Search for a Chief Auditor (SMF5)

One of the most important tests of any executive search firm is not how it performs on straightforward assignments, it is how it performs when the stakes are high, the timeline is pressured, and a previous firm has already failed to deliver. It is in exactly these situations that the difference between a generalist firm and a true specialist in financial services internal audit executive search becomes clear. This is an account of one such assignment.

A FTSE100 Financial Servcies Group had been planning the succession of its outgoing Chief Audit Officer for some time. The role carried SMF5 designation and full regulatory accountability for the internal audit function. The organisation had initially engaged another search firm to identify candidates. On paper that firm delivered a shortlist, but the candidates lacked either the technical expertise or the requisite gravitas for a role of this significance.

By the time Hybridge was engaged, what had begun as a well-planned succession process was becoming increasingly pressured. The audit committee was engaged, expectations were high, and the organisation needed to move with both speed and confidence.

The Challenge

Firms like this have a distinctive position in the financial system. They are heavily regulated, systemically significant, and operate under intense scrutiny from regulators and the broader market. The Chief Auditor must combine deep technical audit expertise with the personal credibility and independence to operate effectively at board and audit committee level and to be seen to do so.

The candidate pool of individuals who could genuinely perform at this level, in this specific type of organisation, was narrow. The previous firm's failure had also raised the internal stakes considerably. The organisation needed confidence that this time the search would succeed, so stakes were high.

The Outcome

Hybridge successfully completed the search and the appointment was made subject to regulatory approval. The appointed Chief Auditor brought direct and highly relevant experience and established an immediately strong relationship with the audit committee and ExCo. The client's feedback was direct: Hybridge had delivered in weeks what the previous firm had failed to deliver in months.

Our Approach to Head of Audit and SMF5 appointments

Every SMF5, Head of Audit and Chief Auditor search at Hybridge is led personally by Andy Winterburgh.

Andy placed his first Head of Internal Audit in 2000 and has since completed senior internal audit leadership appointments across the full spectrum of UK and international financial services: FTSE100 and FTSE250 banking groups, global investment banks, wealth and asset managers, insurers, and market infrastructure firms.

That unbroken 25 year track record in a single specialism means Andy knows every serious candidate at Chief Auditor level personally. In most cases he has tracked their careers across multiple firms, understands their strengths and leadership styles in depth, and can make an informed judgement about fit before a single CV is presented.

How our SMF5 searches work in practice

Each search follows a structured four-stage process:

Stage 1 — The Brief. Andy conducts a detailed briefing with the relevant stakeholders to understand not just the role specification but the firm's culture, audit methodology, regulatory relationships, and what success looks like in the first 12 months.

Stage 2 — Market Mapping. A comprehensive map of every credible candidate in the market is compiled, drawing on 25 years of relationships and live market intelligence. This is not a database search, it is a current, human assessment of who is genuinely available, who could be approached, and who represents the right fit.

Stage 3 — Discreet Outreach. Candidates are approached personally and confidentially. The client's identity is protected until mutual interest is established. Only a carefully selected shortlist is presented.

Stage 4 — Process Management. Andy manages the entire interview and selection process, provides candidate feedback, handles offer negotiation, and remains available throughout the notice period and into the candidate's first weeks in role.

Planning a Head of Audit Appointment?

Whether you have an immediate vacancy or are planning ahead, the right time to speak to Andy Winterburgh is before the pressure is on.

Head of Audit appointments are among the most consequential hiring decisions a financial services firm makes. Getting it right matters, and getting it wrong is costly well beyond the recruitment fee.

Succession Planning Many of Andy's most successful appointments began as a conversation well before a vacancy existed. A planned succession allows time to identify the right candidate and manage the transition.

Immediate Requirements If you have an urgent vacancy, Andy can move quickly without compromising quality. Because he maintains candidate relationships continuously, not just when a search is active, Hybridge can compress timelines that traditional search firms cannot match.

Complete Confidentiality All conversations are strictly confidential. Many clients speak to Andy before making any internal decision about how to proceed. That is precisely the right time to get in touch.

To discuss a senior internal audit appointment, contact Andy Winterburgh directly at andyw@hybridge.co.uk