Lead Auditor - Quality Assurance and Improvement Programme

General Information

Type of contract: Fixed-term contract which may be converted into a permanent contract after three years subject to individual performance and organisational needs

Who can apply?: EU nationals

Salary: H (bracket 1 - step 1) full time monthly net salary: €8,130 plus benefits, for further information see what we offer.

Working time: Full time

Place of work: Frankfurt am Main, Germany

Closing date:

Your team

You will be part of the Quality Assurance and Improvement Programme team in the Directorate Internal Audit. Our Directorate has around 60 staff providing independent and objective assurance and advisory services across the entire ECB covering central banking, banking supervision and shared services. It is made up of three divisions, including the Independent Internal Investigations Division which looks into potential breaches of professional duties. The Directorate also contributes to the work of the Internal Auditors Committee and its sub-structures within the European System of Central Banks and ECB Banking Supervision.

In your role as Lead Auditor, you will join a small, dynamic and multicultural team within the Directorate’s Senior Management Office that drives excellence, innovation and continuous improvement. Our newly-created team supports audit missions in aligning with the Global Internal Audit Standards, develops and maintains audit methodologies, and leads initiatives to enhance efficiency – including the integration of digital and artificial intelligence tools. We work closely with all three divisions in the Directorate and report directly to the Director.

The ECB is an inclusive employer and we strive to reflect the diversity of the population we serve. We encourage you to apply irrespective of age, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, race, religious beliefs, sexual orientation or other characteristics.

Your role

• establish and lead the Quality Assurance and Improvement Programme team, setting out its strategic direction and priorities under the leadership of the Director Internal Audit;
• develop and enhance audit methodologies, policies and procedures;
• perform quality assurance reviews on selected audit activities and deliverables, providing constructive feedback to encourage consistent improvement;
• design and deliver the improvement and innovation agenda, including the automation and digitisation of audit and investigative processes (e.g. through audit and case management tools or artificial intelligence solutions);
• contribute to the development of the Directorate’s training and awareness programme, fostering a culture of learning and professional excellence;
• work at the intersection of audit excellence and transformation, collaborating closely with all three divisions and senior management.

The position offers you an excellent opportunity to help shape the future of the Directorate Internal Audit by ensuring that it continues to deliver trusted and valued assurance and advisory services in an evolving organisational and technological landscape. You will be part of a multicultural team that strives for continuous innovation to make a positive impact on the lives of European citizens.

Qualifications, experience and skills

Essential:

• a master’s degree or equivalent in finance, business administration, economics, financial regulation or another relevant field (see How you can join us for details on degree equivalences);
• in addition to the above, a minimum of six years’ professional experience in auditing;
• a track record in delivering quality assurance, process improvement or audit methodology development projects;
• experience in delivering projects involving digitised data analysis and digital technologies (e.g. data analytics or automation);
• experience in initiating and implementing change initiatives, in particular those that focus on procedural and technological advancements;
• demonstrated ability in guiding, coaching or supervising colleagues and providing constructive feedback;
• an advanced (C1) command of English and an intermediate (B1) command of at least one other official language of the EU, according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.

Desired:

• relevant professional qualifications (e.g. Certified Internal Auditor, Chartered Information Systems Auditor, Chartered Accountant or Chartered Financial Analyst).

You engage collaboratively with others. You pursue team goals and learn willingly from other people’s diverse perspectives. You signal any need for change by explaining it and proposing alternative solutions. You analyse complex information effectively and can evaluate different views to arrive at solutions. You know and anticipate stakeholder needs.

You are motivated to be part of our team and to develop and use your skills and competencies to achieve the aims of this position. You are motivated to contribute to the ECB’s mission, to serve the citizens of the EU as a member of a public institution and to work with colleagues from all over Europe.

Working modalities

We would be happy to discuss a part-time arrangement for this role.

Further information

For additional information on this specific vacancy, you can speak to the Director Internal Audit, Banafsheh Geretzki, on +49 (0) between 10:00 and 11:00 on 16 December 2025.

Application and selection process

The recruitment process for this position will be conducted in part remotely. It may include a pre-recorded video interview in the pre-selection phase and – if you are invited to participate in the subsequent selection phase – a written exercise, a presentation and an interview.

If you are not selected for this position but still considered suitable, you will be placed on a reserve list (see step 4 of How we hire), from which you might be considered for similar positions within the ECB.

Find out how to apply for a position at the ECB.

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