Shape the Future of Digital Public Sector Oversight

An opportunity exists for an accomplished and visionary IT Audit executive to lead a nationally significant Information Systems Audit (ISA) function within a large public-sector oversight environment.

This is a high-impact leadership role responsible for directing a sizeable national ICT Audit portfolio, strengthening digital audit capability, and ensuring that technology-related risks are effectively integrated into financial, compliance and performance audit outcomes.

The successful incumbent will drive strategic alignment, operational excellence and thought leadership in digital audit oversight.

Role Purpose

To lead and direct the national Information Systems Audit function by:

• Providing strategic direction and oversight across IT audit operations

• Ensuring integration of IT assurance into the broader audit value chain

• Strengthening digital governance, cybersecurity, ERP and data analytics oversight

• Elevating audit insights from technical findings to systemic institutional impact

• Positioning the organisation as a leader in digital audit excellence

Key Strategic Focus Areas Strategic Leadership & Institutional Impact

• Drive long-term ISA strategy aligned to organisational objectives

• Integrate IT audit insights into financial and performance audit outcomes

• Strengthen the institutional narrative linking IT failures to governance and service delivery risks

• Oversee development and execution of the Business Unit Balanced Scorecard

IT Audit & Digital Assurance Oversight

• Provide executive oversight of IT general controls, ERP systems, cybersecurity and digital platforms

• Ensure robust quality assurance and compliance with international IT audit standards

• Oversee data analytics application in identifying systemic vulnerabilities and risks

• Escalate emerging technology risks to executive level

• Support high-risk and complex audit engagements

Cybersecurity & Digital Transformation

• Lead the development of enhanced cybersecurity capability

• Contribute to building a Cybersecurity Centre of Excellence

• Support digital transformation and audit automation initiatives

• Strengthen in-house digital audit capability and reduce reliance on external resources

Stakeholder & Parliamentary Engagement

• Engage auditee leadership, oversight bodies and executive stakeholders

• Review and present technical audit matters to parliamentary committees

• Strengthen the organisation’s positioning within the global digital audit ecosystem

• Elevate institutional reputation through thought leadership in digital oversight

People & Operational Leadership

• Lead a large, nationally distributed ICT Audit team

• Oversee senior managers and deputy leaders

• Drive transformation, inclusion and leadership development

• Ensure operational capacity and sustainable delivery models

Financial & Governance Oversight

• Oversee the business unit’s financial sustainability and cost recovery model

• Manage budget implementation and compliance

• Uphold governance, risk management and ethical standards

Ideal Candidate Profile

This role requires a rare combination of technical depth and strategic maturity.

You will bring:

• 10+ years post-qualification experience in IT Audit, with at least 4 years in a senior leadership role

• Strong background in Big Four audit, consulting, or public-sector IT audit environments

• Deep expertise in:

  • IT General Controls

  • ERP systems

  • Cybersecurity

  • IT governance frameworks (COBIT, ISO, King IV)

  • Data analytics in audit environments

  • IT project and change management reviews

• Proven experience leading large, complex teams nationally

• Strong executive presence and stakeholder management capability

A postgraduate qualification in Information Systems, Auditing, Computer Science or related field is required.
CA(SA) or ISACA certifications (CISA, CISM, CRISC, CGEIT) will be advantageous.

Critical Leadership Attributes

• Strategic thinker with strong institutional awareness

• Ability to connect technical findings to financial and operational consequences

• Resilient and composed in governance-intensive environments

• High ethical standards and courageous leadership

• Passion for public impact and institutional integrity

• Ability to inspire, empower and develop senior leaders

Why Consider This Role?

• Opportunity to influence national digital audit standards

• Direct impact on governance and public-sector accountability

• Leadership of a large, strategically important portfolio

• Meaningful, purpose-driven executive mandate

• Competitive executive-level remuneration