Internal Auditor and Risk Officer at Fast Choice

Budget: 60-80k

Job Purpose

• To provide independent and objective assurance on the effectiveness of the Company's governance, enterprise risk management, internal controls, and operational processes.
• The role is responsible for proactively identifying financial leakages, fraud risks, compliance gaps, operational inefficiencies, and control weaknesses across all business functions, while recommending practical solutions that safeguard company assets, strengthen accountability, improve profitability, and support strategic decision-making.

Key ResponsibilitiesA. Governance, Risk & Internal Controls (SOPs)

• Develop and execute the annual risk-based internal audit plan approved by the Managing Director.
• Evaluate the adequacy and effectiveness of internal controls across all departments.
• Conduct enterprise-wide risk assessments and maintain the corporate risk register.
• Identify operational, financial, compliance, strategic, and fraud risks and recommend mitigation measures.
• Review and strengthen company policies, SOPs, delegated authority matrices and governance frameworks.
• Conduct root cause analysis on audit findings and monitor implementation of corrective actions.
• Advise management on risk mitigation, cost optimization, and process improvement initiatives.

Financial Audit & Compliance

• Audit revenue, receivables, payables, banking, payroll, inventory and fixed assets.
• Review financial transactions and supporting documentation for completeness and accuracy.
• Evaluate compliance with IFRS, company policies, tax regulations, and statutory requirements.
• Review cash management, bank reconciliations, statutory remittances and expenditure approvals.
• Assess segregation of duties and financial authorization controls.
• Review budget performance and investigate material variances.

Business Generation & Commercial Audit

• Audit the quotation-to-cash cycle.
• Review pricing approvals and discount controls.
• Review tender management process
• Verify contracts, LPOs, quotations, invoices and sales documentation.
• Audit credit approvals and debtor management.
• Review sales commissions and incentive calculations.
• Audit customer complaints, warranty claims, refunds and after-sales processes.

Manufacturing, Operations & Supply Chain Audit

• Audit production planning, Bills of Materials (BOM), costing, yields, and material utilization.
• Review production efficiency, quality controls, preventive maintenance, and equipment utilization.
• Audit procurement processes from requisition through supplier payment.
• Evaluate supplier performance and procurement compliance.
• Review warehouse operations, inventory controls, cycle counts, stock accuracy, and valuation.
• Audit dispatch operations, logistics, vehicle utilization, fuel controls, and proof of delivery.
• Verify fixed asset management and physical asset controls.

Imports & Procurement Audit

• Review purchase planning and supplier selection.
• Audit purchase orders and delegated approvals.
• Verify import documentation and customs compliance.
• Review freight, clearing, insurance, and import costs.
• Audit foreign supplier payments and trade finance controls.
• Review exchange rate management and import-related risks.

Stocks & Raw Materials Audit

• Conduct periodic, cyclical, and surprise stock audits of raw materials, work-in-progress (WIP), finished goods, consumables, and spare parts.
• Verify stock accuracy by reconciling physical inventory with ERP/Sage records and investigate all variances.
• Audit the receipt, storage, issuance, transfer, and consumption of raw materials to ensure compliance with approved procedures.
• Review material requisitions, Goods Received Notes (GRNs), Stock Issue Vouchers (SIVs), transfer notes, and stock adjustment records for completeness and authorization.
• Assess inventory controls to prevent theft, pilferage, damage, obsolescence, and unauthorized stock movements.
• Verify material consumption against Bills of Materials (BOMs), production schedules, and standard costing, and investigate abnormal usage and wastage.
• Review stock valuation methods to ensure compliance with accounting standards and company policies.
• Audit inventory aging and monitor slow-moving, obsolete, damaged, and expired stock, recommending timely disposal or provisioning where necessary.
• Evaluate warehouse layout, storage conditions, stock preservation practices, and access controls to safeguard inventory.
• Review cycle count programmes and annual stock take processes to ensure completeness, accuracy, and timely reconciliation.
• Monitor inventory turnover, reorder levels, stock replenishment practices, and inventory carrying costs to optimize working capital.
• Verify that stock write-offs, adjustments, and disposals are properly approved, documented, and accurately recorded.
• Identify inventory losses, shrinkage trends, and control weaknesses, recommending corrective actions to strengthen inventory management.

Human Resource & Administration Audit

• Audit recruitment, onboarding, contracts, and employee records.
• Review payroll, statutory deductions, and employee benefits.
• Audit leaves administration, attendance, overtime, and timekeeping.
• Review performance management, disciplinary processes, and training programmes.
• Verify compliance with labour legislation and company HR policies.

ERP & Information Systems Audit

• Audit Sage ERP transactions and audit trails.
• Review user access rights and segregation of duties.
• Investigate system overrides, deleted transactions, manual journals, and unauthorized amendments.
• Verify system data integrity and reporting accuracy.
• Recommend ERP control enhancements and automation improvements.

Petty Cash & Cash Management Audit

• Conduct periodic and surprise audits of petty cash across all business locations.
• Verify that all petty cash transactions are properly authorized, supported by original documentation, and comply with approved limits and company policies.
• Review petty cash reconciliations, reimbursements, and replenishments for accuracy, completeness, and timely approval.
• Identify duplicate, fictitious, unsupported, or irregular cash expenditures and recommend corrective action.
• Assess cash handling controls, segregation of duties, and accountability to minimize the risk of fraud, misuse, and financial leakage.

Fraud Prevention & Investigations

• Lead investigations into suspected fraud, theft, corruption, collusion, and financial misconduct.
• Conduct forensic reviews where necessary.
• Investigate whistleblower reports.
• Support disciplinary investigations involving financial irregularities.
• Recommend disciplinary, legal, and control improvement actions.

Reporting & Continuous Improvement

• Prepare monthly Internal Audit Reports for the Managing Director.
• Develop dashboards highlighting key risks, audit findings, and implementation status.
• Present audit findings to management.
• Track implementation of agreed corrective actions.
• Promote a culture of compliance, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Train managers on governance, risk management, and internal controls.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Accounting, Finance or a related discipline.
• CPA(K) Holder or Finalist (Mandatory).
• CIA (Certified Internal Auditor) highly preferred.
• CISA or Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) will be an added advantage.
• Membership of ICPAK and/or IIA Kenya.

Experience

• Minimum 5 years progressive experience in Internal Audit, Finance, Risk Management or Compliance.
• At least 2–3 years auditing manufacturing, distribution, FMCG, or inventory-intensive businesses.
• Experience conducting operational, financial, compliance and fraud investigations.
• Experience auditing ERP systems (Sage preferred).

Technical Competencies

• Internal Audit Standards
• COSO Internal Control Framework
• Enterprise Risk Management
• IFRS
• ERP Auditing (Sage, SAP, Odoo, Microsoft Dynamics)
• Procurement & Supply Chain Controls
• Inventory Management
• Fraud Investigation
• Financial Analysis
• Root Cause Analysis
• Advanced Excel
• Power BI (preferred)

Behavioural Competencies

• High integrity and professional ethics.
• Independence and objectivity.
• Strong analytical and investigative skills.
• Commercial awareness.
• Excellent communication and report-writing skills.
• Ability to influence senior management.
• Excellent stakeholder management.
• Strong decision-making capability.
• High attention to detail.
• Confidentiality and professional scepticism.

Key Performance Indicators

• Completion of the approved annual audit plan.
• Percentage of audit findings closed within agreed timelines.
• Reduction in repeat audit findings.
• Reduction in financial losses from control failures.
• Number of fraud cases detected and resolved.
• Inventory variance maintained within approved tolerance.
• Compliance with company policies and statutory requirements.
• Timely submission of monthly audit reports.
• Number of high-risk issues identified before financial impact.
• Reduction in ERP overrides and unauthorized transactions.
• Cost savings and process improvements resulting from audit recommendations.

Requirements added by the job poster

• 3+ years of Furniture and Home Furnishings Manufacturing experience
• 3+ years of work experience with Internal Audits
• 5+ years of experience in Accounting/Auditing