Gabriella Soares

Gabriella is a Director with over 18 years’ experience. She has worked with a range of clients, including multinational private sector organisations and public sector entities at both Federal and State levels. She specialises in providing internal audit, risk management, governance, and controls transformation services.

Gabriella has worked across Australia, Africa, and the Middle East. Prior to joining Protiviti, she was a Director at Deloitte in both Australia and South Africa.

She possesses extensive knowledge of operations across various industries and entities, the risks associated with them, and their regulatory and legislative requirements. Gabriella leads co-sourced and outsourced program delivery for national and global clients across the private and public sectors, including mining and manufacturing, water, utilities, aged care, health, customer services, environment and education. 

She is a risk committee member of the Risk Management Institute of Australia and an Associate Member of the Institute of Internal Auditors.

Major projects and accomplishments

• Internal audit leadership for Queensland government departments and agencies – Gabriella leads the outsourced and co-sourced internal audit services for several Queensland government departments, agencies and government-owned corporations. This includes regular engagement with  director generals, deputy director generals, seniors’ executives and the audit committees o advise on internal audit activities covering significant projects, operations, compliance, financial controls, and risk management practices.
• Internal audit leadership for New South Wales government departments and agencies – Gabriella leads co-sourced internal audit services for a few New South Wales government departments and agencies. This includes regular engagement with Deputy Secretaries, the senior executives and the audit committee to advise on our internal audit activities covering significant projects, operations, compliance and financial controls and risk management practices.
• Internal audit and risk director, major ASX-listed corporation – Gabriella leads the co-sourced and outsourced internal audit, Sarbanes-Oxley and risk functions for a major ASX-listed mining, manufacturing, and utilities company,  Her responsibilities include executing the internal audit programme, managing risk, and engaging with the Board, senior executives, and audit committees.

Areas of expertise

• Internal audit and assurance
• Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX)
• Governance
• Risk management
• External audit
• Performance and compliance
• Grant management
• Fraud risk management
• Procurement and contract management
• Accounting and financial management
• Forensic reviews and investigation
• Risk and control transformation

Industry experience

• Mining and manufacturing
• Energy & utilities
• Government
• Health & aged care
• Education
• Not-for-profit

Professional memberships and certifications

• Associate Member of the Institute of Internal Auditors Australia
• Member of the Risk Management Institute of Australia

Education

• Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting, University of Pretoria