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. The Internal Audit Manager will lead and manage audit activities across retail stores, warehouses, head office functions, and other business operations. This role ensures adherence to company policies, financial controls, operational procedures, and relevant regulations. The successful candidate will identify control weaknesses, prevent financial losses, minimize operational risks, and recommend 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 compliance with 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 during physical stock counts and reconcile inventory with system records to detect shortages, discrepancies, and potential stock 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, 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 potential financial risks, recommending practical corrective actions.
- Prepare detailed audit reports outlining findings, risk levels, root causes, financial implications, and suggested remedial measures.
- Collaborate with department heads and store management to address audit observations and improve compliance.
- Monitor corrective action plans, conduct follow-up audits, and ensure timely resolution of outstanding issues.
- Maintain an updated risk register and report significant control breaches and 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 equivalent is preferred.
- 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 capacity.
- Proven expertise in fashion retail store audits, warehouse inventory audits, and stock reconciliations.
- Mandatory hands-on experience with SAP Business One (SAP B1), including reviewing ERP transactions, inventory movements, sales records, financial entries, reconciliations, and internal controls.

Preferred Qualifications and Competencies

- Relevant professional certifications in internal auditing, risk management, or fraud examination are advantageous.
- Strong analytical, investigative, and risk assessment skills.
- Comprehensive understanding of retail operations, inventory controls, cash management, and financial processes.
- Ability to identify control weaknesses, assess business impact, and propose practical solutions.
- Excellent report-writing, presentation, and stakeholder management skills.
- Demonstrated leadership, team development, and decision-making capabilities.
- 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.

This role offers the opportunity to play a pivotal part in strengthening Unze London’s governance framework while contributing to the company’s continued growth and operational excellence.