Standard Life Aberdeen

Job Description

Who we are

Aberdeen Investments is part of Aberdeen Group plc, one of the UK’s leading Wealth & Investments groups.

Strengthening talent and culture is one of our strategic priorities. We strive to make Aberdeen a great place to work so that we can attract and retain the industry’s best talent.

Our people put our stakeholders at the heart of everything they do by helping us to make a positive difference to the lives of our clients, customers, colleagues, shareholders and society.

We are repositioning our specialist asset management business to meet client demand and are committed to providing excellent client service, supported by leading technology and talent.

As a global business, Aberdeen consists of three divisions: Investments, Adviser, and interactive investor (ii). Each division is dedicated to meeting and adapting to our clients' evolving needs.

Our Asia Pacific Investments business has a large, dedicated and highly experienced investment team which has been investing across the region since 1985, and manages all our Asian products, including regional, country, smaller companies, and sustainable investing propositions.

The team has a strong regional footprint with offices in Singapore, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Seoul, and Sydney. This breadth gives us close proximity to the companies we own and the markets we invest in. Our APAC operations have been based in Singapore since 1992. We invest in Asian companies to grow with them and to help them to become better investors

Internal Audit is a key function in Aberdeen, supporting the firm in achieving its objectives whilst effectively helping it manage its risks. With colleagues in Edinburgh, London, Singapore, and Frankfurt, we have a global remit and provide assurance to the Board, Audit Committees, and Executives.

We are currently seeking a highly experienced Senior Audit Manager to lead our APAC audit portfolio, based in Singapore.

We are a highly ambitious function that seeks to innovate. We will help you grow by recognising and leveraging your strengths and potential, supporting your personal development. In return, we ask for your energy, enthusiasm, and the drive needed to deliver the results we aim to achieve.

We can’t wait for you to join us!

The Role – Senior Audit Manager - APAC

You will have a deep understanding of investment management businesses, particularly within Asian markets. You will bring experience of planning and executing a risk‑based portfolio of investment‑focused audits, covering areas such as portfolio management, trading, dealing, investment risk, ESG, distribution, and governance frameworks. You will lead the APAC audit activity and be the most senior member of the audit team locally, working closely with the Global Head of Audit, Investments. This role will also include being part of the APAC Leadership Teams representing the Internal Audit team. The role is likely to include regulatory responsibilities including being registered with the MAS.

You will also bring a proven track record of building credible and value‑add senior stakeholder relationships across front‑office, risk, compliance, operations, and regional leadership teams.

Key Responsibilities

Audit Planning, Risk Assessments, and Stakeholder Management

• Produces high‑quality, in‑depth risk assessments for key components of the APAC audit universe, leveraging regional market insights, regulatory developments, and business strategy.
• Reviews and challenges risk assessments produced by other team members across the Investments audit portfolio.
• Proposes audits based on risk assessments and provides constructive challenge of audits proposed in other areas.
• Leads and coordinates the annual planning process for APAC.
• Owns significant senior stakeholder relationships across the investments, distribution, and risk functions, generating valuable insights and ensuring audit coverage is aligned with the most material investment and regional risks.
• Present audit results, key insights, and risk themes to the regional Boards and senior management, and governance forum. Provide independent and objective perspectives on control environments and risk themes during executive meetings.

Audit Delivery

• Leads the timely and effective end‑to‑end delivery of investment‑focused audits using agile methodology and in line with Internal Audit quality standards.
• Identifies the root cause of issues and recommends proportionate and sustainable solutions. Maintains independence and demonstrates resilience when challenged, ensuring balanced and accurate audit outcomes.
• Writes compelling and impactful reports that communicate complex investment‑related topics clearly and succinctly to senior stakeholders.
• Manages multiple concurrent audits and engagements, where necessary.

Issue Validation

• Works proactively with Issue owners in advance of Issue closure to ensure that actions are on track and remain appropriate.
• Ensures the team’s validation of Issue closure is to the expected standards and required timeframe, reporting back where the business has not closed issues adequately.

Other/Ongoing Responsibilities

• Directs and coaches Auditors and Managers across the function, maximising performance and promoting best practice.
• Acts as a senior leader within the team, fostering a culture of excellence, integrity, and innovation.
• Inspires trust and demonstrates approachability and flexibility to support the full team.
• Embraces innovation, data‑analytics techniques, and digital opportunities to continuously improve audit quality and efficiency.
• Supports the leadership of the team, including fostering a culture of high performance and innovation, and managing people if required.

Key Requirements

• Have extensive experience in investment management auditing or investment risk/operations roles within the APAC region.
• Be educated to degree level or demonstrate strong relevant industry experience.
• Hold (or be working towards) a relevant professional qualification (e.g., CFA, FRM, CA, CIA).
• Have 3+ years’ experience at Audit Manager or Senior Manager level conducting investment‑related audits.
• Have delivered end‑to‑end assurance reviews covering:
• Portfolio management and trading
• Investment risk and performance
• Product governance and controls
• Portfolio operations and fund accounting
• APAC regulatory frameworks (e.g. MAS, SFC)
• ESG and stewardship considerations
• Possess strong knowledge of APAC financial markets, investment products, and regulatory environments.
• Have strong experience in using data analytics or AI‑driven tools to enhance audit effectiveness.

Candidates may also have the following desirable skills and experience:

• Experience in front‑office investment or risk management roles.
• Experience working in APAC regulatory environments or directly engaging with regulators such as MAS or SFC.
• Experience in second‑line investment risk or compliance assurance functions.
• Knowledge and auditing experience of investment governance frameworks and models (e.g., best‑execution, liquidity management, valuations, derivatives).
• Experience auditing third‑party distribution partners, outsourced service providers, and market intermediaries.

Key Comptenecies

• Thinking Strategically

Linking the long-term vision for Aberdeen and Internal Audit to daily work. Considering what needs to be done in the future to make Aberdeen fit to deliver results for the customers and our stakeholders. It is also about considering how external circumstances impact on the strategic direction of the sector and Aberdeen.

• Analytical Skills

Use of a variety of diagnostic techniques to understand a situation/issue/problem by breaking it down and tracing the root cause/underlying implications in a methodical, step-by-step way.

• Communication Skills

Clearly and effectively communicates information, ideas, plans, requests and opinions to internal and external stakeholders through a range of channels, including written and oral. Ensures alignment with communication guidelines and policies

• Courageous Decision Making

The ability to make decisions at pace and in ambiguous or conflicting situations. Taking ownership of the process and outcome. It is also focused on the pace of decision making, with a motivation to avoid unnecessary escalation or procrastination.

• Laws, Regulations, and Standards

Knowledge of specific regulations, legislation, governance and compliance requirements that impact a role, business area, or Aberdeen.

• Managing Risk

Identify, assess, control, and monitor risks. Make the right things happen first time, identify when things have not gone right and understand why, and recover the position.

• Impact and Influence

Influencing others to achieve a positive impact. This includes communicating clearly, building support for ideas and having an impact on other people. Impact and influence are linked to understanding others, as it is based on the desire to influence others to bring about a specific course of action.

• Stakeholder Management

Interprets and influences both the external and internal environments by creating positive relationships with stakeholders through the appropriate management of their expectations and agreed objectives.

• Project/Programme Management

Plans, initiates, executes, controls and closes projects/programmes/portfolios of work in a disciplined manner. Tracks and manages resources, timelines, deliverables and performance

We’re committed to providing an inclusive workplace where all forms of difference are valued and which is free from any form of unfair or unlawful treatment. We define diversity in its broadest sense – this includes but is not limited to our diversity of educational and professional backgrounds, experience, cognitive and neurodiversity, age, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, religion or belief and ethnicity and geographical provenance. We support a culture that values meritocracy, fairness and transparency and welcomes enquiries from everyone.

If you need assistance or an adjustment due to a disability please let us know as part of your application and we will assist.

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