification relating to internal auditing, such as CIA, is highly desirable.

Experience

• Demonstrated experience leading or managing internal audit engagements in a complex financial services or investment banking environment, including responsibility for supervising teams and delivering high-quality risk-based audit work
• Experience engaging with senior stakeholders, including the ability to challenge constructively and influence outcomes in sensitive or complex situations
• Post‑qualification experience in front‑office banking, risk management and/or compliance, sufficient to provide authoritative insight into core CSG activities.
• Proven ability to work across diverse business areas and simultaneously on multiple tasks/projects, quickly developing an understanding of new products, processes and risks. 

Technical and personal skills

• Communication, Influence & Stakeholder Engagement
  • Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex audit issues clearly and concisely to senior and diverse audiences in complex political environments.
  • Strong influencing and negotiation capability, with a track record of building constructive relationships, securing cooperation, and gaining stakeholder buy in across business units.
  • Demonstrated ability to manage sensitive discussions with diplomacy and sound judgement, promoting openness and productive dialogue.

• Strategic & Analytical Capability
  • Strong analytical and critical thinking skills, including the ability to assess risks, evaluate controls and interpret complex information to form balanced, well-reasoned conclusions.
  • Ability to apply data driven analysis and digital tools in audit work to enhance insights and coverage.
  • Mature strategic thinking, with the capacity to recognise thematic issues, align work to organisational priorities, and translate strategy into practical audit delivery.

• Technical Audit Expertise
  • Solid grounding in internal audit methodology, including risk assessment, control evaluation, sampling, evidence analysis, mature root cause assessment and report writing to IIA standards.
  • Ability to innovate and apply professional judgement to resolve complex, ambiguous or novel audit challenges.

• Working Style & Behaviours
  • Effective team leader in a matrix environment, capable of motivating multidisciplinary teams—including guest auditors and co sourcing resources—to deliver high quality outputs to agreed timelines.
  • Demonstrates resilience, adaptability and self-management, maintaining performance under pressure and adjusting to multiple evolving priorities.
  • Champions the EBRD’s Behavioural Competencies: Collaborate Smartly, Speak Up and Listen Well, Simplify to Amplify, and Act Decisively.

What is it like to work at the EBRD?

Our agile and innovative approach is what makes life at the EBRD a unique experience! You will be part of a pioneering and diverse international organisation, and use your talents to make a real difference to people's lives and help shape the future of the regions we invest in. 

The EBRD environment provides you with:

• Varied, stimulating and engaging work that gives you an opportunity to interact with a wide range of experts in the financial, political, public and private sectors across the regions we invest in;
• A working culture that embraces inclusion and celebrates diversity;
• An environment that places sustainability, equality and digital  transformation at the heart of what we do.

Diversity is one of the Bank’s core values which are at the heart of everything it does.  A diverse workforce with the right knowledge and skills enables connection with our clients, brings pioneering ideas, energy and innovation. The EBRD staff is characterised by its rich diversity of nationalities, cultures and opinions and we aim to sustain and build on this strength. As such, the EBRD seeks to ensure that everyone is treated with respect and given equal opportunities and works in an inclusive environment. The EBRD encourages all qualified candidates who are nationals of the EBRD member countries to apply regardless of their racial, ethnic, religious and cultural background, gender, sexual orientation or disabilities.  As an inclusive employer, we promote flexible working and expecting our employee to attend the office 50% of their working time.

Please note, that due to the high volume of applications received, we regret to inform you that we are unable to provide detailed feedback to candidates who have not been shortlisted (for further consideration).