Head of Internal Audit - SMF5 in England

Head of Internal Audit – SMF5 Leadership Opportunity

South Central England/London + Hybrid Working

A leading Life & Pensions organisation is seeking an experienced Head of Internal Audit to oversee and enhance its internal audit function. This senior leadership role offers broad visibility across the business, direct interaction with Executive and Audit Committee stakeholders, and responsibility for ensuring the organisation maintains the highest standards of governance, risk management and regulatory compliance.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, manage and develop the Internal Audit function, ensuring alignment with Group Internal Audit methodology and industry best practice.
• Deliver a risk-based audit plan, from scoping through to reporting, providing clear assurance opinions on key control frameworks.
• Present audit findings, governance updates and progress reports to the Audit Committee, Group Internal Audit and senior executives.
• Evaluate and strengthen risk management, internal controls and fraud prevention processes.
• Provide recommendations to enhance governance structures, process effectiveness and regulatory compliance.
• Act as the primary Internal Audit contact for senior stakeholders, including Executive Committee members.
• Oversee a team of auditors, allocating work, reviewing output and mentoring staff.
• Lead or support investigations and regulatory reporting when required.
• Ensure full compliance with FCA/PRA conduct and SM&CR responsibilities (SMF5 – Internal Audit Function).

What We’re Looking For

• A qualified audit or finance professional (ACA/ACCA, Actuarial, or equivalent).
• Significant internal audit experience within insurance or financial services, or external audit experience from a Big 4 environment with commercial exposure.
• Strong understanding of UK regulatory requirements and internal control frameworks.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder management and executive-level exposure.
• Ability to operate independently, provide strategic insight and act as a trusted adviser to senior leadership.

Ideal Profile

You’ll be a confident, credible and collaborative audit leader who can balance strong technical assurance with a pragmatic, business-focused approach. You should bring a track record of improving audit functions, influencing senior stakeholders and driving high standards of governance across a regulated environment.