Director, APAC and Middle East Technology Audit

Purpose of the role:

We are looking for a Technology Director at Barclays Internal Audit (BIA) in Singapore, serving as the APAC and Middle East Head of Technology Audit. In this position, the candidate will play a pivotal role in defining, coordinating, and executing the audit strategy for the Technology, Cyber and Operational Resiliency portfolio for the regions. The candidate will be part of our Regional Audit management team and Global Technology Audit leadership team working with functional and business technology leaders across BIA and part of a global community of around 150 technology auditors. The candidate will support the Regional Head of Audit and Regional Portfolio Head to lead the audit team, oversee day‑to‑day audit delivery, lead audit execution, and engage stakeholders on audit outcomes. The candidate will also represent BIA in senior management forums, participate in BIA leadership meetings, and support the Regional and Country Heads of Audit in regulatory engagements. As a senior leader, you are expected to model strong leadership behaviours, foster a high‑performing and inclusive environment, and champion integrity and continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities

• Collaborate and support the Regional Head of Audit, Portfolio Head(s) and Audit delivery team to define the appropriate coverage strategy and audit plan for APAC and Middle East Technology (including Cyber and Operational Resiliency), taking into consideration the Audit Risk Appetite, the current and expected business environment, the regulatory requirements and the resourcing and skill levels within audit function. 
• Build a deep understanding of the strategy of the organisation, and define, deliver and manage the audit plan for the specific responsible areas, and be able to adapt plans, where appropriate.
• Execute audits as Audit Owner and provide leadership and guidance to audit team members, fostering collaboration and professional growth.
• Promote a culture of efficiency and support BIA strategic direction on the use of advanced Auditing techniques (e.g. GenAI tools)
• Oversee effective and efficient use of the team’s resources and budget.
• Participate in regional BIA management and global BIA Technology leadership meetings and collaborate closely to contribute to clear and insightful audit opinion reporting.
• Support the Regional and Country Head of Audits in their regulatory engagements and inspections and ensure compliance with local and global standards.
• Act as a principal contact point and trusted advisor to senior Technology stakeholders, delivering clear insights and recommendations on risk and control matters.
• Actively contribute and participate in strategic decision-making, local governance meetings, and cross-functional initiatives to support the overall business objectives.
• Work collaboratively to drive progress in the team, embedding the quality performance culture, development of new skills and role modelling of Barclays values and behaviours.
• Mentor and coach others to be open, honest and reliable, provide constructive, open and timely feedback to support personal and career development of others to achieve their full potential.
• Identify and develop talent and succession plans. Attract and retain the best people through taking part in activities inside and outside the organisation.

Required Experience and Qualifications

• Preferably with extensive relevant internal audit/risk and controls experience in an Investment Bank or related financial services. 
• Proven track records in the ability to lead and manage teams and building relationships with senior management.
• Strong knowledge of relevant regulatory and compliance environment in the APAC and Middle East. Experience in managing regulatory interactions will be highly preferred.
• Excellent command of written and spoken English.
• Relevant professional audit/technology qualifications such as CISA, CISSP or similar technical qualifications, CIA etc.

Purpose of the role

To deliver portfolio objectives through effective portfolio management, including planning, reporting, monitoring and resource allocation, and to support executive stakeholders through the duration of change initiatives.

Accountabilities

• Monitoring and evaluation of portfolio performance.
• Development of risk management strategies, control implementations and compliance monitoring to mitigate risk and comply with regulatory policies.
• Documentation of Continuous Monitoring (CM) for the whole portfolio, sharing pertinent and timely CM information across relevant groups in BIA.
• Identification and address any gaps in understanding of key internal audit regulations and industry standards for Audit Owners (AO) or the Audit Delivery Team.
• Balancing cyclical, thematic and regulatory coverage requirements, available resources and ensure interlocking with other portfolio managers to develop an impactful annual audit plan to provide adequate coverage for the portfolio.
• Monitoring of threats to objectivity across the respective portfolio and take active steps to manage them, including adjusting audit responsibilities and team alignments where necessary.
• Portfolio view of audit product selection, ensuring an appropriate balance of audit product types suitable for the portfolio.

Director Expectations

• To manage a business function, providing significant input to function wide strategic initiatives. Contribute to and influence policy and procedures for the function and plan, manage and consult on multiple complex and critical strategic projects, which may be business wide..
• They manage the direction of a large team or sub-function, leading other people managers and embedding a performance culture aligned to the values of the business. Or for an individual contributor, they lead organisation wide projects and act as deep technical expert and thought leader, identifying new ways of working and collaborating cross functionally. They will train, guide and coach less experienced specialists and provide information affecting long term profits, organisational risks and strategic decisions..
• Provide expert advice to senior functional management and committees to influence decisions made outside of own function, offering significant input to function wide strategic initiatives.
• Manage, coordinate and enable resourcing, budgeting and policy creation for a significant sub-function.
• Escalates breaches of policies / procedure appropriately.
• Foster and guide compliance, ensure regulations are observed that relevant processes in place to facilitate adherence.
• Focus on the external environment, regulators, or advocacy groups to both monitor and influence on behalf of Barclays, when appropriate.
• Demonstrate extensive knowledge of how the function integrates with the business division / Group to achieve the overall business objectives.
• Maintain broad and comprehensive knowledge of industry theories and practices within own discipline alongside up-to-date relevant sector / functional knowledge, and insight into external market developments / initiatives.
• Use interpretative thinking and advanced analytical skills to solve problems and design solutions in often complex/ sensitive situations.
• Exercise management authority to make significant decisions and certain strategic decisions or recommendations within own area.
• Negotiate with and influence stakeholders at a senior level both internally and externally.
• Act as principal contact point for key clients and counterparts in other functions/ businesses divisions.
• Mandated as a spokesperson for the function and business division.

All Senior Leaders are expected to demonstrate a clear set of leadership behaviours to create an environment for colleagues to thrive and deliver to a consistently excellent standard. The four LEAD behaviours are: L – Listen and be authentic, E – Energise and inspire, A – Align across the enterprise, D – Develop others.

All colleagues will be expected to demonstrate the Barclays Values of Respect, Integrity, Service, Excellence and Stewardship – our moral compass, helping us do what we believe is right. They will also be expected to demonstrate the Barclays Mindset – to Empower, Challenge and Drive – the operating manual for how we behave.