Chief Internal Auditor

About This Role

Chief Internal Auditor

Location: Abu Dhabi, UAE

About the Business

A newly licensed digital bank regulated by the Central Bank of the UAE is preparing for launch. The organisation has been built from the ground up to deliver Sharia-compliant financial services through a modern, technology-enabled operating model, designed to improve access to banking for underbanked communities globally.

The business combines Islamic finance principles, digital-first delivery, and advanced data-led capabilities to create a scalable and inclusive banking proposition.

Why This Role Exists

This is a founding Internal Audit leadership role. You will be responsible for designing and establishing the Internal Audit function from inception, ensuring the organisation meets the highest standards of governance, regulatory readiness, and control assurance ahead of launch and through its early growth phase.

You will work closely with the Board Audit Committee and act as a key independent assurance voice as the bank transitions from build to live operations.

Key Responsibilities

• Establish the Internal Audit Charter, methodology, and multi-year risk-based audit plan aligned to IIA Standards, Central Bank of the UAE requirements, and Islamic finance governance frameworks
• Build the enterprise risk universe for a pre-launch digital bank and define the first 12 months of audit coverage across key areas including regulatory readiness, Sharia governance, technology controls, cyber security, core banking, payments, financial crime, and third-party risk
• Design and embed the Board Audit Committee (BAC) framework, including reporting cadence, management information, issue tracking, and governance processes
• Act as the primary Internal Audit interface with regulators, external auditors, and Sharia governance stakeholders, including oversight of Sharia audit activity
• Define an effective co-sourcing model for specialist audit capability (e.g. IT audit, data/analytics, model risk, and Sharia compliance)
• Build and develop a high-quality Internal Audit team as the organisation scales
• Provide independent challenge to first and second lines of defence in a fast-paced, evolving environment.

Required Experience

• 12+ years in Internal Audit within regulated financial services
• Experience leading or deputising for an Internal Audit function, ideally within a newly licensed, digital, or rapidly scaling financial institution
• Strong understanding of modern banking environments including cloud infrastructure, APIs, real-time payments, core banking systems, and financial crime/AML platforms
• Experience working with a recognised regulator (e.g. CBUAE, FSRA, DFSA, FCA, MAS, SAMA, HKMA)
• Familiarity with Islamic finance governance frameworks (AAOIFI / IFSB), or the ability to quickly build expertise in this area
• CIA and/or CISA certification required
• Strong board-level communication skills with the ability to operate independently and credibly at Audit Committee level

Nice to have:

• CFE, CAMS, or Islamic finance-related qualifications
• Exposure to data-led controls, automated decisioning, or model-based risk environments
• Prior experience in the UAE regulatory landscape
• Arabic language skills