
PwC
Assurance - External Audit Director (Banking)
- Permanent
- Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Experience 10 - 15 yrs
Job expiry date: 25/12/2025
Job overview
Date posted
10/11/2025
Location
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Salary
SAR 60,000 - 100,000 per month
Compensation
Comprehensive package + relocation
Experience
10 - 15 yrs
Seniority
Director
Qualification
Bachelors degree
Expiration date
25/12/2025
Job description
PwC Middle East is seeking an Assurance - External Audit Director (Banking) to join its Riyadh office. This senior leadership position involves managing an iconic client portfolio within the financial services sector, overseeing the complete audit cycle, and driving quality and innovation across engagements. The Director will lead a team of problem solvers with deep auditing expertise, ensuring the delivery of high-quality external audits in line with International Standards on Auditing (ISAs) and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), particularly IFRS 9 and IFRS 17. The role entails full responsibility for audit delivery, client relationship management, and team leadership, including mentoring and coaching junior staff, conducting training, and promoting diversity and well-being initiatives. The position also involves engaging directly with senior client executives, boards of directors, and audit committees to present findings, manage expectations, and deliver strategic insights. Additional duties include identifying market gaps, driving cross-selling opportunities, ensuring compliance with risk and independence policies, and assisting partners in managing portfolio economics such as budget, billing, and profitability. The role requires strong technical and project management skills, an ability to inspire trust and innovation, and a deep understanding of financial services auditing within the banking and insurance industries. PwC offers a competitive remuneration plan, flexible working arrangements, mental health and well-being programs, continuous digital upskilling, and a collaborative culture built around inclusion, innovation, and professional growth.
Required skills
Key responsibilities
- Lead and manage the full audit cycle for a portfolio of financial services clients, including banks and insurance firms
- Ensure audit engagements are delivered to the highest quality standards in compliance with ISAs, IFRS, and PwC methodologies
- Manage client relationships with senior management, including presentations to boards, audit committees, and prospective clients
- Drive development of tailored assurance value propositions and identify cross-selling opportunities with other PwC service lines
- Monitor audit budgets, timelines, and profitability, ensuring adherence to engagement deadlines and fee structures
- Provide technical support, training, and guidance to teams on complex audit and accounting issues
- Oversee engagement completion, risk management, and compliance with independence requirements
- Mentor, coach, and develop audit teams, fostering professional growth and promoting PwCās people initiatives
- Contribute to recruitment and talent development by interviewing and selecting candidates based on firm standards
- Encourage diversity, inclusion, and innovation across the team to enhance performance and collaboration
- Drive efficiency and process improvement across multiple projects through scalable and tech-enabled approaches
- Promote adoption of audit technologies and data analytics tools to enhance audit quality and insights
- Assist partners in managing the economics of their portfolios including billing, collections, and financial reporting
- Deliver internal training sessions aligned with PwCās Learning & Development curriculum and professional standards
Experience & skills
- Degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related discipline
- Professional qualification such as ACCA, CA, ACA, or CPA required
- Minimum of 10 years of professional experience in external financial audit within a Big Four firm
- Experience auditing banking or insurance clients within the financial services industry is preferred
- Comprehensive knowledge of International Standards on Auditing (ISAs) and IFRS, including IFRS9 and IFRS17
- Strong project management experience from audit planning through completion
- Excellent presentation, communication, and interpersonal skills, including board-level engagement experience
- Bilingual proficiency in Arabic and English (oral and written) preferred
- Proven ability to lead and develop audit teams in diverse, multicultural environments
- Experience in business development, cross-selling, and identifying market opportunities
- Demonstrated ability to manage budgets, engagement economics, and profitability metrics
- Knowledge of audit technologies and data analytics tools advantageous
- Commitment to professional growth, continuous learning, and driving innovation in audit practices
- Ability to maintain compliance with risk, quality, and independence standards in all engagements