Senior Manager Internal Audit

Unze London, a well-established fashion brand since 1989, specializes in footwear, apparel, and accessories for men, women, and children. Operating retail stores in the UK and Pakistan alongside a growing online platform, the company is known for blending contemporary fashion with quality and distinctive design. The Internal Audit Manager will lead and oversee audit activities across retail stores, warehouses, head office functions, and other operations. This role ensures adherence to company policies, financial controls, operational procedures, and regulatory requirements. The successful candidate will identify control weaknesses, mitigate financial losses, reduce operational risks, and recommend improvements to enhance governance and overall business performance.

Key Responsibilities
- Develop and implement a risk-based annual audit plan covering retail outlets, warehouses, and head office operations.
- Conduct both scheduled and surprise audits of retail stores to verify compliance with company policies and standard operating procedures.
- Review daily sales activities, cash handling, deposits, refunds, discounts, void transactions, and sales reconciliations.
- Lead audit teams during physical stock counts and reconcile inventory with system records to detect shortages and discrepancies.
- Utilize SAP Business One (SAP B1) to audit financial transactions, inventory movements, sales records, stock transfers, and system reconciliations.
- Investigate unusual transactions, suspected fraud, unauthorized adjustments, and financial irregularities.
- Audit procurement processes, vendor payments, purchase orders, petty cash, operating expenses, and approval workflows.
- Review payroll, attendance, overtime, incentives, and employee-related payments for accuracy and proper authorization.
- Evaluate internal controls, segregation of duties, system access, and compliance with delegated authority limits.
- Assess controls over inventory receiving, dispatch, inter-store transfers, customer returns, damaged goods, and stock adjustments.
- Identify operational inefficiencies and control weaknesses, recommending practical corrective actions.
- Prepare detailed audit reports outlining findings, risk assessments, root causes, financial impacts, and suggested improvements.
- Collaborate with department heads and store management to address audit observations and enhance compliance.
- Monitor corrective action plans, conduct follow-up audits, and ensure timely resolution of outstanding issues.
- Maintain an updated risk register and escalate significant control breaches or unresolved high-risk matters to senior management.
- Lead, supervise, and develop the internal audit team, ensuring quality and timely completion of audit assignments.
- Prepare periodic audit summaries, risk assessments, and management reports highlighting recurring issues and control enhancements.

Required Qualifications
- Professional qualification such as CA/CA Inter with post-articles experience, ACCA, CIA, CISA, or an equivalent certification is preferred.
- Minimum of 10 years’ relevant experience in internal audit, risk management, or financial and operational controls.
- At least 5 years in a managerial or team leadership capacity.
- Proven expertise in auditing fashion retail stores, warehouse inventory, and stock reconciliations.
- Hands-on experience with SAP Business One (SAP B1) for reviewing ERP transactions, inventory movements, sales records, financial entries, reconciliations, and internal controls.
- Strong analytical, investigative, and risk assessment skills.
- Sound understanding of retail operations, inventory controls, cash management, and financial processes.
- Excellent report writing, presentation, and stakeholder management abilities.
- Leadership skills with a focus on team development and decision-making.
- High standards of integrity, confidentiality, independence, and professional ethics.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and audit documentation tools.
- Willingness and ability to travel occasionally to retail stores, warehouses, and other business locations.

Preferred Qualifications and Benefits
- Additional certifications in internal auditing, risk management, or fraud examination will be advantageous.
- Opportunity to work with a reputable and growing fashion brand with a diverse retail footprint.
- Leadership role with scope to influence business controls and governance across multiple functions.

This role offers a challenging and rewarding opportunity for an experienced audit professional to contribute to the continued success and integrity of Unze London’s operations.