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 outlets in the UK and Pakistan alongside a growing online platform, the company is known for blending contemporary fashion with quality and distinctive design. We are seeking a seasoned Internal Audit Manager to lead and oversee audit activities across our retail stores, warehouses, head office, and other business functions. This role is pivotal in ensuring compliance with company policies, financial controls, operational procedures, and regulatory requirements. The successful candidate will identify control weaknesses, mitigate financial losses, reduce operational risks, and recommend actionable improvements to enhance governance and overall business performance.

Key Responsibilities
- Develop and implement risk-based annual audit plans covering retail stores, warehouses, and head office operations.
- Conduct both scheduled and surprise audits of retail outlets to verify adherence to company policies and standard operating procedures.
- Review daily sales activities including cash handling, deposits, refunds, discounts, void transactions, and sales reconciliations.
- Lead the retail audit team in physical stock counts and reconcile inventory with system records to detect shortages, discrepancies, and potential losses.
- 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 controls.
- Review payroll, employee attendance, overtime, incentives, and other employee-related payments for accuracy and proper authorization.
- Evaluate internal controls including 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, control weaknesses, and financial risks, recommending practical corrective measures.
- Prepare detailed audit reports outlining findings, risk levels, root causes, financial implications, and recommended actions.
- Collaborate with department heads and store management to resolve audit observations and improve compliance.
- Monitor corrective action plans, conduct follow-up audits, and ensure timely closure of outstanding issues.
- Maintain an updated risk register and escalate significant control breaches and unresolved high-risk issues 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 improvements.

Required Qualifications
- Professional qualification such as CA/CA Inter with post-articles experience, ACCA, CIA, CISA, or an equivalent certification is preferred.
- A minimum of 10 years of relevant experience in internal audit, risk management, or financial and operational controls.
- At least 5 years in a managerial or team leadership role.
- Proven experience in fashion retail store audits, warehouse inventory audits, 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 to travel occasionally to retail stores, warehouses, and other business locations.

Preferred Qualifications and Benefits
- Additional professional certifications in internal auditing, risk management, or fraud examination will be considered an advantage.

This role offers the opportunity to contribute significantly to the governance and operational excellence of a dynamic fashion retail business with a strong presence in multiple markets.