Zach Kelly ACA

Leading internal audits for one of the largest family owned conglomerates in the UAE.

• First family owned group in the UAE to obtain IIA conformance during my tenure.
• Reported into Vice President - Internal Audit. Managed teams of up to four internal audit professionals.
• Conducted risk assessments before executing each audit. Performed end to end audits of financial and operational controls within each business, 8 audits in one year.
• Collaborated with executive management to develop and improve operational and financial processes and controls across the Group. Including businesses within the construction, F&B, automotive, mobility and facilities management industries.
• Developed Power BI dashboards for revenue, purchasing and procurement insights as part of continuous audit initiative across the Group.

Specialized in financial and operational audits across multiple industries such as Investment Management, Insurance, Pharma, Sports, Retail, Construction, Health, and Education.

• Key projects included project management, financial reporting, strategy development and implementation, HR and payroll, SOX, bank and cash management, purchasing and procurement, and risk management.
• Collaborated with Internal Audit Partner on business development and proposal preparation using PowerPoint.
• Developed strategic, risk-based audit plans for clients.
• Managed full audit lifecycle from budgeting and scoping to fieldwork and report generation.
• Mentored internal audit team to ensure 100% completion of audit engagements in line with targets and deadlines.
• Prepared and presented final audit reports to stakeholders.
• Produced periodic audit progress reports for clients.
• Mentored new team members, guiding goal-setting and development in alignment with organizational principles.

• Led audit engagements from planning to close, ensuring profitability by monitoring progress against budget goals.
• Supported junior members through work reviews and feedback, fostering their development.
• Enhanced communication and presentation skills through senior-level client interaction, leading meetings, and presenting findings.
• Managed multiple projects simultaneously, prioritizing effectively.
• Served as Risk Advisory Brand Ambassador, involved in global recruitment campaign across social media.

• Performed detailed analysis and sample testing across complex organisational activities in line with IIA Standards,
• Maintained up to date knowledge on industry and regulatory changes impacting audit operations.
• Consistently delivered quality work on strict deadlines.
• High performer award every year of training contract.
• Acted as buddy for new joiners to help them integrate into team.