Head of Internal Audit & CAE Recruitment

FD Capital recruits Chief Audit Executives, Heads of Internal Audit, and senior audit professionals into in-house industry roles — at listed companies, PE-backed businesses, financial services firms, and large corporate groups. This is a specialist service placing professionals who have built their technical foundation in practice — typically as an audit partner, director or senior manager at a Big Four or mid-tier firm — and are making the move into industry leadership. Adrian Lawrence FCA, founder of FD Capital and a Fellow of the ICAEW, leads our senior finance recruitment practice.

Call 020 3287 9501 or email recruitment@fdcapital.co.uk. Shortlists within three to five working days.

Adrian Lawrence FCA — Founder, FD Capital
Fellow of the ICAEW | ICAEW-Registered Practice | Senior audit placements into industry since 2018

The best in-house Chief Audit Executives combine technical rigour built in practice with commercial understanding, stakeholder influence, and the ability to run internal audit as a business partner to the board and audit committee rather than a compliance function. FD Capital’s network includes audit professionals at partner, director and senior manager level who are either actively seeking their first in-house CAE or Head of IA role, or who are open to the right opportunity.

Roles FD Capital Places

Chief Audit Executive (CAE)

The Chief Audit Executive leads the internal audit function at the most senior level — reporting directly to the Audit Committee with a secondary line to the CFO or CEO. The CAE owns the internal audit charter, annual audit plan, function resourcing, and audit quality. At listed companies and regulated businesses, this is a significant governance role with direct board visibility. FD Capital places CAEs at FTSE-listed businesses, large private companies, PE-backed groups, and regulated financial services firms.

Head of Internal Audit

The Head of Internal Audit leads day-to-day operations of the function — managing the audit team, executing the annual plan, and reporting to senior management and the audit committee. At mid-market and PE-backed businesses, this role often carries both strategic and execution responsibility. FD Capital places Heads of Internal Audit across business sizes and sectors, with particular strength in PE-backed businesses and regulated industries where internal audit coverage has grown materially.

VP Internal Audit / Audit Director

For larger functions — FTSE 100, large financial services or complex multinationals — senior audit professionals below CAE level are sought for VP or Audit Director roles. These professionals typically bring specialist expertise in IT audit, financial services regulation, operational risk, or a specific sector. FD Capital places at this level for businesses building out their internal audit capability.

Interim Head of Internal Audit

Interim internal audit leadership is regularly required — for businesses establishing a new function, covering a vacancy during a permanent search, or managing a specific regulatory review programme. FD Capital’s interim placement capability extends to senior internal audit professionals available at short notice.

What Makes an Effective In-House Audit Leader

Practice foundation with commercial translation

The strongest in-house internal audit leaders have built technical rigour in a demanding practice environment — typically Big Four or strong mid-tier — and have developed the ability to apply that rigour commercially. The transition from practice to industry requires a fundamental shift: from serving external clients to serving a single board and management team, from billable hours to business value, and from audit report production to audit insight and influence. FD Capital assesses candidates specifically on whether they have made this shift genuinely or are bringing a practice mentality into an in-house role where it will frustrate stakeholders.

Audit committee relationship and board communication

A CAE or Head of Internal Audit who cannot communicate effectively with the audit committee is not fulfilling the role. FD Capital assesses candidates on their audit committee track record — how they have structured reporting, managed conversations about significant findings, and built the trust of non-executives with varying levels of technical knowledge. The ability to present complex findings accessibly to a non-technical audit committee chair distinguishes the best in-house audit leaders from technically strong professionals who have not yet made the full leadership transition.

Risk-based audit planning

The annual audit plan should be derived from the business’s risk register and strategic priorities — not from a rolling cycle of routine compliance checks. Candidates who have built or transformed an internal audit plan to be genuinely risk-based and responsive to emerging risks are significantly more valuable than those managing a static rotation-based calendar. FD Capital’s assessment process explores candidates’ audit planning methodology specifically.

Salary Guide — Internal Audit Leadership UK 2026

Role	Business Context	Typical Salary
Head of Internal Audit	Mid-market / PE-backed	£80,000 – £110,000
Head of Internal Audit	Large corporate / regulated	£100,000 – £140,000
Chief Audit Executive	Listed / large financial services	£130,000 – £200,000+
VP Internal Audit / Audit Director	FTSE / large group	£100,000 – £150,000
Interim Head of Internal Audit	Any size	£500 – £750/day

Related Senior Finance and Governance Services

Recruit a Head of Internal Audit or Chief Audit Executive

FD Capital places CAEs, Heads of Internal Audit and senior audit professionals into industry roles — listed companies, PE-backed businesses, financial services firms and large corporates. Permanent and interim. Candidates with strong practice foundations and the commercial and stakeholder skills in-house audit leadership demands. Shortlists within three to five working days.

📞 020 3287 9501
✉ recruitment@fdcapital.co.uk

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