Internal Auditor

Job Title: Internal Auditor

Department: Internal Audit

Reports To: Head of Internal Audit / Group CFO

Employment Type: Full-Time

1. Job Purpose

To provide independent and objective assurance on the effectiveness of the School Group's internal controls, financial processes, risk management, governance, and operational procedures.

The Internal Auditor will conduct audits across schools and Group functions, identify risks and control weaknesses, recommend corrective actions, and follow up on the implementation of agreed recommendations.

2. Key Responsibilities

Internal Audit

• Develop and execute risk-based audit programs for schools and Group departments.
• Conduct financial, operational, compliance, and process audits.
• Evaluate the adequacy and effectiveness of internal controls.
• Perform walkthroughs, sample testing, transaction testing, and analytical reviews.
• Prepare audit working papers and maintain complete audit documentation.
• Identify control weaknesses, process gaps, inefficiencies, and risks.

Finance & Accounting

• Audit tuition fee collection, receivables, refunds, discounts, scholarships, and fee concessions.
• Review cash, petty cash, banking, and reconciliation procedures.
• Test payments, expenses, journals, and supporting documentation.
• Review payroll and employee-related payments.
• Assess budgetary controls and compliance with approved budgets.
• Verify segregation of duties and approval authorities.

Procurement & Vendor Management

• Review purchase requisitions, quotations, purchase orders, invoices, and payment approvals.
• Assess compliance with procurement policies and delegated authority.
• Review vendor onboarding and vendor master data.
• Test vendor transactions for accuracy, validity, and completeness.
• Identify duplicate, unusual, or unsupported payments.

School Operations

• Review admissions, enrolment, student records, and withdrawal processes.
• Audit inventory, fixed assets, school supplies, transport, facilities, and maintenance.
• Review compliance with Group policies and procedures.
• Assess whether processes are consistently implemented across schools.
• Recommend improvements to increase efficiency and strengthen controls.

HR & Payroll

• Review employee master data and payroll controls.
• Test new joiners, leavers, salary changes, allowances, and other payments.
• Review authorization of employee-related transactions.
• Identify potential duplicate or unauthorized payments.

IT & Data Controls

• Review user access to finance, HR, student, and other critical systems.
• Assess controls over user creation, modification, and termination.
• Review segregation of duties within systems.
• Evaluate controls over confidential student, parent, employee, and financial information.

Fraud & Special Reviews

• Identify potential indicators of fraud, irregular transactions, conflicts of interest, and misuse of resources.
• Conduct data analysis and transaction reviews where required.
• Assist with special investigations and management reviews.
• Report significant irregularities through the appropriate channels.

Audit Reporting & Follow-Up

• Prepare clear audit reports detailing observations, risks, root causes, and recommendations.
• Discuss findings with responsible management and obtain management action plans.
• Maintain an audit recommendation tracker.
• Conduct follow-up reviews to verify implementation of agreed corrective actions.
• Escalate overdue or high-risk findings to senior management.

3. Key Audit Areas

The Internal Auditor may cover:

• Tuition fees and collections
• Admissions and enrolment
• Accounts receivable
• Cash and banking
• Petty cash
• Payroll
• Procurement
• Vendor management
• Inventory and fixed assets
• Budget and expenditure
• HR processes
• IT access controls
• Student records
• Discounts and scholarships
• Refunds
• Transport
• Facilities and maintenance
• Contracts and service providers
• Regulatory compliance
• Fraud risk
• School operations

4. Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Auditing, or a related discipline.
• Professional qualification such as CIA, ACCA, CPA, CA, or CIMA is preferred.
• 3–6 years of experience in internal audit, external audit, risk, compliance, or financial controls.
• Experience in a school, education group, or other multi-site organization is an advantage.
• Strong understanding of accounting, internal controls, risk management, and audit procedures.

5. Required Skills

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• Strong MS Excel and data-analysis skills.
• Good knowledge of ERP/accounting systems.
• Excellent report-writing and communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and meet deadlines.
• Strong integrity, confidentiality, and professional ethics.
• Ability to communicate effectively with school management and senior leadership.
• Ability to identify issues and provide practical recommendations.

6. Key Performance Indicators

• Completion of the approved annual audit plan.
• Timely completion of assigned audits.
• Quality and accuracy of audit reports.
• Identification of significant risks and control weaknesses.
• Timely follow-up of audit recommendations.
• Reduction in recurring audit findings.
• Implementation rate of agreed corrective actions.
• Quality of audit documentation and working papers.

7. Independence & Confidentiality

The Internal Auditor must maintain professional independence and objectivity and must not be responsible for operating or approving the processes being audited.

The role requires strict confidentiality regarding student, parent, employee, financial, supplier, and other sensitive School Group information.