Section Head of Internal Audit (UAE National)

Company Overview

Since the establishment of the union of the United Arab Emirates in 1971, education has received the utmost attention of the founding leader, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, may Allah have mercy on him, and his founding brothers. They believed that education was the cornerstone of building an enabled community that could keep pace with the advancements. Over the past decades, the wise leadership of the country was keen on building an educational system that matched its counterparts in the advanced nations. It harnessed for this purpose all the required capabilities, to achieve the country's agenda and national vision in this regard. Sincere efforts have also been made to develop education and adopt the best systems that achieve high-quality education outputs, to achieve the future visions and aspirations of the wise leadership.

Since investing in human capital is the main objective, the UAE has been keen on establishing the Ministry of Education and creating the appropriate environment to build pioneering Emirati schools, in terms of standards, form, and content they provide. It also made sure that such schools provided high-quality educational environment and owned the most technically advanced tools to be able to graduate generations that could pursue their university education confidently in higher education institutions to fulfil the requirements of labour market.

The MOE has also provided a smart learning system and high-quality digital platforms, side by side with the continuous development of school curriculums, according to national learning standards, assessment policy that is based on assessing for learning, and highest quality standards that match the best international practices. Various learning tracks, moreover, have been provided to support the capabilities and skills of students and achieve the country's strategy of encouraging the culture of creativity and innovation through providing the students with the skills of the 21st century and motivating them to have new ideas that relate to the reality they live in and foresee the future. This will eventually help in finding radical, sustainable solutions to the major issues, improving competitiveness, and supporting smart government in its attempts to keep pace with global advancements, advance education, and push it to broad horizons of excellence, leadership, and competitiveness.

Department Definition

The Internal Audit Department is an independent function reporting directly to the Minister of Education, certified in Quality Assessment by the UAE Internal Auditors Association. It is dedicated to promoting the principles of transparency, integrity, and institutional performance excellence in accordance with the International Standards for the Professional Practice of Internal Auditing, the Internal Audit Charter and Methodology of the Federal Government, and the Internal Audit Regulations issued by the UAE Accountability Authority.

The Internal Audit Department is responsible for reviewing and evaluating internal control systems, as well as examining financial, administrative, and operational activities to ensure compliance with the applicable laws, regulations, and policies adopted by the Federal Government. It also identifies potential risks and recommends corrective and preventive measures to mitigate those risks and enhance the efficient utilization of resources.

Furthermore, the Department supports informed decision-making through the issuance of periodic audit reports that present audit findings and improvement recommendations, thereby strengthening overall organizational performance and enhancing levels of compliance and quality across the Ministry.

Main Job Duties & Responsibilities

• Oversee the identification and assessment of inherent risks and internal controls that may impact on the objectives and activities of the organizational units under the Section’s responsibility and contribute to the preparation of the strategic plan and updates to the annual internal audit plan.
• Monitor the implementation of the internal audit plan and the delivery of consulting services and review relevant internal audit reports in accordance with the Federal Government Internal Audit Charter and Methodology, as well as the International Standards for the Professional Practice of Internal Auditing.
• Contribute to the proposal of additional control measures and any initiatives that support continuous improvement, enhance operational effectiveness, and add value to the Ministry’s activities.
• Oversee the follow-up of recommendations and corrective action plans resulting from internal audit engagements and reports issued by the UAE Accountability Authority concerning the organizational units under the Section’s responsibility.
• Coordinate and follow up with the UAE Accountability Authority and other assurance service providers to facilitate oversight and control activities within the Ministry.
• Monitor the reporting system and review preliminary assessment reports of suspected cases in accordance with approved procedures and the regulations issued by the UAE Accountability Authority.
• Assist in investigations related to suspected fraud and misconduct.
• Promote anti-fraud mechanisms and raise awareness among organizational units regarding fraud prevention, detection, reporting, and response practices.
• Develop action plans and mechanisms for the periodic monitoring of the Section’s key performance indicators (KPIs) to support the achievement of the Department’s objectives.
• Perform any other duties and responsibilities related to the nature of the Section’s work or as assigned by the Department Director.

Qualifications and Experience

• Master’s degree with a minimum of 4 years of experience in internal auditing, governance, and anti-fraud.
• Bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 6 years of experience in internal auditing, governance including financial and administrative auditing, and anti-fraud.
• Professional certification in the field of internal auditing is required, such as: Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), or an equivalent recognized professional certification.
• Sound knowledge of the International Standards for the Professional Practice of Internal Auditing (IPPF), the Internal Audit Regulations issued by the UAE Accountability Authority, as well as governance, risk management, and anti-fraud standards and practices.
• Thorough understanding of the laws, regulations, and systems applicable within the UAE Federal Government, including but not limited to human resources, procurement, finance, asset management, inventory control, and related regulatory frameworks.

Minimum Required Skills

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to propose practical and implementable solutions.
• Knowledge of Artificial Intelligence (AI) governance principles and the application of AI in continuous auditing processes.
• knowledge of data collection and analysis tools and techniques, as well as internal auditing systems.
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage and collaborate across various management levels.
• Strong time management and prioritization skills to ensure audit assignments are completed within established timelines.
• Ability to work efficiently and effectively in dynamic and challenging environments.
• Proactive mindset in identifying opportunities for improvement and enhancing work processes and procedures.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively apply the International Professional Practices Framework (IPPF).