Chief Internal Audit Officer

<p>▪Lead the development, periodic review, and continuous enhancement of the Internal Audit Charter, ensuring full alignment with the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) Global Internal Audit Standards and the Oman Investment Authority (OIA) Internal Audit Guidelines, while safeguarding the independence, authority, and objectivity of the Internal Audit function.</p>
<p>▪ Formulate and drive the Internal Audit Strategy, translating the organization’s strategic objectives, risk landscape, and governance priorities into a forward-looking audit roadmap that positions Internal Audit as a strategic partner in strengthening governance, risk management, and internal controls.</p>
<p>▪ Develop and present a comprehensive Risk-Based Internal Audit Plan, grounded in enterprise-wide risk assessments, strategic priorities, and emerging risks. Engage with executive management to validate key risk areas and obtain formal review and approval from the Audit Committee.</p>
<p>▪ Provide strategic leadership in resource planning and financial stewardship of the Internal Audit function, including the preparation and management of the annual departmental budget and resource strategy to ensure the function is adequately resourced with the required capabilities and expertise.</p>
<p>▪ Establish and oversee the Internal Audit governance framework, including policies, procedures, methodologies, and systems, ensuring alignment with internationally recognized internal auditing standards and best practices.</p>
<p>▪ Approve and continuously enhance the Internal Audit Manual, audit methodologies, tools, templates, and quality assurance processes, ensuring consistency, methodological rigor, and compliance with professional standards across all audit engagements.</p>
<p>▪ Ensure full compliance with OIA Internal Audit requirements and regulatory expectations, including the preparation and timely submission of shareholder reports and other mandated disclosures, while maintaining effective liaison with relevant oversight authorities.</p>
<p>▪ Lead the financial planning and monitoring of Internal Audit activities, ensuring efficient allocation of resources and proactive management of operational expenditures in alignment with departmental objectives and organizational priorities.</p>
<p>▪ Provide strategic oversight of budget performance and operational requirements, including the preparation of well-substantiated business cases for deviations from the approved budget or for emerging audit priorities and special reviews requiring additional resources.</p>
<p>▪ Promote a culture of risk awareness, accountability, and continuous improvement across the organization, positioning Internal Audit as a trusted advisor to management and the Board in strengthening governance practices and organizational performance.</p>
<p>▪ Champion and oversee the development of a comprehensive Internal Audit Communication and Stakeholder Engagement Strategy, ensuring effective, transparent, and value-driven engagement with Executive Management, the Audit Committee, and key stakeholders. The strategy should promote a strong governance culture, enhance organizational trust in the Internal Audit function, and reinforce its role as a strategic advisor on risk, governance, and control matters.</p>
<p>▪ Provide strategic leadership in coordinating with external auditors, state audit authorities, OIA, and other independent assurance providers to establish an integrated assurance framework across the organization. This coordination aims to optimize assurance coverage, enhance information sharing, strengthen governance oversight, and eliminate duplication of effort while aligning with national regulatory expectations and leading global practices.</p>
<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;▪ Provide executive oversight of co-sourcing and outsourcing arrangements within the Internal Audit function, including the strategic selection, engagement, and performance management of specialized assurance service providers. Ensure that such partnerships enhance the capability, independence, and effectiveness of the Internal Audit function while remaining fully aligned with organizational policies, regulatory requirements, and OIA guidelines.</p>
<p>▪ Ensure robust governance over the monitoring and implementation of recommendations issued by external auditors and other assurance bodies, and strategically incorporate their insights into the risk-based internal audit planning and assurance activities to continuously strengthen the organization’s governance, risk management, and internal control environment</p>
<p> Provide visionary leadership to the Internal Audit function, establishing a culture of excellence, robust governance, and proactive risk management across the organization.</p>
<p> Drive strategic execution of the annual audit plan, ensuring audits deliver actionable insights, align with organizational priorities, and enhance stakeholder confidence.</p>
<p> Champion independence and objectivity, safeguarding the integrity, credibility, and authority of the Internal Audit function at all levels.</p>
<p> Align talent and capabilities strategically, ensuring the department possesses the expertise and resources required to address emerging risks, execute the audit plan effectively, and deliver high-value assurance and advisory services to the Board.</p>
<p> Provide authoritative strategic guidance to the Company, shaping system and process controls to drive robust governance, operational excellence, and risk-informed decision-making, ensuring audit programs are both forward-looking and aligned with the organization’s long-term objectives.</p>
<p> Champion the execution of management action plans, ensuring accountability, timeliness, and measurable outcomes, while keeping the Audit Committee fully apprised of progress and emerging risks.</p>
<p> Steer the strategic evolution of a world-class Whistleblowing and Ethical Reporting Framework, ensuring it not only meets IIA Standards and OIA guidelines but also reinforces the organization’s culture of transparency, accountability, and ethical excellence. Serve as a trusted advisor to the Audit Committee and executive leadership on the effectiveness, integrity, and long-term impact of the framework on organizational governance.</p>
<p> Safeguard and elevate Internal Audit’s role as the independent guardian of integrity, ensuring whistleblowing and investigative processes are executed with absolute objectivity, confidentiality, and professional rigor, thereby sustaining the confidence of all stakeholders and reinforcing the organization’s reputation for ethical stewardship.</p>
<p> Lead, orchestrate, and oversee complex investigations of fraud, misconduct, or control lapses, as authorized by the Audit Committee, applying a methodical and evidence-driven approach that balances accountability with fairness, while driving lessons learned into organizational improvement.</p>
<p> Strategic Learning &amp; Development Leadership: Design and execute a comprehensive Departmental Learning and Development framework, fully aligned with competency models, IIA Global Standards, and the organization’s long-term strategic objectives.</p>
<p> Capability Building &amp; Succession Planning: Lead the development and continuous enhancement of training, competency, and succession strategies to cultivate high-performing audit professionals and ensure a sustainable pipeline of leadership talent.</p>
<p> Design, implement, and oversee a comprehensive Quality Assurance and Improvement Program (QAIP) for the Internal Audit function, ensuring continuous alignment with the highest professional standards and organizational objectives</p>
<p> Ensure that all audit activities undergo rigorous Quality Assurance reviews in accordance with the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) standards, and drive the systematic implementation of recommendations to enhance audit effectiveness, reliability, and organizational value.</p>
<p> Champion a culture of rigorous adherence to internal governance frameworks, emphasizing the critical importance of data privacy, confidentiality, and systematic data classification across the organization.</p>
<p> Ensure the organization’s IT security posture is robust, fully aligned with ISO standards, and treated as a strategic imperative to safeguard information assets.</p>
<p> Drive the strategic advancement and integration of audit data analytics, automation, and technology-enabled solutions to significantly enhance the effectiveness, efficiency, and foresight of the Internal Audit function.</p>
<p> Ensure full alignment with the Company’s HSE standards, embedding a culture of safety, environmental stewardship, and regulatory compliance across all operations</p>
<p> Proactively monitor, identify, and escalate HSE risks or lapses to the QHSE function, ensuring timely mitigation and continuous improvement in organizational safety performance.</p>
<p> Ensure unwavering alignment with the Company’s policies, governance frameworks, and procedural standards, embedding compliance as a cornerstone of organizational integrity and strategic decision-making</p>
<p> Promote ethical stewardship, embedding the IIA Code of Ethics and fostering a culture of accountability, transparency, and professional excellence throughout the department.</p>
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