A Risk and Control Manager within Internal Audit is a pivotal senior-level professional who acts as a guardian of organizational integrity and resilience. This specialized career path sits at the critical intersection of risk management, compliance, and internal audit, focusing on ensuring that the audit function itself operates within a robust control framework. Professionals in these jobs are responsible for designing, implementing, and overseeing the internal control environment that governs the Internal Audit department's own activities. Their core mission is to ensure that the audit function, which scrutinizes the entire organization, adheres to the highest standards of governance, thereby reinforcing its credibility and effectiveness. Typically, the role involves a strategic blend of oversight and hands-on management. Common responsibilities include facilitating and managing the department's risk and control self-assessment (RCSA) process, often referred to as a Manager Control Assessment (MCA) or similar framework. This entails working with audit teams to identify, assess, and document risks and the corresponding controls designed to mitigate them. A significant part of the job is to monitor the operational and compliance risks inherent to the audit process, ensuring any control deficiencies or issues are captured, managed, and remediated in a timely manner. These managers also play a key role in reviewing and challenging the design and operational effectiveness of controls within Internal Audit, supporting policy adherence, and contributing to process improvement initiatives that elevate the function's overall control maturity. The skill set required for these jobs is both broad and deep. Employers typically seek candidates with a strong background in internal audit, risk management, or compliance. Exceptional analytical and critical thinking skills are paramount, with the ability to comprehend strategic objectives while maintaining meticulous attention to control details. Effective communication, negotiation, and influencing skills are essential, as the role requires collaborating with senior audit leadership and often interfacing with an organization's central controls team. Project management capabilities are highly valued for driving control-related projects. A bachelor's degree in finance, accounting, business, or a related field is standard, with professional certifications like CIA (Certified Internal Auditor), CRMA (Certification in Risk Management Assurance), or CPA being significant assets. Success in this profession hinges on a principled, unbiased approach, sound judgment, and a proactive mindset for strengthening organizational governance from within the audit function itself.
