AVP/Director Internal Audit

Location: London, UK

Job Title

The AVP / Director – Internal Audit is a senior role within Pacific Life’s global Internal Audit function, supporting the enterprise through independent assurance, insight, and challenge.

The role is responsible for leading audit activity across defined areas of the Reinsurance Division, a key component of the enterprise with global reach, cross-jurisdictional operations, and important regulatory considerations.

The role contributes to the development and delivery of the annual audit plan, engages with senior stakeholders, and requires strong professional judgement, the ability to operate across jurisdictions and business functions, and the leadership capability to develop audit teams and drive high-quality audit outcomes.

The role reports to the Head of Internal Audit for the Reinsurance Division and operates as part of one global Internal Audit function supporting the wider enterprise. The role works closely with Internal Audit leadership, senior management, control functions, business leaders, and relevant governance forums, and may support engagement with Audit and Risk Committees, branch governance forums, and other senior stakeholder groups as required.

Key Responsibilities

• Audit Planning and Delivery-
• Take ownership of, and lead, the execution of discrete components of the Pacific Life company wide audit plan, with a focus on reinsurance division engagements.
• Oversee audit engagements end to end, including scope definition, risk assessment, fieldwork, reporting, and issue follow up.
• Be accountable for delivering audits on time, within scope, and to a high standard, in accordance with the Internal Audit Department Charter and relevant professional standards.
• Exercise sound professional judgement in assessing control effectiveness, root causes, and risk implications, with consideration of strategic priorities and organisational resilience.
• Shape and contribute to the annual Internal Audit plan and Audit and Risk Committee reporting by providing insight, challenge, and recommendations to Internal Audit senior leadership.
• Leadership Representation and Stakeholder Engagement-
• Act as a delegate for the Head of Internal Audit in governance forums and senior-level interactions for relevant reinsurance entities, branches, and other forums as appropriate.
• Build and maintain trusted, influential relationships with senior stakeholders across Pacific Life, providing credible challenge, insight, and assurance aligned to enterprise priorities.
• Manage senior stakeholder expectations by providing timely, transparent updates, escalating key matters appropriately, and avoiding surprises.
• People Management and Capability Development-
• Provide leadership, development, and performance management to direct reports and wider audit teams, ensuring effective supervision, guidance, and support to deliver high-quality outcomes and foster professional growth.
• Build audit capability and succession, developing critical thinking, judgement, and communication skills that result in insightful, concise, and impactful audit output.
• Identify and address capability gaps through targeted development, resourcing, or recruitment, aligned to current and future Internal Audit needs.
• People Management and Capability Development-
• Provide leadership, development, and performance management to direct reports and wider audit teams, ensuring effective supervision, guidance, and support to deliver high-quality outcomes and foster professional growth.
• Build audit capability and succession, developing critical thinking, judgement, and communication skills that result in insightful, concise, and impactful audit output.
• Identify and address capability gaps through targeted development, resourcing, or recruitment, aligned to current and future Internal Audit needs.

Experience, Skills and Attributes-

• Internal audit, risk, control, or assurance experience within financial services, insurance, reinsurance, or another regulated environment.
• Strong understanding of governance, risk management, internal controls, and audit methodology, including the ability to apply professional standards in a practical and proportionate manner.
• Proven ability to lead complex audit engagements, manage competing priorities, and deliver high-quality work in a global or matrixed organisation.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills, with the confidence and judgement to provide constructive challenge to senior management.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to produce clear, concise, and impactful audit reporting for senior audiences.
• Experience developing people, building team capability, and promoting an inclusive, collaborative, and high-performing audit culture.
• Relevant professional qualification preferred, such as ACA, ACCA, CIA, CISA, or equivalent experience.

Working For Pacific Life Re

Every person in our global team is valued for the unique qualities they bring to our business and we seek to build their expertise and support their individual ambitions at every step. Of course, we take our work seriously and we know our team can operate under great pressure. We work hard and thrive on achievement, but we also know how to have fun and relax too. We regularly host a range of team building days to strengthen our team's connection with each other and reflect on their successes.

Providing employees with a healthy work-life balance is very important to our culture. We have a wide range of employee benefits and we host regular social activities and well being initiatives. We are also committed to supporting our employee's involvement in their communities, by actively fundraising, hosting charity events and overseeing volunteering opportunities.

Benefits (Only for Permanent and Fixed Term Employees)

Leave

• 25 days of annual leave with option to buy/sell more days
• Adoption and fertility leave
• Generous enhanced parental leave

Healthcare

• Comprehensive private insurance coverage for employee and dependents
• Group Life Insurance coverage of 9x basic annual salary and Group Income Protection up to 75% of basic annual salary
• Optical benefits

Savings & Retirement

15% combined employee/employer contributions

Wellness

• Subsidized gym membership
• Access to Employee Assistance Program
• Cycle to Work and Electric Car Salary Sacrifice Scheme
• Time off for volunteering
• Charitable matching of employee donations

You Can Be Who You Are

We are committed to a culture of diversity and inclusion that embraces the authenticity of all employees, partners and communities. We support all employees to thrive and achieve their fullest potential.

As part of our commitment to diversity and inclusion, we will provide reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process to ensure equal access to applicants with disabilities. Please contact us about your needs so that we can discuss these with you to make sure that suitable adjustments are made, where possible.

Pacific Life Re Values

Please click here to view our company values