Assistant al Audit

Description

Internal Audit Strategic Planning

• Conduct an annual risk assessment to develop Risk Based Audit Plan.
• Assist in preparing the Internal Audit plan and provide input to support Qatar Steel's overall and IA strategic plan and KPIs.
• Assist in finalizing the Risk-based internal audit plan (at least annually) with IA Manager for review and approval of the Board Audit Committee; Review and suggest adjustment in the internal audit plan, as necessary, in response to the changes in Qatar Steel's business, risks, operations, programs, systems, and controls; Support in communicating to the BAC, any significant interim changes to the internal audit plan.

Internal Audit Operations

• Perform the assigned duties with honesty, diligence, and responsibility, in line with the IIA Code of Ethics and Standards.
• Support IA Manager to ensure organizational independence annually and consult with IA Manager to take necessary actions or safeguard measures if the independence is impaired.
• Execution of audits as per the Annual Audit Plan and submission of timely and accurate reports to different stakeholders.
• Participate in the kick-off meetings for Internal Audit with the relevant internal stakeholders ensuring the introduction of the internal audit scope, objectives and the identification of required information and documents etc.
• Ensure applicable engagements (assurance and advisory) of the internal audit plan is executed, including the establishment of objectives and scope, the documentation of work programs and testing results, and the communication of engagement results with applicable conclusions and recommendations to appropriate parties.
• Ensure the presentation of the preliminary findings to the relevant internal stakeholders to obtain the required clarifications, review justifications, supporting material, and agree on the required corrective actions.
• Review and validate identified repeated irregularities, collaborate with the relevant internal stakeholders to identify, and resolve root causes, and escalate unresolved and/or critical cases to the Internal Audit Manager for decision-making.
• Assist in conducting special assignments, including audits, investigations, and other services (including support when requested) as directed related to breaches of the code of ethics, corruption, and fraud by either employees or contractors.
• Supporting Internal Audit Manager in co-ordinating with external stakeholders (e.g. State Audit Bureau, External Auditors etc.).
• Ensuring emerging trends and successful practices in internal auditing are being considered.
• Ensure trends and emerging issues that could impact Qatar Steel are considered and communicated to the Internal Audit Manager, as appropriate.
• Engaging the auditee: Openness and communication with the auditee to ensure comprehension of the audit scope, purpose and approach. 
• Engage with the Internal Audit Manager and/or Senior Auditor to obtain his guidance as and when required for the successful completion of various assignments including supervisory review for the ongoing projects.
• Ensure quality review and archival of audit documentation.
• Develop and apply foundational IT knowledge to assess technology-related risks and controls during audits. Assist in evaluating IT general controls (ITGCs), application controls, cybersecurity measures (inhouse/in consultation with External Consultant and IT team). 
• Ensure that the necessary IT competencies, awareness of emerging technologies (e.g., Artificial Intelligence (AI), Cybersecurity and other topical requirements as per IIA) exist and integrate IT risks into the audit plan. Collaborate with IT leadership to understand critical systems and data flows and ensure the internal audit function can evaluate IT controls, data integrity, and system security effectively.
• Support the Internal Audit Manager/Senior Auditors for the attainment, scoping and execution of required external Audit Services Providers (e.g. Information Technology Auditors), ensuring the review of the preliminary audit findings, validating the findings with the relevant internal stakeholders, agreeing on relevant corrective action plans and timeframes, and follow-up to ensure their resolution.

Follow-up

• Coordinate with the Auditee to review the progress/evidence of agreed open/overdue actions.
• Assist in preparation of periodic Follow-up reports to monitor the timely completion of open/overdue corrective actions from previous audits.

Reporting

• Support the Internal Audit Manager in preparation and timely submission of reports to Management and Board Audit Committee.
• Support the Internal Audit Manager in achieving the Departmental Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and preparation of KPI reports.
• Adherence to the IA Policies and Procedures (including Guidelines) etc. and support the Internal Audit Manager for their periodic review & updation.
• Adherence to Qatar Steel's relevant policies and procedures, unless such policies and procedures conflict with the Internal Audit Charter & Process. Any such conflicts will be resolved or reported to the Internal Audit Manager for further communication to the BAC.

Compliance of Policies and Procedures, IIA Standards & Code of Ethics

• Assist in the development and implementation of departmental policies, systems, processes, procedures, and controls covering all areas so that all relevant procedural/legislative requirements are fulfilled while delivering a quality, cost-effective service in a consistent manner. Periodically help the Internal Audit Manager in assessing the purpose, authority and responsibility of internal audit and recommend adjustments as required.
• Compliance with relevant State Laws of Qatar, Circulars and directives of the QatarEnergy, IQ, Board of Directors, MD&CEO and conformance with the IIA Standards, Code of Ethics & Guidelines etc. issued by IIA.

IIA Internal Auditing Competency Framework

Internal Auditing Competencies

• International Professional Practices Framework: Develop the engagement work program incorporating applicable Standards, Topical Requirements, and Global Guidance, demonstrating due professional care.
• Ethics and Professionalism: Applies ethical principles in audit work, ensuring impartiality and adherence to professional responsibilities.  Recognize and appropriately disclose impairment to objectivity when assigned to an audit engagement involving a department where the individual formerly worked.
• Quality Assurance and Improvement Program:
• Support the Quality Assurance and Improvement Program (QAIP) by adhering to professional Standards, participating in internal and external assessments.  This includes driving continuous improvement in audit quality and performance and contribute towards overall effectiveness of the Internal Audit department.
• Conduct gap assessment against GIAS and assist in drafting and implementing recommendations for improvement. 
• Conduct an internal quality assessment, develop a roadmap for elevating the internal audit function's maturity, and advises leadership on strategic improvements.
• Ensure professional growth by enhancing the knowledge, skills, and competencies through ongoing learning through various platforms, seeking feedback etc. 
• Audit Methodologies: Support in developing an engagement work program that includes analytical procedures and sample-based testing to assess the effectiveness of controls.
• Integrated and Coordinated Assurance: Support an internal audit engagement by gathering information on risk assessments performed by other assurance providers.
• Reporting Results: Prepare concise, well-structured audit reports that clearly communicate findings, root causes, and actionable recommendations, supported by sufficient relevant and reliable evidence. Collaborate with stakeholders to validate results and incorporate management feedback, ensuring completeness and accuracy of final reports.

Professional Competencies

• Leadership: Administer audit engagements, facilitating discussions with management on risk mitigation efforts and the feasibility of process improvements. Coordinates with internal auditors and management to efficiently complete tasks within established timelines. 
• Professional Communications: Communicate the audit engagement objectives and scope clearly and professionally, adapting content for various audiences. Coordinate with management to schedule meetings, draft agendas, and document discussions. Apply effective questioning techniques during interviews and ensures timely updates to project documentation, including meeting minutes and follow-up actions.
• Negotiation and Conflict Management: Overcome management disagreements on engagement conclusions by emphasizing relevant, sufficient support and collaborating to identify possible root causes and feasible action plans.
• Data Analysis: Perform data analysis using Information Technology tools (e.g. TeamMate Analytics and MS excel wherever required) in internal audit activities to identify potential indicators & findings.
• Project Management: Administer audit engagements from planning to final reporting, coordinating teams, timelines, and resource allocation. Apply risk-based project management techniques to enhance audit effectiveness and efficiency and monitor engagement progress to ensure objectives are met.

Governance and Risk Management Competencies

• Governance: Manage audit engagements assessing governance maturity and recommends enhancements to align with leading practices.
• Strategy: Support audit engagement evaluating the effectiveness of strategy-setting processes while launching a strategic initiative, including identifying objectives and mitigating risks to successful achievement.
• Enterprise Risk Management: Manage audits of risk management frameworks, reporting mechanisms, and response strategies. Provides recommendations to enhance ERM maturity and integrate risk management into strategic decision-making. Evaluate the influence of organizational culture on risk practices and stakeholder engagement.
• Compliance: Evaluate the effectiveness of compliance programs in supporting governance, monitoring objectives, and delivering training. Assess adherence to regulatory and ethical obligations, and identify control weaknesses in compliance processes, recommending improvements to enhance design and implementation.
• Fraud: Lead fraud risk assessments and audit procedures to evaluate the effectiveness of fraud prevention and detection controls. Analyse anomalies to identify potential fraud indicators and root causes. Assess governance and risk management practices related to fraud oversight and recommend improvements to internal controls.
• Organizational Resilience: Assess whether the results from disaster recovery simulations led to action plans that were implemented.
• Sustainability: Assess how social and environmental objectives are embedded within the organization's governance, strategy, and risk management. Evaluate the effectiveness of related control processes, identify gaps between documented sustainability practices and actual implementation and collaborate with management to determine root causes and validate findings.

Operational Area Competencies

• Demonstrate working knowledge of key operational areas including Accounting, Finance, IT, HR, Cybersecurity, Supply Chain, CRM, Marketing, and Sales to effectively assess risks, controls, and processes across diverse business functions and sectors.

Others

• High degree of what-if scenario building, analysis, and modelling to establish the effectiveness of practices at Qatar Steel.
• Emphasize decisions by consensus that result in cost and control effectiveness in Qatar Steel.
• Assist in the preparation and consolidation of the Internal Audit department's budget and monitor financial performance versus the budget so that the business is aware of anticipated costs/revenues; areas of unsatisfactory performance are identified, and potential performance improvement opportunities are capitalised upon.
• Assume responsibilities for those aspects of Quality and HSE management systems over which they have control.
• Protect the assets of the Company from all related risks including any fraud, irregularities, or errors.
• Study and ensure that emerging trends and successful practices in internal auditing are being considered.
• Demonstrate the principles of integrity, objectivity, confidentiality and competency are applied and upheld.
• Attend the assigned trainings and upgrade the required skills as and when required to increase efficiency.
• Assist in carrying out any other management-requested assignments as directed.

QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE, & SKILLS: 

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree (Major in Commerce/Accounting/Auditing) and CA / ACCA / CPA or equivalent professional qualifications. 
• CIA, CISA, CFE, DISA and equivalent certifications would be an added advantage. 

Minimum Experience:

• 5 years minimum experience in the field of internal audits, preferably in a steel/manufacturing industry.

Job-Specific Skills (Generic / Technical):

• Excellent knowledge of Policies & Procedures with strong and demonstrated experience in auditing.  
• Advanced customer service orientation.
• Ability to work in a team environment and sometimes independently with minimal supervision as the task may be from time to time.
• Strong conflict management, facilitation, and resolution skills.
• Excellent relationship building skills.
• Extensive skill handling personnel from a multi-cultural work environment.
• Excellent verbal and written communication and presentation skills.
• Excellent decision-making and problem-solving skills.
• Good understanding of Qatar and GCC culture and working environment.