Director of Audit & Risk in Manchester

Travel Counsellors is looking for a brilliant, commercially minded Director of Audit and Risk to help shape how we protect, strengthen and grow our business.

This is a standout opportunity for an experienced risk and assurance leader who wants to build something meaningful.

You will lead the creation of a best‑class internal audit and enterprise risk function, giving our Executive Team, Board and Audit Committee clear confidence that we are managing risk well, making smart decisions and staying ready for what comes next.

Why this role matters

At Travel Counsellors, we are an ambitious, values‑led global travel business with a powerful community of franchisees, colleagues and customers at the heart of everything we do.

As we continue to scale, innovate and evolve, strong governance, smart risk management and trusted assurance have never been more important.

As Director of Audit and Risk, you will play a critical role in helping us grow safely and confidently.

You will bring clarity to complexity, turn insight into action, and make risk feel practical, human and business‑enabling rather than slow, heavy or theoretical.

What You’ll Be Doing

You will establish and lead our internal audit strategy and own the continued development of our enterprise risk management framework.

Working closely with senior leaders across the business, you will provide independent, objective assurance on governance, controls, compliance and risk exposure, while helping teams understand and own the risks that matter most.

• Build and lead a risk‑based internal audit programme that gives the Board and Audit Committee meaningful assurance.
• Design, coordinate and continuously improve our enterprise risk management framework, including policies, standards, reporting and risk appetite.
• Lead our counter‑fraud, bribery and investigations approach, including Speak Up processes and clear investigation procedures.
• Use data, analytics, automation and AI to improve audit coverage, spot emerging risks and drive smarter decision‑making.
• Partner with senior leaders to identify risks, strengthen controls and support new business processes, change activity and growth initiatives.
• Provide clear, evidence‑based reporting on risk exposure, control effectiveness, audit findings and remediation progress.
• Build, coach and inspire a high‑performing audit and risk team that is trusted, curious and commercially sharp.
• What We’re Looking For

We are looking for someone who combines technical excellence with real commercial instinct.

You will be confident operating at Board and Executive level, but equally comfortable rolling up your sleeves, getting under the skin of how the business works and building trusted relationships across teams.

• Significant experience in internal audit, including leadership experience.
• A recognised professional qualification such as ACA, ACCA or CIA.
• Strong experience managing organisation‑wide risk management frameworks.
• Excellent understanding of governance, internal controls and the three lines of defence model.
• Experience using AI, automation or analytics to enhance audit or risk activity.
• Confidence presenting to Boards, Audit Committees and senior stakeholders.
• High integrity, sound judgement and the ability to influence with credibility and clarity.
• A digitally fluent, analytical and commercially aware approach.

Desirable Experience

• Experience in a franchise, travel, hospitality or digital service environment.
• Familiarity with private equity‑backed businesses.
• A track record of making risk management more engaging, accessible and embedded across an organisation.
• The Kind Of Leader Who Will Thrive Here

You will be a calm, credible and proactive leader who can bring structure without slowing things down.

You will be curious, resilient and comfortable working in a fast‑moving environment where growth, innovation and customer focus sit side by side with strong governance and accountability.

You will know how to challenge constructively, influence senior stakeholders and turn risk conversations into practical decisions.

Most importantly, you will care about doing the right thing, building trust and helping Travel Counsellors continue to grow in a way that is sustainable, responsible and true to our values.

Why join Travel Counsellors?

This is not a maintenance role.

It is a chance to shape, lead and elevate a critical business function at an exciting stage of growth.

You will have the opportunity to work with senior decision‑makers, influence how risk is understood across the organisation, and create a function that is modern, insight‑led and genuinely valued by the business.

If you are looking for a role where your expertise will make a visible difference, where your voice will be heard, and where you can help protect and enable a growing global business, we would love to hear from you.

Apply now

Ready to help us build confidence, strengthen governance and make risk a true enabler of growth? Apply today and be part of the next exciting chapter at Travel Counsellors.

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