Job Summary
As the Head of Credit Audit, you will act as the Subject Matter Expert (SME) to design, build, and execute a comprehensive credit audit framework. You will be responsible for providing independent assurance over the Bank's credit underwriting and operations, while leading validation on the Bank's various credit frameworks, which includes, Independent Credit Review (ICR), financial models, and Expected Credit Loss (ECL). Your focus will be on assessing the effectiveness of internal controls, assessing compliance with internal and external requirements, and providing recommendations for improvement. This high-visibility role reports directly to the Chief Internal Auditor.
Job Responsibilities
- Framework Development: Design, establish, and execute a robust, risk-based credit audit methodology, audit programs, and risk-control matrices.
- Credit Reviews: Lead end-to-end audits of the personal and business banking credit lifecycle, including credit appraisal, underwriting structures, financial statement analysis, customer risk ratings, disbursement, and post-disbursement monitoring.
- Independent Credit Review (ICR) Validation: Perform independent evaluations and validations of the ICR frameworks and credit assessments conducted by the second line of defense.
- Model Validation Assurance: Lead independent validation and audit coverage for technical risk and financial models, including credit scoring models, Risk-Informed Pricing models, and Expected Credit Loss (ECL) framework, amongst others.
- Asset Quality & Early Warning Monitoring: Assess the bank's mechanisms for identifying early warning signals, Non-Performing Financing (NPF) classification, provisioning adequacy, collateral management, and covenant compliance.
- Stakeholder Management: Present clear, concise, and high-impact audit findings to senior management, and Board Audit Committee. Partner constructively with the business to track and validate the closure of corrective action plans.
- Team Upskilling: Act as a technical mentor to existing generalist audit staff, conducting knowledge-sharing sessions to uplift the department's overall commercial credit risk capabilities.
- Regulatory Compliance: Ensure all credit activities and model validation exercises remain strictly compliant with local banking regulations and international accounting/risk guidelines.
- Execute ad-hoc assignments, special investigations, and project reviews as directed by the Chief Internal Auditor or Senior Management
Job Requirements
- Education: Bachelor's Degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or related field. Professional certifications such as CIA, CPA, ACCA, or FRM (Financial Risk Manager) would be an added advantage
- Experience: Minimum of 8 - 10 years of experience in Credit Audit, Credit Risk Management, or Credit Underwriting within a reputable financial institution.
- Credit Technical Expertise: Deep, hands-on knowledge of Islamic financing products, financial analysis, cash flow projections, and credit risk mitigation techniques.
- Quantitative & Model Exposure: Strong understanding of credit risk quantitative frameworks, such as credit scoring model, ECL, and risk-informed pricing.
- Analytical Skills: Ability to analyze complex financing files, identify control gaps, challenge credit decisions objectively, and detect early signs of portfolio deterioration.
- Communication: Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, with a proven track record of influencing senior stakeholders, explaining complex risk observations, and drafting board-ready audit reports.
