HR Audit and Compliance Manager

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: HR Audit and Compliance Manager

Location: Lagos
Employment Type: Full-time

Job Summary

• The role requires strong experience in identifying process gaps, compliance risks, payroll irregularities, and control weaknesses while driving corrective and preventive actions across all locations.
• The successful candidate will work closely with Plant HR Managers, HR Operations Teams, Payroll Teams, and the Group Head – National HR to strengthen governance, standardization, and operational efficiency across the HR function.
• We are seeking a highly analytical and detail-oriented HR Audit and Compliance Manager to lead the audit, monitoring, and compliance review of HR systems, payroll processes, and HR operational practices across our 40+ plant locations in Nigeria.
• The ideal candidate will be responsible for conducting independent audits of HR processes and HRMS activities to ensure compliance with company policies, statutory regulations, internal controls, and approved standard operating procedures (SOPs).

Key Responsibilities
HR Process Audit and Compliance Monitoring:

• Conduct periodic and surprise audits of HR operations and HRMS activities across all plant locations.
• Audit Maker-Checker controls within HR and payroll processes to ensure accountability and minimize process errors or fraud risks.
• Monitor adherence to payroll timelines and ensure payroll activities are completed as per the approved monthly calendar.
• Verify accuracy of employee data, payroll inputs, leave records, attendance reports, and HR transactions within the HRMS platform.
• Review and validate HR records, payroll processing, recruitment documentation, onboarding, confirmations, transfers, attendance, overtime, and exit management processes.
• Ensure compliance with approved HR policies, SOPs, labor laws, statutory requirements, and internal controls.

Internal Control and Risk Assessment:

• Ensure implementation and closure of audit findings within agreed timelines.
• Recommend improvements to strengthen internal controls, data integrity, and process governance.
• Develop audit observations, risk reports, and corrective action recommendations.
• Identify process weaknesses, compliance gaps, operational risks, and potential fraudulent activities within HR operations.

HRMS Audit and System Governance:

• Audit HRMS usage and system transactions across locations to ensure data accuracy, process compliance, and proper system utilization.
• Assess system adoption levels and compliance with approved workflows and authorization structures.
• Coordinate with HRMS vendors and internal stakeholders to improve controls, reporting structures, and system efficiency.

Process Standardization and Policy Adherence:

• Evaluate HR operational practices across locations and ensure alignment with corporate HR standards.
• Ensure all locations consistently follow approved HR processes and documentation requirements.
• Drive standardization of HR documentation, filing systems, employee records management, and reporting structures.

Audit Reporting and Stakeholder Management:

• Prepare detailed audit reports highlighting findings, compliance status, process gaps, and recommendations.
• Present audit findings and periodic compliance reports to the Group Head – National HR.
• Liaise with Plant HR Managers to monitor corrective action implementation and compliance improvements.
• Maintain audit trackers and compliance dashboards for management review.

Training and Compliance Awareness:

• Support continuous improvement initiatives within HR operations and HRMS usage.
• Conduct compliance awareness sessions and process audit trainings for HR teams across locations.
• Guide HR teams on audit readiness, documentation standards, and policy compliance expectations.

Qualifications

• Experience working in a multi-location manufacturing or industrial environment is highly preferred.
• Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Accounting, Industrial Relations, or related field.
• Minimum of 8–10 years of HR operational experience with at least 3–5 years in HR audit, compliance, internal controls, or HR process governance.
• Strong understanding of HRMS systems, payroll auditing, labor law compliance, and employee lifecycle management.
• Professional certifications in HR, Audit, Compliance, or Risk Management will be an added advantage.

Skills and Competencies:

• Excellent interpersonal and stakeholder management abilities.
• Strong audit, analytical, and investigative skills.
• High attention to detail and process accuracy.
• Ability to manage multiple audits and travel across locations effectively.
• Knowledge of internal controls and compliance frameworks.
• Problem-solving mindset with the ability to drive corrective actions.
• Strong report writing and presentation skills.

Work Environment:

• Frequent interaction with Plant HR Managers, Payroll Teams, HR Operations Teams, and Senior Management.
• Based in Ikoyi, Lagos, with extensive travel to plant locations across Nigeria.