UK

United Kingdom · Finance · C-Suite (20+ years)

Chief Audit Executive (CAE)

Here is the whole job, in plain words. What it is, what you decide, how you're judged, how people get here and where they go next. Then the part no course gives you: twelve AI tutors who learn your work.

Start my Chief Audit Executive (CAE) plan, free

Free to start: a plan built for this role, and a Future Fluency module to try first. No card.

Keep this job description

Where should we send it?

One email: what AI is changing in this job, and where to start free. With a link back here. Nothing else follows unless you confirm your address.

Upskilling a team in this role? Talk to us

  • Experience bandC-Suite (20+ years)
  • Direct reports5-10 reports
  • Reports toThe Board Audit Committee (administratively to the CEO)
  • UK framework levelUsually an executive or board-level role

Also advertised as Head of Internal Audit · Global Head of Audit · Executive Director, Internal Audit

Built on 43,079 real UK job descriptions we analysed · grounded in qualifications employers recognise

Two short quizzes about you

1From this job to a course

The qualifications matched to this job

GQA PAA\VQ-SET Level 3 Diploma for a Bulk Storage Operator (Technician) GQA Qualifications Limited · Level 3 · covers 1 of 4 standards
FDQ Level 3 Certificate for Proficiency in Food Manufacturing Excellence FDQ Limited · Level 3 · covers 1 of 4 standards
FDQ Level 3 Certificate for Proficiency in Food Industry Skills FDQ Limited · Level 3 · covers 1 of 4 standards
GQA Level 5 Diploma in the Practice of Process Safety Management GQA Qualifications Limited · Level 5 · covers 1 of 4 standards
GQA PAA\VQ-SET Level 3 Certificate in Laboratory Technical Skills GQA Qualifications Limited · Level 3 · covers 1 of 4 standards

Matched from the standards this job is measured against: a suggestion, not an official ruling.

The units you would start with

Comply with External and Internal Obligations within a Bulk Storage Operations Environment GQA PAA\VQ-SET Level 3 Diploma for a Bulk Storage Operator (Technician)
Manage compliance to support achieving excellence in food operations FDQ Level 3 Certificate for Proficiency in Food Manufacturing Excellence
Carry out quality audits in food operations FDQ Level 3 Certificate for Proficiency in Food Industry Skills
Understand how to comply with the relevant Regulations, Industry Standards and Management Requirements for Process Safety GQA Level 5 Diploma in the Practice of Process Safety Management
Good Manufacturing Practice GQA PAA\VQ-SET Level 3 Certificate in Laboratory Technical Skills
Principles of Safe Manufacture of Quality Medicines in the Pharmaceutical Environment Open Awards Level 3 Technical Occupational Entry in the Principles and Practice for Pharmacy Technicians (Diploma)

The future skills this job leans on

AI Fluency working with AI as a thinking partner
Data Fluency turning numbers into a decision
AI Governance Fluency using AI responsibly
Automation Fluency building AI into how work runs
Systems Fluency seeing the whole picture
Start my Chief Audit Executive (CAE) plan, free
Your Plan Illustration

Built for Chief Audit Executive (CAE)

6 units that map to this job, from the qualifications that cover it.

  1. Comply with External and Internal Obligations within a Bulk Storage Operations Environment GQA Qualifications Limited · covers 1 of 4 standards Level 3
  2. Manage compliance to support achieving excellence in food operations FDQ Limited · covers 1 of 4 standards Level 3
  3. Carry out quality audits in food operations FDQ Limited · covers 1 of 4 standards Level 3
  4. Understand how to comply with the relevant Regulations, Industry Standards and Management Requirements for Process Safety GQA Qualifications Limited · covers 1 of 4 standards Level 5
  5. Good Manufacturing Practice GQA Qualifications Limited · covers 1 of 4 standards Level 3
  6. Principles of Safe Manufacture of Quality Medicines in the Pharmaceutical Environment Open Awards · covers 1 of 4 standards Level 3
These are the real units behind this job, in the order they rank for it. Nothing here is marked done, because this plan has not been started by anyone yet. Yours would fill in as you go.

2AI and this work

Will AI change your work as a Chief Audit Executive (CAE)?

Nobody can say exactly how. Here is what this job is being asked for next, and where to start.

The new skills this role is being asked for

  • AI Governance & Ethical Oversight
  • Cyber Resilience & Third-Party Risk Assurance
Why each one is rising

The future skills this job leans on

We'll only ever tell you what we can actually back up. No hype, no scare tactics.

What happens when you start

Next, a free account. We build your Chief Audit Executive (CAE) plan as you set up, starting with a Future Fluency module on using AI in your job. No card.

Your first Future Fluency module is free. After that, your AI tutor is £70 a month.

Start my Chief Audit Executive (CAE) plan, free Ready to pay? Subscribe for £70 a month

3What this role really is

A Chief Audit Executive gives independent assurance that risks are managed, controls work, and financial reporting is sound.

4What you'd actually use

The tools this job runs on, and how well you'd need to know each one.

ACL (Galvanize/Diligent) / IDEA / Alteryx Strategic

You'll evaluate and select new CAATs (Computer-Assisted Audit Tools) platforms, setting the data analytics strategy for the entire audit function. You'll challenge your team on the depth and breadth of their data analysis, pushing for full population testing where appropriate.

Workiva / AuditBoard / ServiceNow GRC Architect

You'll lead the implementation and customisation of enterprise-wide GRC frameworks within these platforms. You'll design the reporting dashboards for the Board Audit Committee, ensuring they get the insights they need on risk and control health.

SAP S/4HANA / Oracle NetSuite / Microsoft Dynamics 365 Strategic

You'll advise on control design for new ERP implementations or major upgrades, assessing enterprise-level risks related to system configuration, security, and governance. You'll ensure your team has the expertise to audit these complex systems effectively.

Excel (Power Query, Power Pivot, VBA) / PowerPoint Strategic

You'll set standards for workpaper quality and presentation effectiveness across the department. You'll expect your team to use advanced capabilities to automate reporting, freeing up time for deeper analysis. Your own presentations to the Board will be impactful and data-driven.

Diligent Boards / Nasdaq Boardvantage Advanced

You'll manage the entire Audit Committee reporting process within the platform, ensuring all materials are accurate, timely, and effectively presented. You'll use the system to track meeting minutes, action items, and director attestations, maintaining a robust governance record.

5What you get to decide, and how that grows

Power in a job isn't your title. It's what you're allowed to decide. Here's how it grows as you move up.

The choiceComing in Where you are nowThe step above
Annual Audit Plan & Scope N/A N/A The CAE defines and approves the enterprise-wide audit plan, subject to review and approval by the Board Audit Committee. This involves strategic risk assessment and resource allocation across the entire organisation.
Internal Audit Budget Allocation N/A N/A The CAE is accountable for the internal audit department's P&L (typically £2M-£10M+), making decisions on staffing, technology investments, and external co-sourcing, all within the Board-approved budget.
Material Audit Findings & Escalation N/A N/A The CAE makes the final determination on the materiality and classification of audit findings. They decide when and how to escalate critical findings to the CEO, relevant executive leaders, and the Board Audit Committee, including potential regulatory reporting obligations.
Organisational Design of Internal Audit N/A N/A The CAE designs and optimises the structure of the internal audit function, including reporting lines, team specialisations (e.g., IT audit, financial audit), and global footprint, to best meet the needs of the enterprise.

6How you'll be judged

The scoreboard, and what is not on it. The hard targets, how often each is actually looked at, and the quiet signals that never reach a dashboard.

Audit Plan Coverage of High-Risk Areas
Percentage of identified enterprise-level high-risk areas covered by the annual audit plan.
Target · 100%

If our top 5 enterprise risks are Cyber Security, Regulatory Compliance, Credit Risk, Liquidity Risk, and Financial Reporting Accuracy, the audit plan must demonstrate full coverage of these areas, usually through multiple, targeted audits.

External Audit Reliance & Fee Reduction
The extent to which external auditors can rely on internal audit's work, leading to a quantifiable reduction in external audit fees.
Target · Achieve a 25% reduction in external audit fees over 3 years.

By coordinating effectively and ensuring high-quality workpapers, the external audit firm reduces their testing scope in areas like SOX compliance, saving the company £500K annually in fees.

Audit Finding Remediation Rate
Percentage of high-risk audit findings remediated by business units within agreed-upon timelines.
Target · >90%

Out of 20 high-risk findings raised in the past year, 18 have been fully remediated and validated by internal audit within the original 6-month timeframe. The two outstanding are due to complex system changes and have approved extensions.

Internal Audit Budget Adherence
Managing the internal audit department's budget within approved variances.
Target · Within ±5% of approved annual budget.

The annual budget for the audit function was £10M. Actual spend for the year was £9.8M, which is a 2% underspend, demonstrating effective resource management.

Board Audit Committee Satisfaction & Trust
The Audit Committee's perception of the quality, independence, and value of the internal audit function.
  • Committee members proactively seek your opinion on strategic risks
  • positive feedback in annual performance reviews
  • high engagement during meetings
  • your recommendations are consistently adopted. They'll tell you if they trust you, or more importantly, if they don't.
Influence on Enterprise Risk Management (ERM)
The extent to which Internal Audit's insights shape the company's overall ERM framework and risk appetite.
  • Internal Audit's risk assessments are integrated into the ERM process
  • your team's findings directly lead to changes in risk policies or controls
  • you're a key voice in setting the company's risk appetite statements. You're not just reporting on risk, you're helping define how we manage it.
Talent Development & Retention within Internal Audit
The ability to attract, develop, and retain top audit talent, ensuring a strong succession pipeline.
  • Low voluntary turnover rate for high performers
  • positive feedback in employee engagement surveys
  • successful internal promotions to senior audit roles
  • a reputation for being a great place to build an audit career. Your team's strength reflects your leadership.
Strategic Value-Add of Audit Recommendations
Recommendations move beyond mere compliance to drive significant operational efficiency or strategic advantage.
  • Recommendations frequently lead to cost savings, process optimisation, or improved decision-making
  • business leaders acknowledge the strategic benefit, not just the control fix
  • audit reports highlight opportunities, not just deficiencies. It's about being a partner, not just a policeman.

7Would you like it

Both sides. What people enjoy, and what grinds them down.

What people enjoy
Protecting the Enterprise

You're driven by the profound responsibility of safeguarding the company from financial, operational, and reputational risks. Every strategic decision about the audit plan, every tough conversation with a business leader, is viewed through the lens of protecting long-term shareholder value.

You'll spend hours refining a presentation to the Board on an emerging geopolitical risk, knowing that your insights could prevent a multi-million-pound loss or a significant regulatory breach.

Driving Governance & Control Excellence

You get a deep satisfaction from seeing robust control environments and effective governance structures in place. You're motivated by the challenge of continuously improving the company's internal controls and risk management framework.

You'll champion the implementation of a new GRC platform, not just for efficiency, but because you know it will provide better visibility and management of enterprise risks.

Influencing Strategic Direction

You're not content just reporting findings; you want your insights to genuinely shape the company's strategy. You're motivated by the opportunity to be a trusted advisor to the Board and CEO, contributing to the overall direction of the business.

You'll proactively meet with the M&A team to discuss control integration risks for a potential acquisition, offering guidance that helps structure the deal more securely.

What frustrates people
  • Executive resistance to audit findings, requiring significant effort to gain buy-in.
  • Resource constraints on the audit team, making it hard to cover all high-risk areas adequately.
  • Navigating complex political landscapes and competing priorities among senior leaders.
  • The constant pressure to balance independence with being a 'business partner'.
  • Dealing with the aftermath of major incidents (e.g., fraud, cyber breach) that audit may have highlighted previously.
  • The sheer volume of regulatory changes and the need to constantly adapt the audit plan.
What this role does not give you
  • A quiet, low-stress environment. It's high-stakes, high-pressure.
  • The ability to make operational decisions. You advise, you assure, you don't run the business units.
  • Universal popularity. You'll sometimes be seen as the 'business prevention department' or the 'internal police'.
  • A predictable 9-to-5 schedule. Board meetings, crises, and strategic planning don't always fit neatly into office hours.

8Who you work with

This role directly impacts the entire enterprise's risk posture, governance framework, and control environment. The CAE's work provides critical assurance to the Board and external stakeholders, influencing strategic direction, capital allocation, and ultimately, market valuation. A strong audit function, led by an effective CAE, is a cornerstone of good corporate governance and investor trust.

Inside the business
  • CEO and Executive Leadership Team
  • Board Audit Committee
  • Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
  • Chief Risk Officer (CRO)
  • General Counsel
  • Heads of Business Units
Outside the business
  • External Auditors
  • Regulatory Bodies (e.g., FCA, PRA, SEC)
  • Investors and Analysts
  • Industry Associations

9What you need before you start

Not a wish list. The things you would be expected to already have.

  • A minimum of 20 years' progressive experience in audit (internal or external), risk management, or a related control function, with at least 5-7 years at a senior leadership level (e.g., Director of Internal Audit) in a large, complex organisation.
  • Demonstrable experience presenting to and effectively influencing Board Audit Committees and C-suite executives.
  • Proven track record of building, leading, and developing large, geographically dispersed teams.
  • Deep expertise in enterprise risk management frameworks, corporate governance, and internal control principles.
  • Extensive knowledge of financial services regulations and compliance requirements relevant to our industry sector.
  • A professional audit qualification (e.g., ACA, ACCA, CIA, CISA) is non-negotiable.

10What to practise next

Where the job is going, and what to do about it starting this week.

Data Analytics & Automation Strategy

Manual sampling is becoming obsolete. Boards expect full population testing and continuous monitoring. You'll need to drive the adoption of advanced data analytics and automation across your audit function to provide deeper, faster insights and increase efficiency.

Continuous Auditing/Monitoring principles · Machine Learning for anomaly detection in financia · Robotic Process Automation (RPA) for audit tasks · Data visualisation for executive insights · Data governance and quality for audit analytics

  • This quarter: Review your current CAATs strategy and identify areas for significant automation and ML integration.
  • Next 6 months: Sponsor a pilot project for continuous auditing on a high-volume, high-risk process (e.g., expense claims).
  • Next year: Establish a dedicated 'Audit Innovation Lab' within your team to explore and implement new technologies.
  • Continuously: Challenge your team to move beyond traditional sampling and embrace full population analysis.

Quick win: Ensure your audit leadership team is regularly attending webinars and conferences on AI and automation in audit. Ask for a demonstration of how a specific AI tool could significantly reduce manual effort in a current audit.

11Staying current once you are in

What people here do to keep up
  • Active participation in industry bodies like the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA), attending global conferences and contributing to thought leadership.
  • Regular engagement with regulatory forums and roundtables to stay abreast of emerging compliance requirements and supervisory expectations.
  • Executive education programmes focused on corporate governance, strategic leadership, and digital transformation.
  • Mentoring rising talent within the audit profession, both internally and externally.

12The rising capability

The rising capability

Zavmo analysis

What's rising in its place

This is where the work is heading, and the higher pay with it. Get fluent here and the shift stops being a threat and starts being your edge.

AI Governance & Ethical Oversight

As AI becomes embedded in financial processes, from automated trading to credit scoring, the risks associated with bias, explainability, and data integrity are escalating. The Board will look to you for assurance that our AI systems are governed ethically and effectively.

  • AI risk frameworks (e.g., NIST AI RMF)
  • Auditing AI algorithms for bias and fairness
  • Explainable AI (XAI) principles
  • Data provenance and integrity for AI models
  • Ethical guidelines for AI deployment

Cyber Resilience & Third-Party Risk Assurance

Cyber threats are growing in sophistication, and our reliance on third-party vendors (cloud providers, FinTech partners) introduces significant systemic risk. The Board needs assurance that our cyber defences and third-party risk management are robust, not just on paper.

  • Zero Trust architecture principles
  • Supply chain cyber risk management
  • Cloud security auditing (e.g., AWS, Azure, GCP)
  • Incident response and recovery assurance
  • Threat intelligence integration into audit plannin

13What you’ll use

What you’ll use

Skills this role draws on

Technical

  • COSO Framework Application (Strategic)
  • Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) Compliance (Oversight)
  • IT General Controls (ITGC) Auditing (Strategic Direction)
  • Root Cause Analysis (Executive Level)

14The pathway

The pathway

How you actually get there, here

How you become one varies far more by country than what one does. This is the UK route. Most people take one of these ways in; the right one depends on where you're starting from.

  1. 1

    Director of Internal Audit (Large Organisation)

    5-7 years at Director level

    Skills to master

    • Enterprise risk assessment, Board reporting, team leadership (100+ staff), strategic planning, managing external auditor relationships.

    You're ready to move on when

    • Successfully led a major division's audit function or a global audit programme.
    • Consistently received excellent feedback from the Board Audit Committee.
    • Proven ability to influence executive leadership on critical risk matters.
    • Demonstrated success in attracting and developing audit talent.
  2. 2

    Head of Risk Management / Chief Risk Officer (CRO)

    7-10 years in senior risk roles

    Skills to master

    • Deep expertise in all risk categories (credit, market, operational, reputational), regulatory engagement, risk appetite definition, enterprise risk framework implementation.

    You're ready to move on when

    • Successfully built or transformed an enterprise risk management function.
    • Demonstrated ability to navigate complex regulatory environments.
    • Proven track record of advising the Board on strategic risk decisions.
    • Strong understanding of the interplay between risk, control, and governance.
  3. 3

    Partner in a 'Big Four' Audit Firm

    10-15 years to Partner, then 3-5 years as Partner

    Skills to master

    • Client relationship management, business development, deep technical accounting and auditing expertise, managing large engagement teams, regulatory compliance.

    You're ready to move on when

    • Managed a portfolio of complex financial services audit clients.
    • Demonstrated thought leadership in audit or financial reporting.
    • Strong network within the financial services industry.
    • Proven ability to drive quality and deliver complex audit engagements.

15Where this role leads

The long view: This role can lead to board positions, senior advisory work with financial institutions, or academic and thought leadership roles in governance and risk.

The ten Future Fluencies

Zavmo analysis

The credential is what you can do today. These are what keep you valuable.

A qualification proves you can do the job as it's defined today. These ten are what decide whether you're still the obvious person for it in five years. They're the capabilities employers are now writing into senior roles faster than people are learning them. Zavmo weaves them through whatever you study, so you come out with both: the credential and the fluency.

The highlighted ones are the Fluencies your role leans on hardest, from how Chief Audit Executive (CAE) is actually changing.

Where it leads

Roles this leads to

The record names a next step, but the catalogue has no page for it yet:

  • Non-Executive Director (NED) / Audit Committee Chair
  • Chief Risk Officer (CRO) / Chief Compliance Officer (CCO)

How you would learn this

One to one, on the work you already do

A tutor sets the task against your own job and marks the reasoning, at your pace. There is no cohort to fall behind.

A lesson from Comply with External and Internal Obligations within a Bulk Storage Operations Environment, worked against Chief Audit Executive (CAE).

Comply with External and Internal Obligations within a Bulk Storage Operations Environment Level 3

Applied to your work in Chief Audit Executive (CAE)

The objective of this unit is to enable learners to comply with both external and internal obligations within a bulk storage operations environment. Learners will be able to perform audits, inspections, and safety sampling, adhere to safe systems of work, control systems for fiscal and excise compliance, and review and improve standard operating procedures.

How the thinking builds
  1. 1 Remember
  2. 2 Understand
  3. 3 Apply
  4. 4 Analyse
  5. 5 Evaluate
  6. 6 Create
An illustration of a Zavmo lesson, built from this role’s own route. The unit, its objective and every criterion above are the awarding body’s own words, not an example.

It is £70 a month, billed monthly. Your free first module is Future Fluency, and you can cancel any time.

Start my Chief Audit Executive (CAE) plan, free
See Your Progress Grow Illustration
Chief Audit Executive (CAE)
  • COSO Framework Application (Strategic)
  • Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) Compliance (Oversight)
  • IT General Controls (ITGC) Auditing (Strategic Direction)
  • Root Cause Analysis (Executive Level)
This is your Mind Palace on learn.zavmo.ai. Every skill above comes from this role's own record, not an example borrowed from another job. A node lights up when you evidence it, and what you build stays yours between jobs. That is the part a course cannot do.

16The detail, folded away

Everything else the record holds

The career branches in full, how AI is already showing up in the day-to-day, and the questions people ask about this job. Here when you want them, out of the way while you decide.

Where it leads next, rung by rung

Where it leads

The career path, and where it branches

Chief Audit Executive (CAE) is a start, not a ceiling. Each step below asks for new skills and hands back more autonomy.

  1. Non-Executive Director (NED) / Audit Committee Chair

    3-5 years post-CAE

    N/A (shift to governance oversight)

    • Strategic advisory on enterprise risk management for multiple organisations.
    • Mentoring and guiding new CAEs or executive teams.
    • Navigating complex stakeholder interests at the board level.

  2. Chief Risk Officer (CRO) / Chief Compliance Officer (CCO)

    2-4 years post-CAE

    Lateral move or slight increase in operational responsibility

    • Designing and implementing enterprise-wide risk appetite statements.
    • Managing regulatory relationships and examinations directly.
    • Leading incident response and crisis management teams.
Working with AI on the job

Working with AI

Where AI is starting to help

As Chief Audit Executive, your time is precious. You're constantly balancing strategic oversight, Board engagement, and team leadership. The good news? AI isn't just for the junior auditors anymore. It's transforming how you, as a leader, can gain deeper insights, manage risk more effectively, and free up valuable time for truly strategic work.

Imagine having a clearer, faster view of enterprise risk, with less manual effort from your team. AI tools are becoming indispensable for audit leaders, helping you direct your team more strategically and provide more robust assurance to the Board. It's about elevating the entire function, not just automating tasks.

Enterprise Risk Intelligence

Use AI to aggregate and analyse risk data from across the organisation – GRC platforms, incident reports, external threat intelligence – providing you with a real-time, consolidated view of our top risks. This helps you direct your audit plan to where it truly matters, ensuring no major blind spots.

Regulatory Change Monitoring & Impact Assessment

AI-powered tools can scan thousands of regulatory updates globally, summarise key changes, and even flag potential impacts on our existing controls and policies. This means you're always ahead of the curve, advising the Board proactively on compliance risks, rather than reacting to them.

Audit Performance & Quality Analytics

AI can analyse your team's workpaper quality, review note trends, and audit cycle times to identify bottlenecks or areas for improvement in your audit methodology. You'll get data-driven insights to optimise team performance and ensure consistent quality across your global function.

Board Report & Executive Summary Drafting

Feed AI tools with audit findings, risk assessments, and previous Board reports. It can then generate first drafts of executive summaries, Board Audit Committee papers, and strategic overviews, allowing you to focus on refining the narrative and ensuring the message is perfectly tailored and impactful.

Common questions

Common questions

How do you become a Chief Audit Executive (CAE)?

Common routes in include Director of Internal Audit (Large Organisation) (5-7 years at Director level), Head of Risk Management / Chief Risk Officer (CRO) (7-10 years in senior risk roles) and Partner in a 'Big Four' Audit Firm (10-15 years to Partner, then 3-5 years as Partner). Times vary with prior experience.

Where can a Chief Audit Executive (CAE) progress to?

This role can lead on to Non-Executive Director (NED) / Audit Committee Chair (3-5 years post-CAE) and Chief Risk Officer (CRO) / Chief Compliance Officer (CCO) (2-4 years post-CAE), depending on the skills you build.

What new skills matter most for a Chief Audit Executive (CAE)?

Increasingly, AI Governance & Ethical Oversight and Cyber Resilience & Third-Party Risk Assurance. These are the skills our record of this role lists as growing.

Free tools

Want a read on where you stand?

Three free tools, no account needed. Each one ends with a role, a level and a way in.

Read the Zavmo manifesto to understand how you will be taught Meet your tutors

Or try another one

17Where to go from here

Other roles at Level 8

Same depth of qualification, different job. Useful if the work appeals but this particular role does not.

 More jobs in finance

Stay in the field you know and move sideways rather than up.
If you leave this industry

The governance and risk management skills built in this role transfer to other regulated industries, such as healthcare, energy and utilities, and to large public sector organisations.

This role profile is © 2026 Growth Engineering Technologies Ltd. Built from UK occupational standards and regulated qualification data, and written for Zavmo.

You're not behind. You're right on time. The shift is only just beginning. Your role won't look the same in two years. Be the one who leads the change, not the one it happens to. Start my Chief Audit Executive (CAE) plan, free What happens next: a free account, then we build your plan as you set up. No card. Build your plan, see your roadmap and meet the twelve tutors matched to you. All free. When you're ready to start learning, it's £70 a month, billed monthly. Cancel any time and billing stops.