Global Finance Audit Lead

Please Note: The deadline for applying is 23.59 the day before the job posting end date.

Job Title: Global Finance Audit Lead

Location: 100VE

Work-Level: 3X

 
JOB PURPOSE 

Corporate Audit is a diverse, global and forward-looking team that aims to protect what we all care for. We deliver with excellence high quality, insightful and timely reassurance on the key risks that could impact Unilever’s purpose. Our diverse and future-focused team offers a unique opportunity to enhance functional expertise and develop an in-depth understanding of risk management and governance across Unilever.

Corporate Audit offers high-potential talents the opportunity to develop leadership skills, stakeholder management, influencing and communication skills while gaining a better understanding of Unilever. In addition, you will gain insights into risk management, deepen functional skills, build cross functional experience and gain exposure to a broad selection of Unilever's business across business groups, business units, countries, business operations and functions.

The audits are conducted remotely and on-site, engaging with over 100 locations annually. Generally, we work in 5-week sprints throughout the year, with opportunity to lead a different, often cross-functional team in each sprint. The entire team consists of 38 team members, mostly experienced functional experts with 10+ years of experience. Corporate Audit has team members from Finance, IT, Supply Chain, Marketing, Sales & HR.

Corporate Audit is recognised externally as one of the strongest teams across sectors, having also deployed leading edge data & analytics tooling which enables us to audit not only samples of data but entire data sets at times.

You will develop broad leadership skills, stakeholder management skills, influencing skills & communication skills and better understanding of Unilever’s Corporate Governance.

We do not have lifetime Auditors in Corporate Audit; candidates stay in Audit roles for a limited time, after which they progress to other roles within the organisation, fully leveraging  the steep learning curve in Corporate Audit.

As part of the extensive onboarding program, you will be assigned a temporary external mentor with audit background to help you in the transition from a business leader to an auditor.

RESPONSIBILITIES 

• Auditing: deliver high-quality audits by evaluating the design and operational effectiveness of controls across multiple functional areas and business units.

• Audit planning: be accountable for the Risk Assessment and all aspects of audit planning including discussions with unit management to understand business context, identification of key risks and proposal of audit scope/plan.

• Audit Team leadership: lead teams on the day to day running of an audit, including monitoring the progress and completion of the audit plan, presenting updates to relevant stakeholders, identifying any weaknesses and developing recommendations to address these. Accountable for the Audit report including the audit opinion.

• Peer Challenger: contribute to the delivery of audit quality by reviewing and playing a peer challenger role on assigned audits.

• Finance Knowledge Network: set the agenda for landing changes & improving the impact and insight of our audits by liaising with Centres of Excellence (content/process owners) on audit findings, discussing root causes. identifying good practices/functional issues/developments, capability building and internal & external benchmarking. Bring an in-depth knowledge of finance processes and practices to the audit teams.

• Stakeholder Connects: proactively engage senior leaders in the business to understand the business environment and key risks, share emerging themes and key take-outs from audit.

• Strategic Priorities and Initiatives: deliver workplan and strategic initiatives in line with the priorities of Corporate Audit to ensure that the function is on par with the developments in the audit industry.

• Self and Team Development: develop, commit to and action a future fit self-development plan, proactively contribute to the development of others in the team by playing a ‘buddy’ and coaching role.

ALL ABOUT YOU 

SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

• Organisationally aware, resilient, robust yet empathetic, pragmatic and agile.  Able to maintain and develop relationships at all levels of the organisation.
• Courage and conviction to raise difficult questions.
• High level of emotional awareness to deliver challenging messages appropriately and with flexibility.
• Unquestionable ethics and integrity with an awareness of expectations for Corporate Audit.
• Fully operational in all finance skill areas and good cross functional understanding
• Strong communication and presentation skills. Fluent spoken and written English
• High level of energy and passion for leading and developing teams
• Problem solving skills, ability to make reliable and objective judgments and conclusions
• Strategic Influencing – ability to influence across all levels of the organisation
• Analysis/critical thinking/Curiosity - able to structure analysis, see the bigger picture, asking the right questions and focusing on the right data to generate genuine insight
• Digitally savvy and results oriented
• Proven self-starter, able to work independently and in teams
• Self-confidence, resilient and integrity
• A consistently strong track record of delivery
• Extensive diverse professional experience in Finance including WL3. Experience in a regional/ global role isthe an advantage. Certified accountant or similar being beneficial.

LEADERSHIP BEHAVIOURS

• Care Deeply
  We care about how consumers experience our brands, the growth and development of our people, and their impact on the planet. We emphasise the importance of performance and care, moving from ambiguity about success to fairness and transparency.
  The successful candidate set high standards for themselves, cares for the development of others and is demonstrating to learn.

• Focus on What Counts
  We prioritise what truly matters, setting clear and stretching goals. We aim to shift from having everything as a priority to focusing on fewer, bigger things that are delivered to conclusion and are being rewarded.
  The successful candidate is able to embrace uncertainty, is curious, learns rapidly and flexible in the approach taken.

• Stay Three Steps Ahead
  We encourage bold and creative thinking to make breakthroughs in performance. We focus on anticipating and staying ahead of consumer needs and external trends, shifting from reacting to leading, shaping, and disrupting the market.
  The successful candidate understands how to mitigate emerging risks and is able to think outside the box as needed to make the right audit recommendations.

• Deliver with Excellence
  The emphasis is on delivering everything with excellence and pace, taking personal ownership, and holding each other accountable. We aim to shift from pride in thinking to pride in execution, developing breakthrough solutions and ensuring the best in reality. 
  The successful candidate generates intensity and focus to motivate people to deliver results as needed. Is showing an owner’s mindset, using data and insights to make decisions and audit recommendations. The person is taking personal responsibility and accountability.

KEY RELATIONSHIPS

• GCAD
• KPMG (external auditors)

TRAVEL

The successful candidate will be required to travel world-wide due to the nature of the role. 30-40% Travel requirements. Normally two weeks while doing an audit (see earlier comment on ‘sprint’ of five weeks), c5-6 times p.a.. If the candidate will not be based in London, frequent travel (at least once per quarter) should be expected.

NOTES

Please apply via this portal as e-mail applications may not be processed and include your Future Fit Plan if possible.

By applying for this vacancy, you are confirming that you have made your Line Manager aware of your application and that you are at a point in your career with Unilever where it is appropriate for you to be applying for other positions.   

Should you require additional information or reasonable adjustments to allow you to present your best self during this process, please contact your Talent Partner Sophie whall on Sophie.whall@unilever.com  

What we offer

Whilst the role is advertised on a full-time basis, we would be happy to discuss possible flexible working options and what this may look like for you. We strive to achieve a family-friendly and inclusive workplace and to, above all, create possibilities for all. 

Diversity at Unilever is about inclusion, embracing differences, creating possibilities and growing together for better business performance. We embrace diversity in our workforce. This means giving full and fair consideration to all applicants and continuing development of all employees regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership, and pregnancy and maternity. We are also more than happy to provide reasonable adjustments during our application and interview process to enable you to be present your best self. To find out more, including about our Employee Resource Groups, please click here Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (unilever.com).

Location  

In June 2020 we announced our plan to consolidate a number of Unilever’s offices across the South East of England into a new Unilever campus in Kingston-upon-Thames in or around early 2025. However, on the 08 August 2024 we announced to our existing staff our proposal to retain our central Head Office in London, 100 Victoria Embankment (“100VE”) until our lease expires in 2027. As a result of this new proposal, we will be consulting with our existing staff, and new joiners who join during this period of consultation at 100VE, on the proposal made in August 2024. During consultation we will clarify the future location of each team and function. This means your role will either be based in 100VE until 2027 or in Kingston-Upon-Thames from early 2025. As we are yet to commence consultation on the proposal you agree, until such a time when consultation has concluded, your normal place of work as set out in the enclosed Statement of Terms & Conditions will be 100VE. You agree that on the conclusion of the consultation your place of work will be 100VE or 100VE until early 2025 and then Kingston-upon-Thames ("the locations") and you will be notified of which of the locations will be your place of work after that consultation ends.

Relocation to the UK 

Please be aware if you are applying for this role from outside the UK, if successful, your application will be treated as a self-initiated Change Location Outside of Country (CLOC) transfer. This means any relocation costs must be self-funded with the potential to reclaim some specific pre-approved expenses up to £5,000. Please speak to your Talent Partner if you have any questions.