Group Internal Auditor

Job description / Role

We are seeking a Group Internal Auditor to establish and lead the internal audit and risk framework for a growing Food & Beverage business operating across the UAE and Kuwait. Based in Dubai, this role will be responsible for strengthening governance, improving controls, reducing operational risk, and providing independent assurance across multiple business units and brands.

Client Details

Our client is a diversified consumer business operating across the Food & Beverage sector, with activities spanning retail, manufacturing, and product innovation. The organisation has an established regional presence and is focused on driving operational excellence, strengthening governance, and supporting sustainable growth across its portfolio.

Description

• Develop and implement the groups internal audit and control framework.
• Establish audit methodologies, policies, and reporting standards.
• Build and maintain enterprise-wide risk assessment processes and risk registers.
• Develop and execute annual risk-based audit plans across the business.
• Conduct operational, financial, compliance, and process audits.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of internal controls and governance practices.
• Perform audits across retail stores, warehouses, manufacturing facilities, and support functions.
• Carry out surprise audits, cash counts, inventory counts, and site inspections.
• Analyse ERP, POS, payroll, and financial data to identify trends, risks, and control weaknesses.
• Lead investigations into losses, policy breaches, fraud concerns, and operational irregularities.
• Drive loss prevention initiatives covering cash handling, inventory control, and procurement
• Review supplier onboarding, purchasing controls, and vendor compliance.
• Monitor stock accuracy, wastage, shrinkage, and operational efficiency.
• Assess compliance with business policies, procedures, and brand standards.
• Prepare audit reports with practical recommendations and action plans.
• Track remediation activities and ensure timely closure of audit findings.
• Support the development and enhancement of policies, SOPs, and governance frameworks.
• Evaluate business continuity, crisis management, and risk mitigation practices.
• Support whistleblowing investigations and fraud prevention initiatives.
• Provide regular reporting and independent assurance to senior leadership.
• Travel periodically across the UAE and Kuwait to conduct audits and site visits.

Job Offer

• Dubai-based leadership opportunity with regional exposure
• Opportunity to build and shape the internal audit function
• Direct access to senior leadership and key decision makers
• Broad scope across retail, manufacturing, and corporate operations
• Opportunity to influence governance and business performance
• Fast-paced and growing consumer-focused business

• Bachelors degree in Finance, Accounting, Audit, or a related discipline.
• Professional qualification such as ACA, ACCA, CPA, CIMA, CA, CIA, or equivalent.
• Minimum 5 years of internal audit, risk, controls, or compliance experience.
• Strong understanding of governance, risk management, and internal controls.
• Experience delivering risk-based audit programmes.
• Exposure to fraud investigations and loss prevention activities.
• Experience auditing multi-site or multi-entity organisations.
• Strong analytical and report-writing skills.
• Knowledge of UAE business and regulatory environments.
• Fluent English required. Arabic would be advantageous.
• Ability to travel within the GCC when required.

About the Company

Michael Page is one of the worlds leading professional recruitment consultancies, specializing in the placement of candidates in permanent, contract, temporary and interim positions with clients around the world.

The Group has operations in the UK, Continental Europe, Asia-Pacific and the Americas. In the Middle East we focus on the areas of:

Finance & AccountingBanking & Financial ServicesProcurement Property & ConstructionEngineering & Supply ChainOil & Gas Technical and Engineering Human ResourcesSalesMarketingTechnologySecretarialExecutive SearchLegal

The Group operates through 161 offices in 33 countries and employs over 5,000 employees worldwide.