Devika Balachandran
Dubai,Dubai
Summary
Internal Audit, Risk Advisory, and Compliance professional with 11+ years of experience in Big Four consulting (KPMG) and leading conglomerates (Al Tayer Group & Ghobash Group).
Skilled in risk-based internal audits, enterprise risk management, corporate governance, internal controls, fraud investigations, quality assurance reviews, process improvement, SOP development, user acceptance testing, and establishment of internal audit function.
Industry experience spans real estate (property and facilities management), automotive, retail (including e-commerce), chemical, manufacturing, logistics, warehousing, travel and tourism, financial services, infrastructure, pharmaceuticals, and hospitality.
Overview
5
5
Languages
7
7
years of post-secondary education
17
17
years of professional experience
Work history
Group Senior Internal Auditor
Ghobash Group
Dubai, UAE
2023.05 - Current
Senior Internal Auditor
AI Tayer Group
Dubai
2016.01 - 2022.04
- Plan, manage and execute end-to-end audits (engagement planning, risk assessment interviews, fieldwork, reporting and presentation of audit results to management).
- Assured control effectiveness and identified improvement opportunities for control lapses and weaknesses.
- Perform Data Analytics as part of audit planning, execution, and continuous auditing.
- Perform system reviews (including UATs) to address risks associated with application / system controls, system user access, data integrity, system integration, data backup & retrieval, etc.
- Assist Internal Audit Management in development of group-wide Risk Based Internal Audit Plan based on risk assessments.
- Conduct follow-up reviews to monitor management's response and implementation of observations reported.
- Executed ad-hoc reviews requested by the Board and Senior Management.
- Recommended embedding of good governance practices and reported on the adequacy and effectiveness of governance structures within the entity.
- Assisted in preparation of Audit Committee presentations, ensuring clarity and alignment with audit findings.
- Provide ongoing support to Risk Management including Company Secretary activities – assist in liaising with stakeholders to develop and finalize annual board calendar, meeting agendas, documents and finalize minutes of meetings, etc.
- Audits of support functions include Warehousing, Logistics, Finance, Human Resources, Procurement, Legal, Marketing, Media and Advertising, etc.
Consultant
KPMG Lower Gulf
2011.12 - 2015.12
- Led field operations for Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) implementation engagement for leading mortgage house, insurance company, and development company in UAE, including enterprise-wide risk assessment, development of ERM Target Operating Model, policies and procedures, risk identification, prioritisation, and creation of Risk Registers and risk mitigation plans with Key Risk Indicators (KRIs).
- Conducted risk-based internal audits to evaluate compliance and effectiveness of controls.;
- Development of Risk Based Internal Audit plans;
- Supported the establishment of an Internal Audit Function by developing frameworks and procedures. of an Internal Audit Function for several clients.
- Provision of assurance and advisory services, including:
- Enterprise risk management;
- Corporate governance service;
- Quality assurance reviews of internal audit departments;
- Development of policies and procedures (including enterprise risk management, core and support functions, corporate governance documents, etc.)
- Executed special reviews and agreed-upon procedures to assess specific operations.
- Created detailed proposals outlining project scopes and approaches for business development and project costing.
- Monitored actual versus budgeted performance to align project with financial goals and prepared monthly MIS reports on project profitability.
Accountant
Aquiline Advertising LLC
2010.01 - 2011.07
- Managed accounts receivable, accounts payable, and general ledger to ensure accurate financial reporting.
- Prepared annual and half-yearly financial statements to provide stakeholders with clear financial insights.
- Executed account reconciliations and bank reconciliation statements to maintain financial accuracy.
- Processing payroll.
- Responsible for administering online banking functions.
- Managed petty cash transactions to ensure accurate record-keeping.
Education
FCCA (Fellow Member of ACCA) -
Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)
2008.12 - 2011.12
Bachelor's in Commerce -
University of Calicut
2007.02 - 2011.02
Certified Internal Auditor -
Institute of Internal Auditors
IOSH – Managing Safely - HSE
The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health
Skills
- Audit Tools: Data Analytics Tool - ACL Audit Management Systems - Bwise and K10 Vision
- Accounting Applications: Oracle, JD Edwards, Zoho Books, Tally, QuickBooks
- Business Applications: Automotive (Autoline, CarPro), SmartFM (Facilities Management), SalesForce (CRM)
- MS Office: Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Outlook, CRM
- - Data analytics and Excel proficiency
- Attention to detail
- Critical thinking
- Time management
- Multi-tasking
- Agile learner
- Presentation skills
- Multi-tasking
LANGUAGES
ENGLISH
Fluent
HINDI / URDU
Fluent
MALAYALAM
Native
TAMIL
Fluent
ARABIC (Read Only)
Beginner
APPLICATIONS
- Accounting Applications:
- JD Edwards
- Tally
- QuickBooks
- Autoline
- CarPro
- MS OFFICE (Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Outlook)
- ACL (Data Analytics Tool)
- Bwise (Audit Tool)
PERSONAL DETAILS
- DoB: 27 AUG, 1989
- MARRIED
- VALID UAE DRIVING LICENSE
- UAE RESIDENCE VISA – Husband Sponsorship until Jan 2025
Timeline
Group Senior Internal Auditor
Ghobash Group
2023.05 - Current
Senior Internal Auditor
AI Tayer Group
2016.01 - 2022.04
Consultant
KPMG Lower Gulf
2011.12 - 2015.12
Accountant
Aquiline Advertising LLC
2010.01 - 2011.07
FCCA (Fellow Member of ACCA) -
Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)
2008.12 - 2011.12
Bachelor's in Commerce -
University of Calicut
2007.02 - 2011.02
Certified Internal Auditor -
Institute of Internal Auditors
IOSH – Managing Safely - HSE
The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health