Forvis Mazars is a global leader in audit & assurance, tax, advisory and consulting services, operating in more than 100 countries and territories with over 40,000 professionals worldwide.
In Belgium, we bring together more than 290 professionals across five offices, including Antwerp, Brussels, Ghent, Louvain-la-Neuve and Tournai. Our multidisciplinary teams provide services including Audit & Assurance, IT Audit, Consulting, Financial Advisory, Tax, Legal, and Accounting & Outsourcing.
We combine international reach with strong local knowledge and work closely with our clients to understand their activities, risks and evolving business environment.
Your mission
Today’s geopolitical environment is evolving rapidly. International conflicts, trade tensions, sanctions, changes in political priorities, economic security measures and regulatory developments can affect organisations’ business models, operations, supply chains, investments and financial reporting.
As a Geopolitical & Regulatory Risk Intern, your main purpose will be to support our financial audit teams in assessing how geopolitical and related regulatory developments may affect the risk profile of selected key audit clients, with a particular focus on regulated organisations, including clients in the financial services sector.
You will help translate developments in the external environment into structured and relevant insights that our audit teams can consider as part of their understanding of the entity and their audit risk assessment.
Your key responsibilities
Working alongside experienced audit and risk professionals, you will:
- Monitor and research the geopolitical environment, identifying developments that could be relevant to the activities, markets and geographic exposures of selected audit clients.
- Assess potential business and financial reporting implications, helping the audit team understand how geopolitical developments may influence areas such as business continuity, investments, counterparties, operations, supply chains and the broader risk environment.
- Research relevant legal and regulatory developments arising from or connected with changes in the geopolitical landscape and analyse their potential relevance for our clients.
- Develop client / sector specific risk analyses and regulatory reviews, linking external geopolitical and regulatory developments to the activities and exposures of selected organisations.
- Support financial audit risk assessments by preparing concise research notes, briefing papers and presentations for audit teams.
- Participate in selected client meetings together with members of the audit team, providing you with direct exposure to senior professionals and client stakeholders.
- Prepare structured meeting minutes, capturing key points, risks, decisions and follow-up matters relevant to the audit.
- Contribute to developing a more structured methodology for incorporating geopolitical risk into the financial audit risk assessment process.
What we are looking for
We are looking for a curious and analytical student who is interested in understanding how developments in the wider world can translate into concrete business and financial risks.
You are ideally completing a Master’s degree in Economics, Business Engineering, Finance, Law, International Relations, European Studies, Political Science or a related discipline.
You:
- have a strong interest in geopolitics, financial markets, regulation and/or financial services;
- enjoy researching complex topics and turning large amounts of information into clear conclusions;
- have strong analytical and critical-thinking skills;
- can distinguish developments that are merely interesting from those that could have a material impact on a company’s risk profile;
- communicate clearly and can prepare concise, well-structured written analyses;
- are comfortable working in an international and professional environment;
- have a strong command of English. Knowledge of Dutch and/or French is an advantage.
What you will gain
This internship provides an opportunity to understand how auditors assess companies in the context of a rapidly changing geopolitical and regulatory environment.
You will gain practical exposure to:
- financial audit and audit risk assessment;
- the financial services and regulated sectors;
- geopolitical and country risk analysis;
- regulatory research;
- translating macro-level developments into company-specific risks;
- client meetings and professional stakeholder interaction; and
- presenting complex research in a concise, decision-useful format.
Most importantly, you will work on real client situations and see how geopolitical events, regulation and business risks connect to the work of a financial auditor.
Why Forvis Mazars?
At Forvis Mazars, you will work in a multidisciplinary environment where audit, risk, regulatory and sector knowledge come together. Our Belgian practice forms part of an international organisation operating across more than 100 countries and territories, giving you the opportunity to approach geopolitical risks from both a Belgian and international perspective.
You will be encouraged to be curious, challenge assumptions and bring your own perspective, while receiving guidance from experienced professionals.
Ready to turn global developments into meaningful business insights? We would be delighted to meet you.