Director Internal Audit (m/f/d)
Purpose & Overall Relevance for the Organization:
This is an exciting position that will directly contribute to the Corporate Internal Audit (CIA) mission to provide independent, objective assurance to improve the effectiveness of business risk management, internal controls, and governance processes throughout adidas.
The Director Internal Audit is tasked to oversee large and complex assurance and advisory projects, reporting results to the Chief Audit Officer (CAO). The Director is also tasked to supervise and audit project deliverables and lead process improvement projects to enhance CIA ways of working.
This role is a bridge between the staff and CIA Senior Leadership Team: the Director Internal Audit acts as a compassionate, supportive line manager and steers continuous development and coaching of team members, while also defining and ensuring execution of CIA priorities, initiatives and audit plan.
This position offers learning, development, and creation opportunities in an international environment within a multi-cultural, sports enthusiastic team that values diversity, equity and inclusion. The team embraces change and innovation to support the company mission to be the best sports company in the world.
Corporate Internal Audit team members are value-adding business partners focused on supporting adidas in creating a sound governance, risk and compliance framework which secures the achievement of strategic objectives.
Key Responsibilities:
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Supervise audit project leads to achieve planning, fieldwork execution, completion, reporting and follow-up phases according to the quality standards defined in CIA. Lead and coach the project team to deliver quality, thorough and fact-based documentation of work performed throughout all deliverables. Detailed review and sign-off on documentation and deliverables from project team members.
Planning: Oversee and supervise audit risk assessments with project team; lead planning inquiry meetings and review relevant information in advance of project; constructively improve audit objective and scope and approach proposed by the project lead and team; define and align project objective scope and approach with CAO; establish project timelines and present project scope and approach through collaboration with audit entity management/key stakeholders.
Fieldwork: Oversee timely execution of audit work programs and perform detailed review; ensure audit work is concluded with fair and objective results including appropriate audit rating; ensure timely delivery of detailed review and quality check of project team’s work papers and documentation; continuously guide and develop project team members across levels; update CAO on all key issues; ensure all coaching and development notes from working papers are timely resolved; update and validate observations and solutions with stakeholders (e.g. audit entity management and HQ functions); lead update meetings with project stakeholders.
Completion & Reporting: Detailed review audit report content including observations and recommendations; responsible for quality audit report/closing presentation content; review the audit rating, prepare, and communicate the executive summary to the Executive Board and Audit Committee; lead closing meeting to project sponsors and stakeholders and present topics of responsibility (e.g. audit rating).
Follow-up: Coordinate available team members who will monitor implementation of project recommendations.
Provide guidance and development feedback to project team members as part of each engagement.
Data Analytics (DA): Lead, oversee and support execution of accurate and insightful data analytics through timely identification of opportunities, data sources, data extraction and relevant analysis in consultation with DA team to provide greater audit assurance. Role model DA awareness for project team members, identifying and encouraging timely consideration of DA. This should also include visualization of results to deliver impactful and actionable data insights to key stakeholders
Continuously expand and upgrade knowledge and skills by utilizing resources such as reading materials and attending training workshops.
nnovate and continuously enhance internal audit methodology, processes, templates and tools based on best practices using digital solutions, data, experience and feedback. Stay alert of key trends and topics in the audit field, and initiate actions if relevant (e.g., annual top risks, digitalization, automation etc.).
Lead medium to large scale team initiatives (e.g., presentations, recruitment, etc.), including those that will significantly change day-to-day processes.
Maintain and update audit universe(s) and risk models for new bi-annual risk assessment and audit plans. Provide input to CAO for topics included in bi-annual audit plan. Align approved audit plan topics and timelines with relevant stakeholders (e.g., aligned assurance teams, auditees) accordingly.
Develop and provide guidance and advice for teams within the company, obtain breadth of understanding of key processes, systems, initiatives, and business models and continuously develop professional expertise.
Develop expertise in assigned subjects, involving staying alert of company-wide initiatives, process changes and organization changes. Leverage from experience and knowledge gathered throughout projects. Conduct training for team members and update audit work programs when required.
Provide guidance and development feedback to project team members as part of each engagement.
Act as a line manager for team members of responsibility. Define quarterly goals (business & developmental) with assigned team members and evaluate their performance accordingly. As a leader, shape the team’s culture and drive advancement of long-term vision.
Key Relationships:
Chief Audit Officer and CIA Senior Leadership Team
CIA team members, including Internal Audit and Internal Controls
Senior Management and team members of the audit entities
Stakeholders within global functions including (GOPS, HR, Finance, Brand, Sales, TECH, DnA)
Key Governance functions: Risk Management, Global Policies, Market & GBS Internal Controls, Legal & Compliance, Data Privacy, etc.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
Curiousity and growth mindset; keen to learn and approach subjects outside of comfort zone, able to think critically and bring in different perspectives.
Solution-oriented, adaptable, self-motivated, driven and committed team player with integrity and perseverance.
Able to accept and meet deadlines, involving effective time management capacity and sense of priorities and agility.
Strong analytic capabilities to manage large volume of information from various sources (interviews, data) and derive meaningful observations. Experience with data analytics extremely beneficial.
Strong interpersonal skills combined with a high degree of customer orientation; can adapt and navigate easily within a changing environment and complex organizations, able to connect with a variety of functions, audiences, management styles, or cultures and create/foster stakeholder relationships.
Comfortable to present and communicate in English effectively, both in writing and verbally.
Additional language skills would be advantageous (e.g., German, Mandarin, Spanish, etc.)
Mobile; business related travel up to 15-30% per year.
Requisite Education and Experience / Minimum Qualifications:
University degree in a business-related discipline (e.g., Accounting/Controlling/Finance, Management, Business Administration, International Business etc.)
8+ years of combined assurance, advisory, consulting, finance or industry experience, preferably within multi-national organizations or professional services firms.
Minimum 3 years management experience.
Evidence of training or discipline specialization in consumer products industry, diverse sales channels and brands (e.g., Tech, Fraud, Supply Chain, Wholesale, Retail, e-Commerce, Digital, Finance).
Professional designations (e.g., CIA, CPA, CISA, CFE, etc.) preferred.
AT ADIDAS WE HAVE A WINNING CULTURE. BUT TO WIN, PHYSICAL POWER IS NOT ENOUGH. JUST LIKE ATHLETES OUR EMPLOYEES NEED MENTAL STRENGTH IN THEIR GAME. WE FOSTER THE ATHLETE’S MINDSET THROUGH A SET OF BEHAVIORS THAT WE WANT TO ENABLE AND DEVELOP IN OUR PEOPLE AND THAT ARE AT THE CORE OF OUR UNIQUE COMPANY CULTURE: THIS IS HOW WE WIN WHILE PLAYING FAIR.
- COURAGE: Speak up when you see an opportunity; step up when you see a need..
- OWNERSHIP: Pick up the ball. Be proactive, take responsibility and follow-through.
- INNOVATION: Elevate to win. Be curious, test and learn new and better ways of doing things.
- TEAMPLAY: Win together. Work collaboratively and cultivate a shared mindset.
- INTEGRITY: Play by the rules. Hold yourself and others accountable to our company’s standards.
- RESPECT: Value all players. Display empathy, be inclusive and show dignity to all.
adidas celebrates diversity, supports inclusiveness and encourages individual expression in our workplace. We do not tolerate the harassment or discrimination toward any of our applicants or employees. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer.
