Core Compliance and HR Audit Director (12 month FTC)

Discover your opportunity with Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG), one of the world's leading financial groups. Across the globe, we're 150,000 colleagues, striving to make a difference for every client, organization, and community we serve. We stand for our values, building long-term relationships, serving society, and fostering shared and sustainable growth for a better world.With a vision to be the world's most trusted financial group, it's part of our culture to put people first, listen to new and diverse ideas and collaborate toward greater innovation, speed and agility. This means investing in talent, technologies, and tools that empower you to own your career.Join MUFG, where being inspired is expected and making a meaningful impact is rewarded.MUFG, one of the world's most respected financial groups, is seeking a Core Compliance and HR Audit Director to join their EMEA Internal Audit team in London. This is an exceptional 12 month fixed term contract opportunity to play a pivotal role within a global organisation renowned for its integrity, transparency, and commitment to sustainable growth. As part of MUFG's third line of defence, you will be at the forefront of shaping governance standards and influencing enterprise-wide change across a diverse and complex business landscape. The position offers the chance to lead a high-performing team, drive strategic initiatives, and collaborate with senior stakeholders at Board level. With a strong focus on flexibility, inclusion, and professional development, MUFG provides an environment where your expertise in compliance, HR processes, and audit leadership will be valued and nurtured. Join MUFG's EMEA Internal Audit team as a key leader responsible for driving best-in-class governance and control standards across a global financial institution with over 150,000 employees. Take ownership of a significant audit portfolio covering core compliance and human resources activities, working closely with senior executives and regulators while developing your own team of talented professionals. Benefit from MUFG's inclusive culture that values diversity, supports flexible working arrangements, and invests in your ongoing professional growth through exposure to strategic projects and industry-leading practices.What you'll do:As Core Compliance and HR Audit Director at MUFG in London, you will play an instrumental role in safeguarding the bank's reputation by delivering insightful assurance over governance frameworks spanning compliance and HR functions. Your day-to-day responsibilities will involve managing a dynamic portfolio of audits adapting plans as new risks emerge, and leading your team through every stage of the audit lifecycle. You will engage directly with senior leaders across the business to provide independent perspectives on risk management while embedding agile methodologies that drive efficiency. By leveraging data analytics tools for full-population testing and outcome analysis, you will ensure that audit outcomes are both robust and forward-looking. Your ability to build trust-based relationships with stakeholders will be crucial as you represent Internal Audit in various forums. Additionally, you will champion people development by coaching direct reports into future leaders while fostering an inclusive culture aligned with MUFG's values. Success in this role means not only delivering high-quality audits but also contributing strategically to the long-term vision of Internal Audit locally and globally. Oversee the delivery of a comprehensive portfolio of audits within the EMEA Internal Audit plan, ensuring timely completion in line with key performance indicators and quality assurance standards. Manage audit plans throughout the year by assessing relevance against emerging risks, regulatory changes, new products, and evolving business priorities. Lead, coach, and inspire a team comprising Vice Presidents, Assistant Vice Presidents, and graduates to achieve high performance through effective talent management and motivation. Develop constructive relationships with senior stakeholders across MUFG by providing independent challenge, commercial insight, and guidance on risk management best practices. Embed agile auditing methodologies and data analytics techniques into all aspects of audit delivery to enhance efficiency, coverage, and stakeholder experience. Produce clear, impactful audit reports tailored for executive audiences that communicate key messages succinctly while meeting rigorous business writing standards. Represent EMEA Internal Audit in governance forums, working groups, and committees-providing value-added input on strategic initiatives such as regulatory projects or process improvements. Drive continuous monitoring efforts to identify emerging risks or material changes impacting the audit universe; escalate findings promptly to executive committees as required. Champion inclusion & diversity initiatives within the department while supporting staff engagement programmes that foster career progression and recognition of achievements. Ensure robust line management practices including regular feedback sessions, personal development planning, succession planning, and maintaining regulatory training requirements. What you bring:To excel as Core Compliance and Human Resources Audit Director at MUFG you will bring substantial experience from similar roles within large-scale financial services organisations or top-tier consultancies. Your background should reflect deep technical knowledge of both compliance frameworks, including regulatory change management and HR-related risk controls specific to banking environments. You will have demonstrated success leading teams through complex audits using agile methodologies supported by data-driven insights. Your interpersonal strengths will enable you to build collaborative relationships with senior stakeholders while communicating findings clearly at all levels. A passion for nurturing talent is essential as you develop your team into future leaders who embody MUFG's values around inclusion and shared success. Your approach should be structured yet adaptable, capable of balancing multiple priorities without losing sight of long-term strategic goals. Professional qualifications such as CFA or CIA would further strengthen your profile but are not mandatory if offset by relevant industry experience. Extensive subject matter expertise in core compliance areas such as regulatory change management, surveillance activities, conduct oversight, control room operations, advisory services, and people risk within banking environments. Deep understanding of human resources processes as they relate to risk management frameworks within large financial institutions or investment banks. Proven track record in internal audit leadership roles ,ideally gained within major banks or Big-4 firms with hands-on experience managing complex portfolios covering both compliance and HR domains. Demonstrated proficiency in agile auditing techniques alongside advanced use of data analytics tools for population testing and outcome analysis during audits. Exceptional communication skills enabling you to interact effectively with Board-level directors, executives, regulators, and cross-functional teams; able to produce executive-ready reports requiring minimal edits. Strong project management capabilities allowing you to oversee multiple concurrent audits while maintaining strict adherence to deadlines without compromising quality standards. Experience building external networks across industry peers; able to share insights on best practices or emerging risks gleaned from these connections. Inclusive leadership style focused on coaching direct reports towards high performance; adept at fostering positive workforce cultures that support diversity & inclusion objectives. Ability to remain calm under pressure while