Sr. Audit Manager - Retail Industry - DRC Congo

Job Title: Senior Internal Audit Manager

Position Type Full-Time

Department Accounts & Finance

Reporting to Finance Head

About the role This position is responsible for planning, executing, and managing internal audit activities across the organization to evaluate the adequacy and effectiveness of internal controls, risk management practices, governance processes, financial reporting systems, operational efficiency, and regulatory compliance. This role will assist Finance Head to strengthen business controls and safeguard organizational assets.

Key Responsibilities
1. Planning and Execution of Audits Develop and implement the annual internal audit calendar based on business risk assessments. Conduct financial, operational, compliance, and store audits across all retail locations. Identify emerging risks affecting retail operations, inventory management, procurement, and revenue generation. Ensure audit coverage of all critical business processes and functions.

2. Store Audits Conduct periodic and surprise audits of supermarket / hypermarket branches. Review compliance with standard operating procedures (SOPs), company policies, and operational guidelines. Verify adherence to merchandising standards, pricing controls, promotional activities, and discount approvals. Evaluate store-level controls relating to cash handling, inventory management, and customer service operations. Identify process gaps, inefficiencies, and control weaknesses within store operations.

3. Inventory Control & Loss Prevention Assess inventory management processes across stores and warehouses. Conduct stock audits and inventory reconciliations. Monitor inventory shrinkage, wastage, spoilage, damages, and pilferage. Investigate significant inventory variances and recommend corrective actions. Evaluate effectiveness of stock receiving, storage, transfer, and issuance controls. Support initiatives to reduce inventory losses and improve stock accuracy.

4. Cash and Revenue Audit Audit cash collection, POS transactions, cash deposits, and banking processes. Review cash shortages, overages, voids, refunds, returns, discounts, and promotional transactions. Assess controls over electronic payments, loyalty programs, gift vouchers, and store credit transactions. Verify accuracy and completeness of sales reporting and revenue recognition processes.

5. Procurement and Vendor Audit Review procurement practices to ensure compliance with company policies. Evaluate vendor selection, contract management, purchase approvals, and supplier performance. Verify controls over receiving of goods, invoice processing, and payment approvals. Identify potential fraud risks, conflicts of interest, and procurement irregularities. Assess effectiveness of vendor rebate and promotional support programs.

6. Warehouse and Supply Chain Audit Audit warehouses and logistics operations. Review inventory movement controls between warehouses and stores. Assess transportation, delivery, and stock transfer processes. Evaluate warehouse security and inventory safeguarding measures. Monitor compliance with cold-chain requirements for perishable products.

7. Fraud Investigation & Risk Management Investigate incidents involving theft, fraud, inventory manipulation, cash misappropriation, and policy violations. Conduct forensic reviews whenever required. Recommend preventive and detective controls to mitigate fraud risks. Maintain a fraud risk register and monitor corrective actions. 8. Financial & Compliance Review financial transactions and accounting controls. Ensure compliance with tax regulations, labor laws, health and safety standards, and retail industry requirements. Evaluate compliance with company policies and delegated authority limits. Support external audits and regulatory inspections.

9. Communication and Reporting Prepare detailed audit reports highlighting observations, risks, root causes, and recommendations. Present audit findings to Finance Head and respective stakeholders in the Senior management. Monitor implementation of corrective action plans and closure of audit findings. Report recurring control failures and high-risk issues.

10. Team leadership & Continuous Improvement Lead and manage the Internal Audit team. Review audit work performed by audit staff. Provide coaching, training, and professional development opportunities. Ensure adherence to professional auditing standards and best practices.

11. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) Completion of annual audit plan. Reduction in inventory shrinkage and stock losses. Closure rate of audit observations. Number of repeat audit findings. Inventory accuracy levels. Reduction in cash discrepancies. Compliance scores across stores and warehouses. Fraud detection and prevention effectiveness. Timeliness and quality of audit reports.

12. Apart from above responsibilities, the employee has to be ready to take up new assignments / projects as per business requirements.