8 Apr 2025

Internal Controls Lead at Highlands Drinks Limited

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Job Description

Highlands is a Kenyan company manufacturing and marketing non-alcoholic beverages, with a history spanning 69 years. A Pioneer of the East African beverages industry, Highlands has been transformed from a small family factory to a category leader with an “own-brand” portfolio that spans the major beverage categories and consumer segments of the market.

Internal Controls Lead

Key Responsibilities

Internal Control Enforcement

  • Serve as the organization’s primary enforcement officer for internal controls.
  • Detect, investigate, and resolve non-compliance and internal control breaches.
  • Ensure ownership and accountability from departments for control failures and immediate resolution of issues.

SOP Development & Strengthening

  • Identify weak, missing, or outdated SOPs and control processes across departments.
  • Facilitate departmental development and strengthening of SOPs, embedding robust control measures.
  • Review and integrate new SOPs into the organization-wide internal control framework.

Investigations & Root Cause Analysis

  • Lead investigations into control breaches and irregularities.
  • Perform root cause analysis to understand underlying issues.
  • Develop and track corrective action plans to address root causes and prevent recurrence.

Accountability & Escalation Management

  • Hold process owners accountable for corrective actions within defined timelines.
  • Escalate unresolved or repeat breaches to senior management with recommendations for disciplinary or structural interventions.
  • Ensure closure of identified control issues with documented follow-through.

Monitoring, Spot Checks & Follow-up Audits

  • Conduct risk-based spot checks and surprise audits in critical operational areas.
  • Perform follow-up audits to verify implementation and effectiveness of corrective actions.
  • Maintain an audit trail of all reviews, findings, and actions taken.

Compliance Communication & Training

  • Continuously communicate compliance expectations to all departments.
  • Provide targeted training and workshops to enhance awareness and capability in control measures.
  • Ensure staff understand reporting lines and escalation protocols for non-compliance.

Collaboration with External Auditors

  • Support external audit processes by facilitating access to information and contributing to investigations.
  • Coordinate the resolution of audit findings and ensure implementation of external audit recommendations.

Risk Management

  • Identify, assess, and monitor key operational and compliance risks across departments.
  • Work with process owners to implement mitigation strategies and preventive controls.
  • Maintain a central risk register with documented action plans and escalation processes.

People Management & Culture Building

  • Provide leadership and development to the Internal Controls team.
  • Foster a culture of integrity, high performance, and accountability.
  • Implement career pathing, performance reviews, succession planning, and staff engagement practices within the function.

Reporting

  • Provide monthly reports detailing investigations, control breaches, root causes, and status of corrective actions.
  • Present trend analyses and recurring issues with strategic recommendations for resolution.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

  • % of identified control breaches resolved within set timelines.
  • Number of SOPs reviewed, updated, or newly developed and implemented.
  • % implementation rate of corrective actions from investigations and audits.
  • Frequency and coverage of risk-based audits, spot checks, and follow-up reviews.
  • % resolution of external audit findings within agreed timelines.
  • Timeliness and quality of monthly internal controls reports submitted.
  • % reduction in repeat control breaches or unresolved risks quarter-over-quarter.
  • Number of staff trained on compliance and internal controls.
  • % of risk mitigation actions completed on schedule from the risk register.
  • Employee engagement and performance scores within the Internal Controls team.
  • Progress on career pathing, succession planning, and performance reviews for direct reports.

Education & Experience Requirements

  • Bachelor’s degree in accounting, Finance, Audit, or a related field.
  • CPA (K) or ACCA certification required.
  • Minimum 5 years’ experience in internal controls, audit, compliance, or risk management.
  • Experience conducting investigations and working with external auditors.
  • Proven track record in team leadership, performance management, and capability building.

Technical Competencies

  • Internal Audit & Risk Management
  • SOP Development & Implementation
  • Investigations & Root Cause Analysis
  • Regulatory & Policy Compliance
  • Report Writing & Data Interpretation

Behavioral Competencies

  • Continuous Improvement (IMPROVE): Demonstrates a natural drive to grow and consistently seeks better ways of working and delivering results.
  • Teamwork: Collaborates across functions and contributes to shared successes and challenges.
  • Agility: Embraces change, adapts quickly, and solves problems proactively and with precision.
  • Leadership: Inspires, empowers, and supports others to achieve and sustain high performance.
  • Integrity: Acts with honesty, accountability, and discipline — even when not being observed.

 

Deadline: 20/04/2025



Method of Application

Submit your CV and Application on Company Website : Click Here

Closing Date : April 28, 2025





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