Senior Audit Specialist: Strategic Initiatives - Woolworths

Introduction

• The Audit Specialist: Strategic Initiatives will play a key role in supporting the Group Internal Audit assurance and advisory over strategic projects, focusing all strategic initiatives (e.g. digital transformation, ESG compliance, supply chain optimisation) and special audits, ensuring effective risk management and governance practices are embedded.
• This role bridges strategy, governance, and execution—enhancing audit processes, systems, and capabilities to support risk mitigation and value creation.

Job description

Strategic Planning and Execution

• Collaborate with internal audit leadership to design and implement the department’s strategic initiatives/projects assurance methodology and roadmap.
• Track progress on strategic initiatives, ensuring alignment with business priorities and risk appetite.
• Participate in the planning and execution of internal audit reviews related to key strategic initiatives.
• Partnering with key stakeholders and provide assurance over various aspects of strategic initiatives:

• Identify emerging risks in ongoing projects (e.g. ERP implementations, customer experience initiatives, expansion strategies).
• Evaluate internal controls, processes, and systems in areas undergoing transformation.
• Advise stakeholders on strengthening governance frameworks and control environments.
• Evaluate overall project governance, change management, and controls integration.
• Conduct risk assessments and develop appropriate audit scopes for strategic initiatives/projects.
• Operationally understanding the impact of any implementation on the respective business unit and providing assurance over the key implementation risks. 

Project Management

• Define project review scopes, milestones, timelines, and resource requirements.
• Monitor and report on project progress, risks, and outcomes to senior stakeholders.

Stakeholder Engagement & Communication

• Collaborate with senior executives, project sponsors, and external consultants.
• Partner with other Internal Audit functions like Retail/Selling Audit and IT Audit teams to provide comprehensive assurance over the respective strategic initiatives.
• Serve as a liaison between internal audit and other strategic functions (e.g., Strategy, IT, Finance, Supply Chain).
• Engage at various project related meetings, professionally challenging decisions, asking the right questions.
• Present findings and recommendations in an effective and timely manner to the Programme Leadership.
• Assist in audit committee reporting related to the internal audit of strategic initiatives.

Minimum requirements

• Bachelors Degree in Finance, Auditing, IT, Data Science or related fields.
• Certification in project management methodologies (Agile/Scrum, Prince2, PMP)
• Professional certification will be added advantage (e.g. CA(SA) /  CISA / CIA)
• 5 years’ experience in internal audit, strategic planning, or project management within the retail, supply chain and FMCG, industries.
• Strong understanding of risk, governance, and control frameworks (e.g. COSO, ISO 21500, 21502, 31000)
• Experience with digital transformation or systems implementation audits (e.g., ERP, POS, WMS)
• Experience with data analytics, audit management tools, and digital transformation initiatives is advantageous.
• Strategic Thinking: Able to see the big picture and align audit activities with business objectives. Recognises emerging risks and industry trends that could impact strategic goals.

• Project Management: Excellent planning, execution, and delivery skills with attention to timelines and quality. Strong capability to manage providing assurance and keeping track of multiple strategic projects at one time.
• Agile: Able to prioritise, re-plan, and adjust in a fast-changing environment. Resiliently navigating ambiguity and shifting priorities.
• Innovation Orientation: Passion for continuous improvement, digital tools, and process optimisation. Continuously seeks innovative solutions to enhance strategic project audit efficiency and impact.
• Analytical Skills: Strong capability to analyse data, trends, and performance metrics. Able to distil large volumes of data into actionable insights. Comfortable with technology, digital tools, and automation relevant to internal audit and strategy (e.g. audit analytics, data visualization tools etc).
• Ability to influence: Challenges assumptions and identifies areas of improvement across processes or initiatives. Able to influence decision-making and drive alignment on strategic priorities.
• Communication: Clear, concise and timely communication and reporting for both technical and executive audiences.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Strong relationship-building skills with cross-functional and senior stakeholders, sharing knowledge and supporting collective goals. Fosters a collaborative environment within and outside of Internal Audit.
• Integrity & Ethics: Demonstrates high integrity and discretion when dealing with confidential and sensitive matters. High level of professionalism, independence, and adherence to ethical standards.