Job Introduction
Head of Internal Audit
Salary £85,000 to £100,000 depending on experience
Permanent
Hybrid Home & Folkestone
Are you ready to take the lead in shaping the future of internal audit at Saga plc? We’re searching for a dynamic and credible audit expert to step into the pivotal role as Head of Internal Audit. This is a rare chance to oversee a talented team of four auditors, driving best practice and delivering a robust audit plan spanning regulated industries including Travel, Cruise, Insurance, and Financial Products.
In this strategic position, you’ll champion excellence by promoting a high-performance, high-challenge culture where accountability and ambition are celebrated. You’ll have full responsibility for the coordination and delivery of internal audit activities, ensuring risk, control, and governance across the Group are efficiently managed.
We’re looking for someone who can inspire a Business Partnering approach within the audit function, adding real value and driving continuous improvements that enhance Saga’s customer service and support achievement of strategic objectives. Your expert leadership will steer the team towards innovative solutions and impactful outcomes.
For this role in audit, Saga offers a flexible hybrid working model, blending meaningful in-office collaboration in Folkestone (typically 1–2 days per week) with the freedom to work from home. Our team thrives on sharing knowledge, learning together, and celebrating successes—making every week an opportunity for growth and connection.
Role Responsibility
You will be fully responsible for the following areas;
• To build and manage a high-performing team of respected internal audit professionals.
• Developing and implementing the Audit plan and supporting the Operating Board in understanding their role and accountabilities in mitigating and managing risk within their area of responsibility.
• Facilitating the development and implementation of the Internal Audit Strategy, providing strategic leadership and direction to the team.
• Implementing action plans related to risk assessment and annual planning, audit execution, audit reporting, and the BU Audit and Risk Committees.
• Providing a robust and supported annual opinion to the BU Audit and Risk Committees on the effectiveness of the internal risk and control environment in accordance with professional standards and corporate governance requirements.
• Leading Internal Audit’s annual risk assessment and planning process to develop the audit plan and ensure it is responsive to and aligned with the strategic objectives and risk profile of the business units.
• Ensuring all Internal Audit reports are clear, concise, identify root causes with practical solutions, and ultimately provide value to management. Listening to the business and Internal Audit colleagues to improve processes and reporting where appropriate.
• Meeting regularly with the Audit Risk and Compliance Committee to report the status of Internal Audit’s and ongoing monitoring activities.
• Proactively informing senior management of significant risks or exposures related to internal controls, compliance, and/or governance.
• Following our Governance and Business Code of Conduct and always acting with integrity and due diligence.
• Promote a culture of continuous improvement, continually looking for innovative ways to design and develop strategies which are based on the latest trends and research.
• Using my knowledge and expertise to make sure the policies and processes my team and I develop underpin delivery of business priorities, and are simple, relevant, and inspiring.
• Networking to stay connected with business trends and changes.
The Ideal Candidate
Saga is embarking on a big transformation journey, so we will need experience gained from large scale change programmes within a plc / FTSE environment. You will already be a professional audit expert, now looking for a varied setting in a Head of role. You will have a wealth of knowledge gained from regulated industries across businesses that are customer centric, ideally like hospitality or travel. You will also need to demonstrate the following skills and technical qualifications;
• CIA, ACA, ACCA, CMIIA qualified and experience IA leader
• Can lead a team of SMEs while providing oversight and guidance to deliver robust assurance to the Operating Board and Audit and Risk Committees.
• Experience working in a regulated environment and knowledge of the risk and compliance requirements associated with this is essential.
Saga Values: Make it Happen, Do the Right Thing, Customer First, Excellence Every Day, Our People Make Us Special
Package Description
At Saga, we recognise that our people make us special. We believe our colleagues deserve rewards for the excellence they demonstrate every single day, that's why we have put together an amazing benefits package for all colleagues.
BENEFITS AVAILABLE FOR THIS ROLE:
1. 25 days holiday + bank holidays
2. Option to purchase additional leave - 5 extra days
3. Pension scheme matched up to 10%
4. Company performance related annual bonus - Up to 15%
5. Car allowance £4,800 per annum
6. Private medical insurance after 1 years’ service
7. Life assurance policy on joining us, 4 x salary
8. Wellbeing programme
9. Colleague discounts including family discounts on cruises, holidays and insurance
10. Range of reductions and offers from leading retailers, travel groups and entertainment companies
11. Enhanced maternity and paternity leave
12. Grandparents leave
13. Income protection
14. Access to Saga Academy, our bespoke learning platform