The job in a nutshell
The Travelodge Internal Audit team is seeking to appoint a Senior Internal Auditor. Reporting to the Head of Assurance on a day-to-day basis, the Senior Internal Auditor will work with all key business functions within Travelodge.
The Senior Internal Auditor will support the delivery and oversight of the organisation's approved risk-based audit plan, whilst providing meaningful data to support the department and wider stakeholders with relevant compliance and risk mitigations, for regulatory and operational purposes.
The Internal Audit team are responsible for giving assurance that risk mitigations and controls are in place for identified risks.
Personal characteristics
- You are a logical thinker and able to provide evidence in support of your reasoning, you have the ability to explain the thought process used to arrive at your conclusions.
- You are dedicated to your work, highly organised and a strong administrator, allowing you to track multiple activities in parallel. To be successful, you must have confidence in your skills and ability to display leadership within the wider Travelodge team.
What's it all about?
- Responsible for supporting the delivery of the assurance plan through leading audit activities from planning to conclusion, collaborating with management on improving control effectiveness and reporting to the leadership team
- Expected to develop relationships across the business, along with driving change and continuous process improvement in accordance with professional standards in internal auditing. You will also produce high quality reports and advise management on the prevention of fraud and supporting the team in its use of audit management software.
- Liaise with the Head of Internal Audit on a regular basis, ensuring that he is fully informed of issues, areas of focus, and seek his input and approval as required.
- Work closely with the Risk Manager and wider business to align control testing to current and new risks the business faces.
- Be aware and prepare for changes in relevant legislation or other regulatory amendments.
- Plan and conduct risk-based audits, reviewing the effectiveness of internal controls and compliance to policies and procedures both at hotels and centrally.
- Plan, design, and conduct audit procedures to verify that controls are operating through testing.
- Identify control gaps and opportunities for improvement.
- Report on findings and recommendations
- Contribute, as appropriate, in the year-end financial audit with the external auditors or other bodies.
- Provide recommendations on internal controls and participate in enhancing internal audit standards and practice
- To accurately record, track and monitor audit observations and agreed actions and ensure proper follow-up.
- Promptly respond to inquiries from other team members, senior leadership, staff, and regulatory authorities escalate concerns accordingly.
- Act as an enthusiastic and engaging representative of the team, encouraging open dialogue with all colleagues to engender trust and drive continuous improvement.
- Analysing and investigating business data (including complaints, risk and controls and event MI) to identify trends, risks, and concerns to support data led compliance oversight.
- Work closely with Risk & Compliance colleagues to provide administrative and analytical support across wider team activities.
- Performs other duties and responsibilities as assigned to meet needs of department and organisation as determined by management.
Education
- Qualified Accountant or Internal Auditor
- Ideally 4 years’ experience of internal or external audit
Required Skills
- Excellent understanding of processes, risks, and controls.
- Good understanding of the culture of working in a hospitality or any corporate environment
- You will need to be highly organised with an ability to prioritise and multitask.
- Excellent career development is available across the Finance team as this position will have exposure and strong relationships with all of them.
- Excellent oral numerical and written communication skills.
- Ability to navigate audit management software.
- Self-managing: The ability to work independently with minimal oversight.
- Attention to detail: maintaining a high level of data integrity and accuracy.
- Organisational and prioritisation skills: ability to handle multiple parallel priorities.
- Ability to critically analyse business processes to identify risk and relevant mitigating controls.
- A team player: Ability to liaise effectively across all levels of the organisation.
- Decision making: The ability to quickly analyse data and make a rational decision.
- Project management: You will work on multiple projects simultaneously and must be able to organise and manage your time.
- Problem solving: Ability to solve problems when they arise.