Office Head (ACO Internal Audit)

Lead the ACO Internal Audit Branch at NATO's SHAPE headquarters, managing audit teams and overseeing audit assignments to strengthen governance, risk management, and organizational performance across Allied Command Operations.

Responsibilities

• Provide high-level vision, leadership, and strategic direction for the ACO Internal Audit Branch, taking final accountability for all its operations and staff.
• Deliver independent, evidence-based opinions and written audit reports to SACEUR, the Chief of Staff (COS), and the Audit Advisory Panel (AAP) regarding ACO’s overall risk management, governance, and internal controls.
• Evaluate complex organizational data to design, risk-assess, and secure approval for the annual ACO internal audit program.
• Direct financial, compliance, risk, performance, and IT systems audits across both static military headquarters and active operational theatres.
• Evaluate, prioritize, and allocate resources for sudden, special audit requests directed by the COS, HQ Commanders, or Financial Controllers.
• Formulate, implement, and maintain ACO-wide internal audit strategies, policies, and operational audit manuals.
• Build strategic relationships with senior leaders across NATO and external audit bodies, while providing independent management consulting services.
• Track and follow up on previous audit findings to ensure management's agreed corrective actions are implemented effectively and have clear senior ownership.
• Oversee continuous training, policies, and professional development programs to ensure audit branch personnel maintain top-tier qualifications.
• Translate complex audit and risk data into clear, actionable advice for both technical and non-specialist audiences up to the highest strategic levels of the Alliance.

Requirements

• Experience of leading audit teams and delivering audit programmes in a large, complex organization.
• Experience with a recognised Enterprise Risk Management methodology and Internal Control Frameworks.
• Certification as an auditor from a recognised Internal Auditing Organisation and in accordance with recognised Internal Audit Standards.
• Member of a recognised professional auditing or accounting body or institution and maintenance of this certification through continual professional development and education, and payment of annual subscriptions.
• University Degree in accounting, finance, management, business administration, public administration or related discipline and 10 years related experience.
• English – SPL 4343 (Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing)
• Governance, risk and compliance experience with Business Management, Financial Management, Procurement and Information Systems Management is desirable.
• Experience as an auditor in NATO, a major international/multi-national organization or a national audit institution is desirable.

Skills

• Audit Team Management
• Audit Programme Delivery
• Enterprise Risk Management
• Internal Control Framework
• Internal Audit Certification
• Internal Audit Standards
• Professional Auditing Membership
• Accounting
• Finance Management
• Business Administration
• Governance Risk and Compliance
• Procurement Management
• Information Systems Management
• NATO Audit Experience

Languages

English