Chief Audit Executive

Role Purpose:

To strategically lead and oversee Omantel’s Internal Audit function, ensuring it operates as a trusted advisor and catalyst for value creation. The role ensures that audit activities are aligned with Omantel’s strategic direction, risk appetite, and transformation agenda, while maintaining full compliance with global IIA standards and governance best practices. By providing independent and forward-looking assurance and advisory services, the Internal Audit function helps ensure robust corporate governance, enhances organizational resilience, and contributes toOmantel’s sustainable growth and transition from a telecom to a digital and technology driven company.

Position Information

Title: Chief Audit Executive

• Unit: Internal Audit
• Division: CAE
• Location: Muscat
• Grade: E2
• Line Manager: Chairman Audit & Risk Committee
• Direct reports: 5
• Minimum role requirements:
• Chartered Accountant (CA, ACCA, CPA) / CIA / for Omanis minimum bachelor’s in accounting or finance
• 15 years of relevant experience with at least 7 years in a management position in public joint stock companies
  
  

Key Accountabilities

• Formulate and refresh a risk-based internal-audit strategy and annual plan that align with Omantel’s business objectives, digital-transformation agenda, and risk appetite.
• Obtain Audit & Risk Committee approval for the strategy, plan, budgets, and resourcing.
• Direct and ensure timely completion of audits across all business units (network operations, IT, finance, marketing, customer service) in line with International Standards for the Professional Practice of Internal Auditing (IPPF).
• Champion modern methodologies, analytics, and technology (e.g., data analytics, robotics) to raise audit efficiency and insight.
• Oversee audits of revenue streams, billing accuracy, interconnect settlements, roaming, and dealer commissions.
• Identify revenue-leakage points, assess fraud-detection mechanisms, and recommend controls that maximise top-line integrity and profitability.
• Evaluate adherence to telecom-sector laws, licence terms, spectrum regulations, competition rules, and consumer-protection obligations.
• Validate and respond to observations from TRA, SAI, and other regulators; ensure timely remediation.
• Audit the design and operating effectiveness of Omantel’s cybersecurity architecture, incident-response processes, and data-protection controls.
• Test compliance with GDPR-aligned privacy requirements and local telecom-privacy regulations; recommend risk-mitigation actions.
• Review ERP, OSS/BSS, cloud, 5G, data-centre, and other critical-system implementations, focusing on project governance, vendor management, and technology risk.
• Provide assurance over major CapEx programmes, ensuring value delivery and resilience.
• Lead and manage sensitive investigations under Omantel’s whistle-blower framework, ensuring independence, confidentiality, and thorough root-cause analysis.
• Deliver clear, timely reports to the Audit Committee and senior management on significant findings, control gaps, emerging risks, and progress of corrective-action plans.
• Provide strategic advice to the Board and executives on internal-control, risk-management, and governance matters, including enterprise-risk themes and mitigation strategies.
  
  

Key Accountabilities

• Track, validate, and report on management’s implementation of agreed recommendations; escalate overdue actions.
• Drive ongoing improvement of audit methodology, KPIs, QAIP, and adoption of leading practices and automation.
• Prepare and manage the Internal Audit budget; optimise allocation of people, tools, and training investments.
• Recruit, mentor, and evaluate a high-performing audit team; embed a culture of integrity, curiosity, collaboration, and continuous learning.
• Facilitate professional development (CIA, CISA, data-analytics certifications) and succession planning.
• Build trusted relationships with external auditors, regulators, peer telecom CAEs, and assurance providers to coordinate efforts and leverage insights.
• Act as Omantel’s focal point for audit-related matters in joint ventures, subsidiaries, and strategic partnerships.
• Maintain and periodically update the Internal Audit Charter, Manual, policies, and procedures to ensure full compliance with IIA Standards and Omantel governance requirements.
• Undertake additional assignments and special reviews at the direction of the Audit & Risk Committee or Board to address emerging risks or strategic priorities.
  
  

Key Competencies

Leadership

• Strategic thinking, Visioning and Alignment
• Assertiveness and Conflict Resolution
• Fostering Learning and Development
• Inspiring and Leading Others
• Leading Change and Cultivates Innovation
  
  

Behavioral

• Drives Achievements
• Ethics & Compliance
• Timely Decision - Making
  
  

Technical

• Telecommunications Environment and Technology
• Vendor Management
• IT Planning and Strategy
• Telecommunications Service Delivery