Group Head of Internal Audit
Location: Cyprus
Reporting line: Board Audit and Risk Committee, with administrative reporting to the Group CEO
Function: Internal Audit, Group level
About the Opportunity
A confidential, internationally regulated multi-asset brokerage and trading group is seeking a Group Head of Internal Audit to lead and elevate the group internal audit function from Cyprus. The Group operates across multiple regulated jurisdictions and serves retail and institutional clients across the full multi-asset spectrum, including FX, CFDs, equities, indices, commodities and derivatives.
The successful candidate will report directly into the Board Audit and Risk Committee, take full ownership of the group internal audit plan, and be accountable for the independence, rigour and institutional credibility of the function across all regulated entities.
The Role
The Group Head of Internal Audit will lead the existing internal audit team, design and execute the risk based group audit plan, and act as a senior, independent voice to the Board and to executive management. The role calls for a leader who has already built or materially elevated an internal audit function within a comparable regulated trading environment, who is comfortable engaging with multiple regulators, and who brings both technical depth and the personal authority to challenge at the highest level.
Core Responsibilities
Own and continually refresh the group risk based internal audit plan, ensuring full coverage of the trading lifecycle, regulated entity activity, group functions and key third party dependencies.
Lead, develop and structure the internal audit team across jurisdictions, defining what good looks like at group level and raising the operating standard of the function.
Act as the primary internal audit interface to the Board Audit and Risk Committee, presenting audit findings, the annual plan, the audit opinion and remediation tracking with clarity and conviction.
Provide independent assurance on the effectiveness of governance, risk management and internal controls across all regulated entities and group functions.
Audit the trading environment with genuine subject matter depth, including order execution, pricing, margin, internalisation, liquidity provision, client money, market risk, credit risk and counterparty exposure.
Audit the second line and group functions, including compliance, AML, risk, finance, treasury, technology, cyber, operations, HR and outsourcing arrangements.
Engage directly with regulators across the Group’s licensed jurisdictions, supporting regulatory inspections, thematic reviews and supervisory dialogue.
Maintain the function’s independence, professional standards and alignment to the IIA International Professional Practices Framework.
Identify thematic and emerging risks across the Group, including those arising from new products, new markets, regulatory change and technology evolution.
Co-source specialist work where appropriate, manage the audit budget and oversee any external assurance providers engaged by the function.
Required Experience and Background
Around ten years of total professional experience, with three to five years in a senior in-house internal audit leadership role.
Essential: Genuine in-house internal audit career, built within a well governed, institutional financial services organisation. Candidates whose careers have been spent predominantly in audit advisory, outsourced internal audit or consultancy will not be considered.
Direct experience auditing a multi-asset brokerage, trading platform or comparable financial services group. Substantive familiarity with the products, business model and risk universe of a multi-asset trading firm is essential. Sector adjacencies such as banking only, asset management only, alternative investments, payments, gaming, fintech outside trading or non-financial services will not meet the bar.
Demonstrated track record of leading an internal audit team across multiple regulated jurisdictions, with direct accountability for team output, quality and development.
Multi-regulator experience, with the ability to evidence engagement across more than one financial services regulator. Single jurisdiction experience, including CySEC only, will not be considered.
Board level presence and institutional credibility, with prior experience presenting to and engaging with a Board Audit and Risk Committee.
Strongly preferred
Prior experience auditing FX, CFD, multi-asset or derivative trading businesses at group level.
Experience in a group function that has matured from owner managed to institutional governance.
Recognised internal audit certification, for example CIA, or a chartered accountancy qualification.
Exposure to multi jurisdiction regulators
Comfortable operating in a fast moving, commercially driven environment without compromising standards.
Strong leadership style with the ability to set direction, raise standards and develop talent.
Location and Package
The role is based in Cyprus.
A competitive base salary, performance bonus will be offered, calibrated to the candidate’s profile and the seniority of the appointment.