[EU] Head of Internal Audit EU

As Head of Internal Audit EU at Bybit, you lead and own the Internal Audit function for Bybit's European entity as the most senior audit professional. You will establish strategic audit direction, build and manage the EU audit team, and provide independent assurance to the Board on the effectiveness of governance, risk management, and internal controls. This is a strategic leadership role where you set the audit vision, engage directly with regulators and the Board, and drive the maturation of the audit function toward a fully scaled in-house capability, while maintaining hands-on involvement in key audit engagements. You report directly to the Board of Directors of Bybit EU with a dotted reporting line to the Global Head of Internal Audit at Bybit Group.

What you'll do

• Define and execute the multi-year internal audit strategy for Bybit EU, aligned with the entity's risk profile, regulatory obligations, and business growth trajectory.
• Serve as the primary audit representative to the Board and Audit Committee, providing independent assurance opinions and strategic counsel on emerging risks.
• Maintain the local Internal Audit Charter, policies, and quality assurance framework in accordance with IIA Standards and local regulatory expectations.
• Build, lead, and develop the EU internal audit team - setting culture, hiring, coaching, and performance management.
• Plan and deliver a risk-based annual audit plan covering finance, operations, compliance, IT, cybersecurity, and business-specific processes including trading, custody, listing, and AML/CFT.
• Align with the Global Internal Audit function on group-wide methodologies, tooling, and combined assurance approaches while adapting to EU-specific requirements.
• Lead the transition from outsourced or co-sourced audit arrangements to a scalable in-house capability. During the transition period, coordinate closely with co-sourcing partners, oversee the quality of their deliverables, manage the relationship, and control the audit budget.
• Conduct and supervise detailed audit work including walkthroughs, control testing, data analytics, and root cause analysis, ensuring audit depth and quality.
• Prepare and present audit reports with clear findings, risk ratings, root causes, and actionable remediation plans to the Board, senior management, and regulators.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for regulatory audit inquiries from the FMA, ECB/SSM, and other regulators, and coordinate regulatory examination support.
• Monitor and anticipate evolving EU regulatory developments including MiCA, MiFID II, DORA, AMLD6, EMD2, GDPR, and NIS2, proactively adjusting audit coverage and methodology.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with external auditors, regulators, and key internal stakeholders across Compliance, Risk, Legal, Finance, Operations, IT, and Product.
• Work closely with 2nd line functions (Compliance, Risk) to deliver an integrated assurance model, ensuring all key regulatory obligations are monitored and audited, controls are designed and operating effectively, and gaps are escalated with clear action plans.
• Drive automation and innovation in audit processes by leveraging data analytics, continuous auditing and monitoring, and AI-enabled techniques.
• Promote a culture of integrity, accountability, and continuous improvement across the EU business.
• Coordinate remediation tracking and follow-up, ensuring timely closure of audit findings and management actions.

What you bring

• 12-18 years of progressive experience in internal audit, external audit, or risk/controls functions, with a minimum of 5 years in a senior or leadership capacity within regulated financial services, fintech, payments, or digital assets.
• Strong knowledge of Austrian and EU regulatory frameworks including MiCA, MiFID II, DORA, EMD2, AMLD, and GDPR, with practical experience engaging European regulators such as the FMA and BaFin.
• Professional certification: CIA (Certified Internal Auditor) or equivalent is required.
• Proven team-building experience with a track record of building or significantly scaling an audit function or team in a regulated environment.
• Excellent written and spoken German and English, essential for regulatory engagement, Board reporting, and multi-jurisdictional coordination.
• Board and Audit Committee reporting experience, comfortable presenting independently to non-executive directors and regulators.
• Hands-on involvement in the details of individual audit projects, understanding the substance of findings, and personally driving quality on key engagements.
• Outstanding stakeholder management experience, operating effectively in a global matrix structure with cross-regional collaboration.
• Strong project and resource management skills, managing multiple concurrent audits, budgets, and external service providers.
• Adaptable, self-driven, and resilient approach to operating in a fast-paced, evolving environment with shifting priorities and regulatory landscape.
• Knowledge of crypto, DeFi, Web3 ecosystems, and blockchain technology is strongly preferred.

Nice to have

• Prior experience in a Head of Internal Audit or equivalent role at a crypto or fintech entity regulated in the EU.
• Experience with IIA's Three Lines Model implementation and maturity advancement.
• Familiarity with ISAE 3402 and SOC reports, COSO frameworks, and EU outsourcing/ICT risk guidelines from the EBA and DORA.
• Track record of building audit functions in scaling or high-growth organisations.
• Proficiency in data analytics using SQL, Python, and AI tools for audit evidence gathering, continuous monitoring, and fraud detection.
• Additional certifications such as CISA, CAMS, CFE, CRISC, or ICA.

What we offer

• Study Growth Fund supporting your professional development and continuous learning.
• Internal Events including regular team-building activities, workshops, and events designed to promote collaboration and innovation.
• Global Collaboration working alongside a diverse, international team from around the world.
• Career Advancement opportunities for growth and advancement within a rapidly expanding global company.
• Internal Mobility with opportunities to grow your career through internal job placements and long-term development support.

About Bybit

Established in 2018, Bybit is one of the world's leading cryptocurrency exchanges and digital financial platforms, serving over 80 million users across more than 200 countries and regions. The company delivers a seamless ecosystem across trading, payments, wealth management, custody, institutional services, and Web3, and is recognized as one of the most trusted and transparent platforms in the digital asset industry.