Job Description
Senior Internal Auditor (Permanent Role) | Energy & Infrastructure | Central London or Manchester (Hybrid Working) | £75,000
Robert Half are partnering with one of the UK's most significant infrastructure and energy organisations, currently delivering a nationally critical programme that will play a vital role in the country's long-term energy security and net-zero ambitions.
As the organisation continues to evolve through a major phase of growth and delivery, the Internal Audit function is expanding, creating an outstanding opportunity for an experienced Senior Internal Auditor to join a high-performing and forward-thinking assurance team.
This is a hands-on role where you'll lead end-to-end audit engagements across a complex, fast-moving and highly regulated environment. Working closely with the Internal Audit Manager and Head of Internal Audit, you'll provide meaningful assurance, insight and challenge across operational, project, governance and strategic risk areas, helping shape an organisation that is building one of the UK's largest infrastructure projects.
📊 About the Role
• Lead the planning, execution, reporting and follow-up of internal audit engagements across operational, financial, project, governance and compliance risk areas.
• Deliver risk-based assurance that goes beyond compliance testing, providing valuable insight into governance, risk management and internal controls.
• Assess control design, operating effectiveness and governance arrangements across a complex and evolving business environment.
• Manage and oversee co-sourced audit providers throughout all stages of audit delivery.
• Conduct stakeholder interviews and walkthroughs to understand key processes, risks and emerging challenges.
• Produce high-quality working papers, audit findings and reports that clearly articulate risks, root causes and practical recommendations.
• Present audit observations and recommendations to senior stakeholders, influencing decision-making and driving improvements.
• Monitor and follow up on agreed management actions to ensure effective remediation.
• Contribute to risk assessments, audit planning and the continuous development of audit methodology and assurance frameworks.
• Work collaboratively with Risk, Compliance and other assurance functions to support an integrated assurance approach.
• Support the development of junior team members and provide guidance to internal and co-sourced audit resources where required.
• Champion continuous improvement, innovation and best practice across the Internal Audit function.
📋 What We're Looking For
• Minimum of 5–7 years' experience within Internal Audit, Risk or Assurance functions, gained within large, complex organisations operating in regulated, project-based or infrastructure-led environments.
• Candidates currently working within a leading professional services firm are encouraged to apply, provided they have demonstrable experience delivering internal audit, risk advisory or internal controls engagements. Individuals with a purely external audit background and no internal audit experience are unlikely to be suitable for this position.
• Proven experience independently leading audits from planning through fieldwork, reporting and closure.
• Strong understanding of corporate governance, risk management, internal controls and assurance methodologies.
• Experience auditing complex, regulated, project-based or rapidly evolving organisations.
• Ability to take a risk-led approach to auditing, focusing on business impact, governance and strategic risks rather than purely checklist-based testing.
• Strong report writing skills with the ability to deliver concise, insightful and impactful audit findings.
• Experience conducting root cause analysis and developing practical, prioritised recommendations.
• Confident communicating with and constructively challenging senior stakeholders while maintaining strong working relationships.
• Comfortable operating in environments where processes, controls and governance frameworks continue to evolve and mature.
• Experience working within infrastructure, construction, engineering, energy, utilities, major projects or similarly complex environments would be highly advantageous.
• Knowledge of the Three Lines Model and modern internal audit practices.
• Experience using data analytics, Power BI, audit technology or continuous improvement tools would be beneficial.
• Professional qualification such as CIA, ACA, ACCA, CA, CPA or equivalent is preferred.
🤝 Here's What's Waiting for You
• £75,000 base salary
• Annual bonus
• Generous contributory pension scheme (up to 7.5% employee / up to 15% employer)
• 28 days annual leave plus bank holidays, increasing with service
• Hybrid working model with offices in Central London and Manchester
• Exposure to one of the UK's largest and most high-profile infrastructure programmes
• Extensive professional development and career progression opportunities
• The opportunity to work alongside experienced audit, risk and assurance professionals within a growing function
• Long-term stability combined with the challenge and complexity of a major national programme
💼 Why Join This Business
This is a rare opportunity to join an organisation at the centre of one of the UK's most ambitious infrastructure and energy programmes. You'll gain exposure to complex operational, commercial, project and strategic risks while working within an environment where assurance genuinely influences decision-making and organisational success.
The Internal Audit function is evolving alongside the wider business, creating an exciting opportunity for someone who enjoys working in complex and developing environments where they can add real value, shape best practice and provide meaningful insight to senior stakeholders.
For an ambitious Senior Internal Auditor looking to move beyond routine compliance-led auditing, this role offers exposure to major projects, executive-level stakeholders, evolving governance frameworks and genuinely career-defining experience within a nationally significant organisation.