Regional Director of Internal Audit – Middle East & Africa
Job Description:
Job Title: Regional Director of Internal Audit – Middle East & Africa
Location: Regional (Cairo, Egypt / Jeddah, KSA / with travel to other MEA countries)
Employment Type: Full-time / Executive
About the Role
We are seeking a seasoned Regional Director of Internal Audit on behalf of our client, a leading multi-country healthcare diagnostics provider. This executive will lead the internal audit function across several countries in the Middle East and Africa, reporting directly to the Audit Committee and senior leadership.
Key Responsibilities
- Regional Audit Strategy: Develop and execute a risk-based internal audit plan covering all operational countries
- Controls & Compliance: Evaluate internal controls, risk management, and governance processes across multiple business units and brands
- Regulatory Adherence: Ensure compliance with local and international regulations across all jurisdictions
- Fraud Prevention: Lead investigations into suspected irregularities and recommend corrective actions
- Executive Reporting: Present audit findings and strategic recommendations to the Board and C-suite
- Team Leadership: Manage and develop a distributed internal audit team across the region
- Revenue Assurance: Identify cost optimization and revenue protection opportunities
Qualifications & Experience
- Experience: 10–12+ years in internal audit, with at least 4 years in a multi-country regional leadership role (MEA experience strongly preferred)
- Sector Preference: Healthcare, diagnostics, pharmaceuticals, or similarly regulated industries
- Certifications: CIA, CPA, CA, or ACCA required. CFE is a plus
- Education: Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or Business Administration. Master's degree preferred
- Languages: Fluent English required. Arabic is a strong plus
- Travel: Willingness to travel 30–40% within the MEA region
Key Competencies
- Strong knowledge of IFRS and local GAAP across multiple jurisdictions
- Experience with ERP systems (SAP, Oracle) and data analytics tools (Power BI, ACL, IDEA)
- Proven ability to present to Board and Audit Committee level
- High ethical standards and professional skepticism
- Excellent stakeholder management across cultures
What We Offer
- Strategic leadership role with regional impact
- Competitive executive compensation package
- Opportunity to drive governance across a high-growth, multi-country operation
How to Apply
Interested candidates should submit their CV and a cover letter detailing their multi-country audit leadership experience
Required Skills:
Data Prevention Business Units Protection Assurance Internal Audit ERP Compliance Internal Controls Corrective Actions Arabic Healthcare Compensation Stakeholder Management Travel Data Analytics Optimization SAP Analytics Risk Management Team Leadership Strategy Regulations Power BI Oracle Education Administration Accounting Finance Business English Leadership Management