Ikano Bank – Head of Internal Audit

As our Head of Internal Audit, you will provide independent assurance to the Board of Directors of the key risks and issues of the bank’s operation. You will be part of Ikano Bank, where we create possibilities for a better living by providing banking and financial services. We do it with different perspectives, natural curiosity and long-term focus. A unique chance for greater responsibility and future opportunities. Let’s achieve great things together.

Help us simplify finance for the many people

As Head of Internal Audit you will be leading the Internal Audit (IA) team. IA is an independent function providing assurance and advisory services covering all of the Bank’s businesses and operations. Its primary role is to protect the assets, reputation, and sustainability of the Bank. IA is responsible for ensuring the reliability, accuracy, and integrity of management information systems, related strategies, policies, plans, and procedures. IA assists the Bank in accomplishing its objectives by bringing a systematic and disciplined approach to evaluate and improve the effectiveness of the Bank’s risk management, control, and governance processes. The team consists of an additional 1-2 FTE and the audits are conducted with the support of external co-sourcing partners. As Head of Internal Audit you will report to the Board of Directors but will have an administrative reporting line to the CEO of Ikano Bank. Here is a list of some of the responsibilities of the role:

• Provide the Board with in-depth assurance that the key risks of the organisation have been identified and are effectively and efficiently managed by the first and second line.
• Provide the Board and ARC Committee (Audit, Risk and Compliance Committee) with a clear and concise consolidated view of the evolution of the risk landscape based on internal audit results, risk assessments, and incidents using data analytics and a visual analysis of the control environment, as appropriate.
• Align IA’s focus with business strategies and partner with the Bank to anticipate risks and provide advice to support the achievement of business strategies.
• Support the Bank to create business value by providing insights into best practice and identifying process efficiencies.
• Maintain a deep understanding of the risk landscape and its development for the Bank to ensure the relevance of the overall risk control and management framework and the scope of internal audits.
• Maintain an independence from the audited activities to enable the IA function to fulfil its assignments with objectivity and authority.
• Lead, guide and empower the Bank IA team to develop / improve the entire function.
• Ensure that the Bank IA methodology and process is continually enhanced in accordance with industry best practice and addresses the evolving needs of the Bank and all audited entities.
• Ensure that the annual audit plan for the Bank aligns with current business priorities and development, and retains focus on the most critical operational risks. The audit plan is dynamic and risk-based and can be updated throughout the year to facilitate an on-going, holistic view of risks.
• Oversee the execution of the audit plan internally or with any IA service providers or subject matter experts to ensure agreed standards and deadlines are met.
• Provide assurance that key risks, pertaining to audited entities / activities / processes, are being identified and provide recommendations on actions to be taken.
• Oversee and manage IA resources, both internal and external, in the most effective and efficient way, within the budget approved by the ARC and Board.

We offer you

Operating at Management and Board level you will have an important role in ensuring that the Bank is conducting business at appropriate risk level and you will have an active role in various forums, represent us to external partners, and create a great foundation for further development. This position is more than what meets the eye. You will get the chance to push boundaries and influence your daily work. All as part of a caring and open culture where we live our values, work hard, have fun, and operate with a long-term perspective. Because here opportunities arise and growth follows.

Are you the one for Ikano?

We are looking for someone with the following experience and professional skills:

• 15+ years of auditing experience in a financial institution, audit firm, or multinational organisation.
• 5+ years of experience managing an internal audit function including developing and implementing audit plans and managing resources.
• Thorough familiarity with internal auditing and accounting principles and methodologies, risk and control principles, as well as with banking regulatory requirements.
• Possess an organisation-wide perspective, professional objectivity, and analytical rigor to assure, advise, and anticipate.
• Detailed and holistic analytical skills.
• Ability to provide factual and considered advice to decision-making bodies.
• Strong listening, negotiation and influencing skills.
• Great planning and organisational skills.
• Excellent presentation, communication, and report writing skills.
• Experience leading and developing teams in international organisations.
• Fluent in English and Swedish (spoken and written), any other European language is an asset.
• Have the right maturity, personality, independence and integrity, and experience to be able to address, evaluate, discuss, challenge when appropriate, and report on all issues.
• Ability to work across cultures and geographic locations.
• University Degree in Economics, Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, Law, or similar.
• It is a merit if you have a Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) certification.

About us

Ikano Bank creates possibilities for better living by offering simple, fair and affordable services, enabling a healthy economy for the many people. Our offer includes savings and loan products for consumers, sales support services for retailers, and leasing and factoring solutions for businesses. We conduct business in Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Norway, the UK, Poland, Germany and Austria. Ikano Bank is a part of the Ikano Group, an international group of companies active within banking, real estate, production, insurance, data analytics and retail, who owns 51 % of the Bank. Ingka Group, a strategic partner in the IKEA franchise system, operating 378 IKEA stores in 31 countries, owns the remaining 49 % of Ikano Bank. Ikano Bank’s head office is located in Malmö, Sweden and the company is registered in Älmhult, Sweden where the business was once founded.

Join us now – together we will find a better way

In this recruitment process, Ikano Bank is working with Academic Search. For more information please contact Researcher Lukas Grönroos; Lukas.gronroos@academicsearch.se or Senior Consultant Petra Alwén: petra.alwen@academicsearch.se.

You apply by clicking the ”Apply now” button below, where you enter your personal details and enclose your CV. All information is handled confidentially in accordance with Academic Search Integrity Policy as well as the new data protection act, GDPR. This means that we can only process applications coming through the applications system. Thank you for your understanding.

We will be evaluating candidates ongoing and look forward to your prompt application!

About Academic Search

Academic Search International is one of Scandinavia’s most merited companies within Executive Search & Interim Management. Our focus is people with documented manager- and specialist competences. We have close collaborations with national and international companies with strong brands and purpose. Our mission is to unite the best qualified candidates with the toughest challenges at the most interesting companies

in Sweden. Our values are KNOWLEDGE, ENGAGEMENT, RESPONSIBILITY and COLLABORATION. Through these values, we make a difference in all our relationships. www.academicsearch.se