Ifeanyi Osode

I am a Chartered Accountant (ICAEW and ICAN) and Certified Information Systems Auditor with extensive years of experience delivering risk-based assurance across financial, operational, governance and technology environments. I have led the full audit lifecycle, from risk assessment, scoping, walkthroughs, control evaluation, data analysis, reporting and remediation follow-up across banking, financial services, technology-driven operations and diversified international businesses. What I bring is a genuine ability to straddle both the financial and technology sides of an audit.

I can assess governance, fraud risk, regulatory compliance and operational resilience with the same rigour I apply to IT controls and digital transformation risk, and connect those threads into insights that make sense to senior management and oversight bodies, not just audit teams. My career has spanned Nigerian and UK organisations, which has shaped how I engage across diverse professional and cultural backgrounds. I work collaboratively without losing my independence, and I adapt quickly to new environments.

Senior Internal Auditor at Ocado Group (2024-02 – Present)

In this role, I lead end-to-end risk-based internal audit engagements across a FTSE-listed business, covering operational, financial, technology and regulatory areas, from planning through to Audit Committee reporting.

• Plan and scope complex audit assignments, building work programmes around the key operational, financial and technology risks within the audit area.
• Conduct ITGC reviews across access management, change management and IT operations, with wider coverage of information security, data privacy and cyber risk.
• Use data analytics tools, primarily IDEA and advanced Excel to interrogate full datasets rather than samples, surfacing insights that traditional sampling may have missed.
• Prepare detailed audit reports, with insights drafted in a critical-friend tone, making sure each insight is clear on root cause and its impact on the business's principal risks.
• Present insights directly to senior stakeholders, assessing how well controls are working and agreeing actions that are realistic and worth implementing.
• Maintain quarterly meetings with senior stakeholders across Technology, Finance and Operations, building relationships while keeping close to business change and emerging risks.
• Carry out peer reviews of colleagues' work papers, giving direct feedback on whether testing is sufficient, insights are well-evidenced and conclusions are clearly supported.
• Support the Director of Internal Audit in delivering Audit Committee reporting on control effectiveness and principal risk assurance under the UK Corporate Governance Code (Provision 29)
• Drive continuous improvement in audit methodology, including AI-assisted techniques and the use of Jira for audit tracking and workflow management.

Senior Internal Auditor at FemChoice Limited (2022-03 – 2023-12)

Led risk-based audits across governance, financial systems and IT infrastructure in a regulated environment.

• Delivered risk-based audits and key control testing; escalated emerging issues and risks promptly.
• Performed KYC/AML compliance testing and reported findings to audit leadership.
• Reviewed IT governance and core management/financial information systems.
• Assessed third-party engagements against policy; tracked issues and validated closure.
• Produced clear audit reports and maintained robust audit programmes and workpapers.

Frauds Payment Advisor at Santander Bank (2021-11 – 2022-02)

Contract role with a UK retail and commercial bank with high-volume payments operations and fraud prevention controls.

• Reviewed flagged transactions and payments to identify fraud/scam indicators and support authorise/decline decisions.
• Managed customer fraud enquiries, providing clear updates and scam education via phone and written communication.
• Completed investigative checks (incl. CIFAS-related enquiries) and progressed cases with internal teams/third parties to resolution.

Internal Audit Manager at Yellow Nose Investment (Nigeria) Limited (2017-10 – 2021-09)

Diversified group operating across financial services, gaming, agribusiness and software, with heightened regulatory and fraud-risk exposure.

• Set up and led Group Internal Audit, Risk Management and Internal Controls across multiple subsidiaries (finance, gaming, agribusiness and software).
• Built and delivered a risk-based audit plan; issued Board-level reports and tracked remediation to closure, including follow-up on external audit points.
• Drove regulatory and policy compliance, including KYC/CDD oversight for the finance entity and control reviews across onboarding and customer due diligence.
• Reviewed credit processes and controls, strengthening governance around lending decisions and portfolio monitoring.
• Coordinated forensic audits, revenue assurance and quality assurance reviews to identify control weaknesses, prevent leakage and investigate fraud/irregularities.
• Maintained audit programmes, checklists and documentation standards; promoted independence, rigour and professionalism within the audit team.

Team Lead, Business Office Audit at United Bank for Africa PLC (2015-04 – 2017-09)

Branch Internal Auditor at Ecobank Nigeria Limited (2011-01 – 2015-04)

Internal Control Officer at Ecobank Nigeria Limited (2006-09 – 2010-12)

Bachelor of Science in Accounting – University of Benin (2005)