Head of Internal Audit

Job Title:                      Head of Internal Audit (PCF-13) 

Location:                      Dublin, Ireland 

Department:                 Internal Audit 

Reports To:                   Board of Directors / Audit Committee 

Role Overview:

We are seeking a highly experienced and qualified Head of Internal Audit (PCF-13) to lead and oversee the internal audit function in compliance with Central Bank of Ireland regulations. The successful candidate will hold a Pre-Approval Controlled Function (PCF) status and will be accountable for providing independent assurance on the effectiveness of governance, risk management, and internal controls across the organization. This is a senior leadership role with direct reporting lines to the Board and Audit Committee. 

This is a Control Function role (CF-1& CF-2) under the Central Banks Fitness & Probity standards.

Under The Central Bank of Ireland’s (CBI) Individual Accountability Framework (IAF) and Senior Executive Accountability Regime (SEAR), established under The Central Bank (Individual Accountability Framework) Act 2023 (IAF Act), this role, as a CF-1, falls in scope of the requirements:  CF-1 Control Function - Ability to exercise a significant influence on the conduct of the affairs of a regulated financial service provider

• This means that you have a Duty of Responsibility under both:
• 1) The CBI Common Conduct Standards; and 
• 2) The CBI Additional Conduct Standards.

Your delegated responsibilities include (but are not limited to) the following.

1. 1.     Ensure that those you manage, lead, or have an influence over are and remain competent and capable; honest, ethical and of integrity; and financially sound.
2. 2.     Make the Cantor Code of Conduct and the Cantor Fitness and Probity Policy (which incorporates the CBI Standards) a priority. Bring them to the attention of staff and help and encourage them to understand and follow them. Give weight to their importance and make sure your team gets the training they need to get to know our Code and all our policies. It is part of your delegated responsibility to ensure that the Code of Conduct and all other Cantor policies are followed. 
3. 3.     Monitor, review and report breaches of Cantor policies. 
4. 4.     Report appropriately, and do not impede others from reporting, to the management of Cantor, information relevant to the commission of a regulatory breach, or any matters adversely affecting the activities or interests of customers, Cantor, its related undertakings, or the financial system.
5. 5.     Report and disclose to the Cantor CEO and the Chief Compliance Officer, any criminal charge, reprimand, investigation, conviction, whether spent or not that comes to your attention, or which you reasonably suspect may exist. 
6. 6.     Cooperate appropriately, openly and honestly with regulatory authorities[1]. Never provide false, inaccurate or misleading information, records or explanation to such authorities.
7. 7.     Act appropriately in any decision making, including collective decision making.
8. 8.     Delegate effectively where appropriate and monitor the performance of any delegated tasks, ensuring that those tasks are appropriately performed.
9. 9.     Be diligent in ensuring that the business of Cantor is controlled effectively and is conducted in accordance with its obligations under financial services legislation.
10. 10.  Ensure that any delegated tasks are assigned to an appropriate person with effective oversight.

Key Responsibilities:

• Act as the designated Pre-Approval Controlled Function (PCF-13) for the internal audit function in accordance with the Central Bank of Ireland’s Fitness and Probity standards. 
• Develop and implement a risk-based internal audit plan that aligns with the firm’s regulatory and business requirements. 
• Lead the internal audit team, ensuring adherence to professional auditing standards and regulatory expectations. 
• Conduct and oversee audits of financial, operational, compliance, and IT controls across the business. 
• Provide independent, objective assurance and advice to senior management and the Board regarding the adequacy and effectiveness of risk management, control, and governance processes. 
• Ensure timely reporting of audit findings and recommendations to the Audit Committee and Board, and monitor remediation progress. 
• Ensure compliance with the Central Bank’s guidelines, including adherence to the Fitness and Probity regime and ongoing regulatory requirements. 
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of regulatory developments and best practices in internal audit and risk management. 
• Liaise with external auditors, regulators, and other relevant stakeholders. 
• Promote a culture of risk awareness, compliance, and continuous improvement across the organization. 

Qualifications & Experience:

• Must be approved as a Pre-Approval Controlled Function (PCF-13) by the Central Bank of Ireland. 
• Professional audit/accounting qualification (e.g., CIA, ACCA, CPA, CISA). 
• Minimum 7-10 years’ internal audit experience, with at least 3 years in a senior leadership role in a regulated financial services environment. 
• Strong knowledge of Central Bank of Ireland regulations, including Fitness and Probity requirements and Corporate Governance Code. 
• Demonstrated experience leading risk-based internal audit programs. 
• Proven ability to manage and develop a team, with excellent communication and stakeholder management skills. 
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with attention to detail. 
• Experience in audit technology, data analytics, and continuous audit methodologies is an advantage. 

Requirements

• It is an indispensable condition of the tenure of employment that the Employee be a member of a recognised body related to the role. 

This role is a CF-1 and CF-2 designation under the Central Bank’s Fitness & Probity standards. 

CF-1 - Ability to exercise a significant influence on the conduct of the affairs of a regulated financial service provider

CF-2 - Ensuring, controlling or monitoring compliance by a regulated financial service provider with its relevant obligations

[1] Your additional duty to the CBI

As a CF-1 manager, you have an additional duty to the CBI to disclose promptly and appropriately any information of which the Central Bank ‘would reasonably expect notice', including information relevant to:

1. a.            the commission of an offence by Cantor or its other CF/PCF holders;
2. b.            the commission of a prescribed contravention or any other breach of obligations under financial services legislation by Cantor or its other CF/PCF holders;
3. c.            concealment or deliberate destruction of evidence relating to the above matters; provision of false or misleading information to the Central Bank relating to the above matters;
4. d.            obstruction or impeding of an investigation relating to the above matters
5. e.            commencement of legal proceedings by or against Cantor arising from its obligations under financial services legislation;
6. f.             commencement of legal proceedings against Cantor which may impact on its ability to continue to trade;
7. g.             anything that may otherwise interfere significantly with the operation of Cantor or its compliance with its obligations under financial services legislation; or
8. h.            a decision by Cantor to cease to provide certain financial services.

Key Responsibilities:

• Act as the designated Pre-Approval Controlled Function (PCF-13) for the internal audit function in accordance with the Central Bank of Ireland’s Fitness and Probity standards. 
• Develop and implement a risk-based internal audit plan that aligns with the firm’s regulatory and business requirements. 
• Lead the internal audit team, ensuring adherence to professional auditing standards and regulatory expectations. 
• Conduct and oversee audits of financial, operational, compliance, and IT controls across the business. 
• Provide independent, objective assurance and advice to senior management and the Board regarding the adequacy and effectiveness of risk management, control, and governance processes. 
• Ensure timely reporting of audit findings and recommendations to the Audit Committee and Board, and monitor remediation progress. 
• Ensure compliance with the Central Bank’s guidelines, including adherence to the Fitness and Probity regime and ongoing regulatory requirements. 
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of regulatory developments and best practices in internal audit and risk management. 
• Liaise with external auditors, regulators, and other relevant stakeholders. 
• Promote a culture of risk awareness, compliance, and continuous improvement across the organization.