Senior Internal Auditor – Italy Lead

Purpose of the role

The Senior Internal Auditor establishes Internal Audit in Italy, sets methodology and priorities with Group headquarters, leads store audits and serves as the Group expert in Purchasing, Supply Chain, HR or another business area.

Main responsibilities

Risk assessment and audit planning

• Develop and update Italy’s strategic, operational, financial and compliance risk assessment in line with Group methodology.
• Set priorities, define the annual risk-based audit plan and integrate results into the Group Risk & Control Matrix.

Store audits

• Conduct announced and unannounced audits across the Italian store network.
• Review cash, stock, pricing, regulated products, safety, security, GDPR, people processes and system access.
• Lead Loss Prevention: analyse and reduce inventory shrinkage and cash losses, prevent internal and external fraud, and ensure employee health and safety in the workplace (Legislative Decree 81/2008).
• Define consistent checklists, sampling criteria and scoring systems.

Specialist expertise (one of the following areas)

• Purchasing / Procurement: supplier selection, agreements, commercial terms, purchase-to-pay and conflicts of interest.
• Supply Chain: warehouse, replenishment, inventory, logistics, returns and disposal.
• HR: payroll inputs, attendance and shifts, hiring and onboarding, and labour compliance.
• Other business areas: additional expertise relevant to a multi-site retail network.

Group collaboration and transformation

• Contribute Italian expertise to Group policies, standards and the Risk & Control Matrix.
• Develop shared methodologies, testing programmes and tools, adapting them to the Italian environment.

Reporting and follow-up

• Report findings, risk levels and agreed corrective actions, monitoring them through closure.
• Track KPIs and KRIs and update Italian and Group management.

Key performance indicators

Audit plan

Completion of the annual risk-based audit plan and network coverage

Corrective actions

Outstanding findings, closure rate and timeliness

Loss and compliance

Inventory shrinkage, cash discrepancies and key compliance exceptions

Group contribution

Development and adoption of shared methodologies, programmes and tools

Profile

Experience

• At least 4–5 years of experience in Internal Audit or Internal Control, with mandatory experience in retail or large-scale retail (GDO) store networks.
• Previous Big 4 experience is an advantage, in addition to the 4–5 years in Internal Audit or Internal Control.
• Proven Loss Prevention experience, including inventory shrinkage and employee workplace health and safety.
• Proven experience in risk assessment, audit planning, fieldwork, reporting and remediation follow-up.
• Experience with senior international stakeholders and expertise in one of: Purchasing, Supply Chain, HR or another business area.

Technical skills

• Strong knowledge of internal-control frameworks, audit methodologies, sampling and testing.
• Strong operational and financial data analysis, translating findings into practical controls.
• Knowledge of relevant Italian retail requirements, including Legislative Decree 81/2008 and GDPR.

Personal attributes

• Pragmatic, risk-based approach, sound judgement and high integrity.
• Authority, active listening and stakeholder-management skills at all levels.
• Autonomy, planning, teamwork and willingness to travel frequently.

Education and languages

• Degree in Economics, Finance, Business Administration or a related discipline; professional certification is an advantage.
• Fluent English (mandatory) and Italian; French is an advantage.

Offer

• Permanent employment contract
• RAL starting from €45,000, depending on experience, expertise and professional background.
• €7.00 daily meal vouchers (Ticket Restaurant).
• Full-time position (40 hours per week)
• Frequent travel in Italy, periodic Group travel and the opportunity to establish a high-visibility function.