Director Internal Control

Director – Internal Controls & Risk
Retail & Manufacturing Group | Kuwait

About the Company
A leading  GCC-based manufacturer and retailer —recognized for premium products, innovation, and a strong regional retail footprint—is entering a new phase of growth and governance maturity as it expands across multiple markets and prepares for a potential  IPO in the coming years .
To support this transformation, the company is seeking a  Director of Internal Controls & Risk  to build and lead a robust enterprise-wide control environment that ensures operational excellence, financial integrity, and regulatory readiness.
This is a  strategic leadership role  offering the opportunity to shape the governance architecture of a multi-country organization and work closely with executive leadership and Board committees.

Role Overview
The  Director of Internal Controls & Risk  will lead the organization’s internal control framework across all core operations—including  manufacturing, retail, supply chain, finance, and IT .
The role will focus on strengthening governance structures, improving process discipline, and building scalable control frameworks that support growth, investor confidence, and IPO readiness.
The successful candidate will act as a  trusted advisor to the executive leadership team , ensuring the company maintains a strong control environment aligned with global best practices.

Reporting Line
Reports directly to the  Group   CEO, Executive Leadership Team, Audit Committee, and external auditors .

What You Will Build
The Director will play a central role in shaping the company’s governance infrastructure, including:

• Designing and implementing an  enterprise-wide internal control framework  across manufacturing, retail, and supply chain operations

• Strengthening  risk management and governance practices  across multi-country operations

• Building the  control architecture required for IPO readiness

• Driving  process standardization and operational discipline  across the organization

• Implementing  data-driven monitoring and control dashboards

Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership

• Develop and execute the organization’s  Internal Controls and Risk Management strategy  aligned with business growth and operational complexity

• Serve as a key advisor to senior leadership and Board committees on governance, internal control effectiveness, and regulatory readiness

• Lead initiatives to strengthen the company’s  overall governance maturity

Governance & Control Framework

• Design and maintain internal control frameworks aligned with  COSO, SOX principles, and international governance standards

• Establish and refine  policies, SOPs, Delegation of Authority (DoA), and governance documentation

• Ensure alignment with  corporate governance requirements and emerging regulatory expectations

Risk & Control Oversight

• Conduct enterprise-wide  risk assessments and control evaluations  across operational and financial processes

• Maintain and monitor the company’s  risk register and risk mitigation plans

• Oversee remediation of control deficiencies and ensure timely resolution

• Coordinate integrated control testing programs across business functions

Audit & Regulatory Interface

• Serve as the primary liaison with  internal audit, external auditors, and regulatory stakeholders

• Support executive leadership in preparing for  IPO-related governance and compliance requirements

• Ensure readiness for regulatory reviews and governance audits across GCC jurisdictions

Operational Excellence & Culture

• Promote strong  control awareness and governance discipline  across all levels of the organization

• Lead training initiatives to strengthen understanding of policies and controls

• Introduce  analytics tools and dashboards  to monitor control effectiveness and key risk indicators

Executive Reporting

• Present risk insights, governance updates, and control performance reports to the  CEO, and Board Committees

• Provide actionable recommendations to improve processes, governance, and operational efficiency

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in  Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field
Professional certifications…