Purpose

The Senior Internal Auditor is a key role providing management with independent, risk-based, and objective assurance, advice, and insight.  The Senior Internal Auditor is accountable for planning, performing, and documenting multiple Internal Audit reviews of financial and operational controls as well as information systems.  The Senior Internal Auditor provides Associa management with an independent examination of the adequacy of information systems, financial and operating policies, procedures, and controls.  These examinations may identify areas and methods for improvement resulting in recommendations to promote efficiency and cost savings.

Key Responsibilities

Internal Audit

• Plans, performs, and documents multiple projects of financial and operational areas/controls for moderately complex areas. Performs general information system controls testing on company systems.  As systems knowledge increases will perform information systems auditing with increasing levels of complexity.  Investigates allegations of fraud.
  • These audits may involve branches/departments with or without written policies and procedures.
  • Utilizes judgment, prior audit experience, and benchmark data to determine whether financial and operational controls as well as information systems are functioning properly, comply with good business practices, and if established policies and procedures are adequate. Determine if changes, or definition of policies and procedures, are needed.
  • Performs financial analysis on branches/departments to identify unusual items, variances, or potential areas for further review.
  • Evaluates internal accounting, operational, and information systems policies, procedures, and controls to identify weaknesses and areas for improvement. Identifies, investigates, and documents preliminary findings on unusual data patterns.  Evaluates significance of identified risks through an independent risk assessment and defines corrective action using a strong set of analytical skills and broad accounting and auditing knowledge. 
  • Develops recommendations with cost/benefit considerations to assist management in identifying areas of improvement to improve operating efficiencies, accuracy of data, internal control environment, and financial performance.
  • Recommends policies and procedures to improve methods of safeguarding assets, provide more timely and accurate financial data, improve efficiency, and minimize cost.

• Responsible for developing specific audit program steps in accordance with the COSO framework, audit work plan, and specific audit tests for branches/departments or areas with no prior audit lead files, workpapers, audit programs or history files. Works with Internal Audit management and other auditors to design tests to fulfill audit objectives.  Provides suggestions for areas to be included in the Internal Audit departments annual audit schedule.
• Prepares concise reports on examinations and findings which detail areas examined, areas needing improvement and measures required for corrective action. Summarizes audit results for executive management.  Drafts reports and memos for review by Internal Audit management and sends drafts to operation management for review and comment.  Prepares final reports and memos once all action plans are obtained and sends the final report to executive management.
• Participates in meetings with all levels of management to gather information regarding accounting, operational, and information systems controls as well as present project results regarding controls reviewed. Must be able to effectively communicate with internal management, senior management, branch presidents, and key stakeholders to complete project objectives and present related results.
• Assists external auditors on an interim and annual basis to assure complete, accurate records, and adequate internal controls exist in accordance with financial reporting requirements. Escalates areas of noncompliance to Internal Audit management.
• Provides expertise and experience to business projects in a consulting capacity in order to define the optimal end solution.

Education / Experience Required:

Education / Work Experience

• Bachelor/Masters Degree in Accounting or Business Administration (must be CPA eligible)
• 5+ years of experience in internal/external audit required.
• Combination of public and industry experience is a plus.
• CPA, CIA, CFE, or CPA/CIA candidates strongly preferred. Required to obtain CPA/CIA within first year.

Skills / Other Requirements

• Understanding of generally accepted accounting principles, generally accepted auditing standards, Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) internal control framework, governance, audit techniques and testing, and information systems, financial and operations controls.
• Intermediate understanding of Microsoft Suite including Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and Word. Experience in D365 and AuditBoard preferred. 
• Ability to demonstrate an understanding of company systems, how transactions are processed, and a technical understanding of how multiple systems interface/interact.
• Must be able to identify cases where AuditBoard Analytics or other similar computer assisted auditing technique software packages may improve the efficiency or effectiveness of an audit procedure.
• Must have excellent written and oral communication skills to effectively secure information from various departments, branches, and management to perform audits. Must be able to organize and succinctly explain deficiencies, risks, and recommendations in understandable and non-technical language.
• Must maintain some awareness of current developments in financial, operational, and systems areas.  Including regulatory and compliance updates as wells as data retention, confidentiality, and governance.
• Ability to utilize courtesy and tact in interaction with department/branch staff in the exchange of information while providing instruction and guidance.
• Ability to demonstrate an objective and questioning mindset.

• Demonstrate proactive critical thinking skills, identifying root causes of discrepancies or inefficiencies, and implementing effective solutions to improve processes and accuracy.

• Strong time management skills are necessary to manage multiple projects and deadlines while meeting the quality expectations of the department.
• Must be customer service oriented to promote the Internal Audit image as serving departments versus “fault finding” and effectively convey identified weaknesses and recommendations.
• Demonstrated success in process improvement initiatives and cross-functional collaboration.
• Experience working with multi-entity or multi-location organizations is a plus.
• Proactive problem-solver with the ability to identify root causes and implement efficient, concise solutions.
• Collaborative mindset with experience working across corporate and branch-level teams to drive consistency and process improvement.
• Experience with conducting fraud investigations is preferred.