Internal Audit Manager
Location: Our Office in London – with travel to our hotels as required
Job Type: Full time - 40 hours per week
Join Our Senior Management Team
About the Role
As part of our ongoing transformation programme, Hand Picked Hotels is recruiting a newly created Internal Audit Manager role. Reporting to the Board of Hand Picked Hotels and the Head of Internal Audit & Risk Management at Terrafirma, this position plays a critical role in providing independent assurance over the effectiveness of internal controls, risk management, and governance.
With a strong focus on hotel and hospitality operations, the role supports the protection of guest experience, revenue and cash integrity, regulatory compliance, and the Group’s assets and reputation.
Key Responsibilities
The role is both strategic and hands-on, requiring strong technical audit capability alongside commercial insight.
Internal audit planning & delivery
Develop and deliver a risk-based internal audit plan in alignment with Terrafirma Internal Audit & Risk Management.
Cover core hotel operations, financial controls, compliance, and governance.
Audit reporting & follow-up.
Produce clear, insightful audit reports for senior management and the Board.
Track remediation actions and escalate overdue or high-risk issues.
Advisory & value-add support
Provide objective advice to senior leaders and hotel General Managers on control design, process improvement, and risk mitigation.
Support after-event reviews, new supplier onboarding, and (where relevant) hotel openings or transitions.
Stakeholder engagement
Build strong relationships with internal leadership, the Board, external auditors, Terrafirma stakeholders, and third-party operators or service providers.
Risk & compliance
Conduct regular risk assessments across hotel operations, including guest safety, food & beverage, staffing, systems, and third parties.
Support compliance with relevant legal, regulatory, and internal policy requirements.
Continuous improvement & culture
Promote continuous improvement and standardisation of controls and risk practices.
Deliver training and practical guidance to embed a risk-aware culture.
About You
You will bring strong technical expertise, credibility, and independence, and be comfortable operating as a sole contributor.
Essential experience and skills
Internal audit management experience, ideally operating without a team.
Strong knowledge of audit methodologies, risk management, and internal controls.
Professional qualifications (ACA, ACCA, CIMA, CIA) or equivalent experience.
Experience in hotels, hospitality, or another consumer-facing multisite business
Understanding of hotel revenue and cash cycles and related systems (PMS, POS, payments, channel management)
Knowledge of key hospitality risk areas (health & safety, food safety, licensing, data privacy)
Excellent analytical, communication, and influencing skills
High ethical standards, independence, and professional scepticism
Personal attributes
Commercially minded with strong business acumen
Resilient and adaptable, comfortable operating in ambiguity
Confident engaging at senior and Board level
Who we are…
Hand Picked Hotels was founded in 2001 by owner and Chairman, Julia Hands MBE, and today still remains a family-owned group which has 21 unique luxury country houses and coastal retreats, each hand picked for their individuality. Architecturally distinctive and quintessentially British, every hotel boasts an extraordinary location from Scotland to the Channel Islands, offering breathtaking views from vast countryside to expansive beaches, to lush woodlands.
Dedicated to creating unique and enchanting stays, curated personalised service runs through the heart of every hotel. Whilst each hotel is individual, each property fulfils the company values of family, individuality, community and care, with a team commitment to aiming higher and delight their guests with magical experiences that offer a true escape from the every day.
Hand Picked Hotels are committed to protecting the environment for a sustainable future, and all of our hotels have received the ‘Green Tourism’ accreditation. A Recognition of our progress in reducing energy use and waste, supporting biodiversity, and sourcing responsibly from local and ethical partners.
What’s in it for you?
- A competitive salary, discussed at interview stage.
- A welcoming, inclusive culture where long-term friendships and diversity are celebrated.
- Ongoing career development with in-house and external training, including apprenticeships and industry-recognised courses.
- 28 days holiday per year including bank holidays, increasing to 33 days including bank holidays with length of service.
- Access to wellbeing support through our Employee Assistance Programme.
- Company pension enhanced sick pay & Life assurance scheme.
- Online retail discount platform offering thousands of savings with high street retailers and restaurants as well as a health and well-being platform.
- Discounted stays in our hotels and on food, drink, spa treatments & products.
- Annual loyalty awards (like afternoon teas and overnight stays).
- Introduction bonus for new colleague recommendations.
- Colleague of the Month awards, which leads to our annual awards ceremony.
- Regular team gatherings and appreciation events.
Hand Picked Hotels is proud to be an Equal Opportunities Employer. Applicants must have the right to live and work in the UK.
