Job Summary

The Executive Director, Quality Assurance (hereafter referred to as the “QA Lead”) reports directly to the Head, Audit, Quality Assurance and Professional Practices and is accountable for the end-to-end design and delivery of the QA coverage across Functions.

The role is responsible for assessing and enhancing the quality of GIAI work in line with the GIA Methodology, Group Investigations Standard, Audit Charter, the IIA Standards and other relevant Group Standards, industry practice, professional body expectations and regulatory requirements.

The portfolio has a broad span and includes the following areas:  Finance, Risk, Compliance, Conduct, Financial Crime Compliance (FCC), CIB business and countries in the west markets where the bank has presence.

The QA Lead is accountable for the QA outcomes around audit activities within the portfolio, with particular focus on the Finance, Compliance, including Financial Crime Compliance (FCC) and Risk aspects of the portfolio and for providing relevant regional thematic and regulatory insights into the QA work owned by other QA Leads to the extent they touch the portfolio.  

The QA Lead will play a key role in developing the GIAI Quality Assurance and Improvement Programme (QAIP) and the broader GIAI function. They will provide insights and recommendations to the Global Head QAPP, and the relevant GIA Audit Executive Team (AET) member to improve the function’s strategic approach and contributing to process improvements based on QA results.

Through their work, the QA Lead partners with the GIA AET to enhance the quality of audit work, the management of GIA’s risks and GIA’s strategy implementation. They will attend relevant governance forums and maintain open communication with senior management, providing constructive challenge as needed.

The QA Lead will lead their team, foster high performance, and advocate for the function within the organisation. As a member of the GIAI Leadership Team, they will drive GIAI’s purpose and strategy, including advancing GIAI’s digital strategy to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of assurance activities.

Key Responsibilities

• In conjunction with the other QA Leads, oversee the effective delivery and execution of the Quality Assurance Plan across GIAI to a high standard.
• Developing and ensuring that the Quality Assurance Plan and QA Coverage Strategy for the GIAI and Group Investigations portfolio appropriately addresses the GIA Methodology, Group
• Investigations Standard, IIA Standards and any regulatory requirements and expectations.
• Providing a valued, quantitative and qualitative programme of quality assurance across the portfolio on all material GIAI activities and processes and solution orientated improvement plans.
• Collaborating with the GIA COO to enhance existing approaches, methods and toolkits to ensure they remain current and world leading.
• Awareness and understanding of the wider business, economic and market environment in which the Group operates.
• Ensuring flexibility in the QA approach to meet the evolving requirements of the risks associated with the GIAI process universe.
• Ensuring timely, effective and impactful written and verbal communications with key stakeholders on the progress of QA activities.
• Coordinate identification of themes, trends and lessons learnt from QA reviews to support the continuous improvement of GIAI’s processes and control environment.
• Develop the quality assurance plan for GIAI to align to the GIAI strategy and Group Investigations activities. Manage its overall execution with optimum scope and efficient use of QA resources.  The plan should be developed in collaboration with the other QA Leads to achieve a holistic approach to the assessment of GIAI quality assurance and improvement plans.
• Lead on the information gathering and preparation of the periodic summary reports by QA to GIAI senior management and the Group and relevant subsidiary audit committee (including reports of the results of internal and external quality assessments and improvement programmes).
• Lead in the development of the Quality Assurance and Improvement Programme standard, and defining the assurance coverage approach for Group Investigations.
• Lead in the development, administration and maintenance of QA standards, policies and procedures (including department operating instructions).
• Lead GIAI in keeping current on changes and emerging best practices of the internal auditing profession; undertake research into other emerging issues and opportunities.
• Assist GIAI AET, GIAI COO  and other GIAI staff in preparing for and participating in external assessments conducted by regulators and other third parties. Oversee tracking and validation of recommendations and outcomes of resultant improvement programmes.
• Participate in GIAI strategic projects or operational programmes (such as strategic change initiatives, guest auditor or graduate programmes) as agreed and directed by Group Head of GIAI (GHoA), GIAI COO and Global Head, QA.
• Plan, execute and report upon special project or ad-hoc work as directed by the Global Head, QAPP and /or GHoA.
• Promote knowledge sharing, conducting training and educating QA Partners and GIAI staff through improvement programmes on best practice across GIA.
• Ensure the QA Partners (which consists of Senior Audit Managers and Audit Managers) have access to the necessary training to execute their role and meet local regulatory requirements and expectations.
• Provide leadership, management and coaching to QA Partners to ensure they are highly engaged and performing to their potential.

Skills and Experience

• Experienced audit professional with a recognized professional audit certification (e.g., ACA, CPA, ACCA, ICMA, IIA, CIA).
• Proven expertise in risk analysis and control assessment techniques.
• Extensive experience in quality assurance, with a track record of successfully implementing quality assurance processes and frameworks.
• Strong understanding of Governance, Risk, and Control (GRC) frameworks.
• Proficient in business process analysis and identifying types of controls.
• Advanced skills in data analytics and project management.
• Excellent negotiation and communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and manage a team effectively.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams.
• High level of integrity and attention to detail.
• Proactive and results-oriented mindset.

About Standard Chartered

We're an international bank, nimble enough to act, big enough for impact. For more than 170 years, we've worked to make a positive difference for our clients, communities, and each other. We question the status quo, love a challenge and enjoy finding new opportunities to grow and do better than before. If you're looking for a career with purpose and you want to work for a bank making a difference, we want to hear from you. You can count on us to celebrate your unique talents and we can't wait to see the talents you can bring us.

Our purpose, to drive commerce and prosperity through our unique diversity, together with our brand promise, to be here for good are achieved by how we each live our valued behaviours. When you work with us, you'll see how we value difference and advocate inclusion.

Together we:

• Do the right thing and are assertive, challenge one another, and live with integrity, while putting the client at the heart of what we do
• Never settle, continuously striving to improve and innovate, keeping things simple and learning from doing well, and not so well
• Are better together, we can be ourselves, be inclusive, see more good in others, and work collectively to build for the long term

What we offer

In line with our Fair Pay Charter, we offer a competitive salary and benefits to support your mental, physical, financial and social wellbeing.

• Core bank funding for retirement savings, medical and life insurance, with flexible and voluntary benefits available in some locations.
• Time-off including annual leave, parental/maternity (20 weeks), sabbatical (12 months maximum) and volunteering leave (3 days), along with minimum global standards for annual and public holiday, which is combined to 30 days minimum.
• Flexible working options based around home and office locations, with flexible working patterns.
• Proactive wellbeing support through Unmind, a market-leading digital wellbeing platform, development courses for resilience and other human skills, global Employee Assistance Programme, sick leave, mental health first-aiders and all sorts of self-help toolkits
• A continuous learning culture to support your growth, with opportunities to reskill and upskill and access to physical, virtual and digital learning.
• Being part of an inclusive and values driven organisation, one that embraces and celebrates our unique diversity, across our teams, business functions and geographies - everyone feels respected and can realise their full potential.

Recruitment Assessments

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Visit our careers website www.sc.com/careers