Internal Audit Manager: Strategy and Sustainability

Job description

Empowering Africa’s tomorrow, together…one story at a time. With over 100 years of rich history and strongly positioned as a local bank with regional and international expertise, a career with our family offers the opportunity to be part of this exciting growth journey, to reset our future and shape our destiny as a proudly African group. Belonging at Absa Absa is committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone can thrive. We are an equal opportunity employer and welcome applications from suitably qualified individuals from diverse backgrounds. In support of our Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) commitments and Employment Equity objectives, preference may be given to candidates from underrepresented designated groups, including persons with disabilities. We encourage applicants who may require reasonable accommodation during the recruitment process to let us know so that appropriate support can be provided. Job Summary The Integrated Reporting (IR) Audit Manager is responsible for leading the independent audit, evaluation, and assurance of the organisation’s annual Integrated Report and related corporate disclosures. This role ensures that all reporting activities comply with the relevant Framework, sustainability-related standards—such as IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards and GRI, as appropriate—and internal governance requirements, by providing objective oversight and assurance of the reporting processes. The IR Audit Manager oversees the entire assurance process for integrated reporting, which includes independently verifying content development, assessing assurance readiness, facilitating stakeholder engagement, reviewing materiality assessments, driving cross-functional collaboration for audit purposes, and ensuring the connectivity, completeness, balance, and reliability of all reported information through thorough audit procedures. Job Description This position requires robust strategic insight, advanced audit proficiency, a comprehensive understanding of both non-financial and financial performance, and the ability to distil complex information into clear, actionable findings and recommendations for stakeholders. Additionally, the IR Audit Manager is expected to continuously enhance assurance processes, build organisational capability in integrated thinking and audit, and uphold the organisation’s credibility by ensuring high-quality, transparent, and well-governed disclosures through rigorous audit standards. Key Accountabilities (Aligned to Assurance & ISAE 3000 Requirements) 1. Integrated Reporting Strategy & Planning Lead the planning, development, and execution of the annual Integrated Report and related corporate disclosures, ensuring alignment with assurance requirements and ISAE 3000 engagement standards. Develop and maintain the Integrated Reporting roadmap, integrating emerging regulations, global reporting trends, strategic priorities, and assurance frameworks such as ISAE 3000. Coordinate cross functional contributions to ensure information is accurate, complete, and consistent, with documented evidence trails supporting assurance engagements. Manage content development and assurance timelines and oversee governance review processes in line with ISAE 3000 requirements for planning, evidence gathering, and quality control. 2. Materiality Assessment & Connectivity Lead the annual materiality assessment process, ensuring alignment with the Framework, industry expectations, and assurance requirements, including documentation for ISAE 3000 engagements. Facilitate stakeholder engagement inputs, risk assessments, strategic inputs, and maintain internal documentation as evidence for materiality prioritisation and assurance testing. Ensure clear connectivity between strategy, risks, governance, performance, capitals, trade‑offs, and outlook, with traceable documentation supporting assurance verification and ISAE 3000 review criteria. Maintain traceability from material matters to narrative and quantitative disclosures, ensuring all relevant information is available for assurance engagements. 3. Content Development & Review Draft, edit, and refine sections of the Integrated Report, ensuring all content is supported by documented evidence and audit trails required for ISAE 3000 assurance. Ensure disclosures meet IR Framework requirements of balance , comparability , reliability , consistency , completeness , and materiality , with supporting evidence for assurance and ISAE 3000 engagements. Ensure content is consistent with internal management information, Board reporting, and external market disclosures, and that all sources are referenced for assurance validation. 4. Assurance Coordination & Quality Governance Coordinate internal and external assurance activities over metrics, content elements, guiding principles, and narrative disclosures, ensuring all processes and outputs are ISAE 3000 compliant. Prepare the organisation for ISAE 3000 (Revised) assurance engagements by ensuring robust evidence trails, documentation, governance, and controls in line with assurance standards. Respond to assurance queries, address identified gaps, and drive improvements in reporting processes to strengthen ISAE 3000 engagement outcomes. Ensure rigorous internal quality assurance reviews prior to committee and Board submissions, with processes documented for external assurance engagement under ISAE 3000. 5. Stakeholder Engagement & Relationship Management Engage with senior stakeholders across Finance, Risk, Strategy, HR, Sustainability, Treasury, and Operations to gather information, validate disclosures, and ensure evidence is available for assurance engagements. Manage reporting related interactions with external auditors, assurance providers, regulators, and industry bodies, supporting ISAE 3000 assurance engagements. Present updates and insights at governance forums, committees, and working groups, including assurance status and ISAE 3000 engagement progress. 6. Integrated Thinking & Continuous Improvement Promote integrated thinking across clusters, helping business areas understand linkages between strategy, risks, performance, and the capitals, with documented evidence supporting assurance and ISAE 3000 engagements. Drive enhancements in reporting processes, data quality, systems, controls, and narrative coherence, ensuring continuous improvement and readiness for ISAE 3000 assurance. Keep abreast of regulatory changes, such as IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards, Framework updates, and GRI developments, as well as emerging assurance expectations including ISAE 3000 requirements. Lead capability building initiatives relating to nonfinancial reporting, ESG disclosures, integrated reporting disciplines, and assurance readiness for ISAE 3000 engagements. Preferred Education Bachelor's Degree in Accounting, Finance, Sustainability, Corporate Reporting, Economics or related field. Professional qualifications beneficial (e.g., CA(SA), CFA, ESG certifications, IR/Corporate Reporting credentials). Preferred Experience Minimum 3–5 years of experience in integrated reporting, corporate reporting, sustainability reporting or related fields. Experience working with the Framework, sustainability standards (IFRS S1/S2, GRI), or assurance environments. Strong understanding of financial and non‑financial performance drivers, strategic disclosures and materiality assessments. Experience collaborating with senior stakeholders across large, complex organisations. Education Bachelor`s Degrees and Advanced Diplomas: Business, Commerce and Management Studies (Required)