Internal Auditor

At Community Financial System, Inc. (CFSI), we are dedicated to providing our customers with friendly, personalized, high-quality financial services and products. Our retail division, Community Bank, N.A., operates more than 200 customer facilities across Upstate New York, Northeastern Pennsylvania, Vermont and Western Massachusetts. Beyond retail banking, we also offer commercial banking, wealth management, investment management, insurance and risk management, and benefit plan administration.

Just as our employees are committed to helping our customers manage their finances, we’re committed to our employees. After all, they make it happen for our customers every day.

To ensure our people can enjoy long and successful careers here at CFSI, we offer competitive compensation, great benefits, and professional development and advancement opportunities. As an equal-opportunity workplace and affirmative-action employer, we celebrate and support a diverse workplace for the benefit of all: our employees, customers and communities.

Responsible for performing risk-based operational, financial, and compliance audits, in accordance with department methodology, applicable regulatory requirements, and the Institute of Internal Audit Global Audit Standards. This role supports the internal audit plan by executing audit procedures, evaluating internal controls, documenting work performed, and communicating results to audit management and stakeholders.  

The Internal Auditor works independently and collaboratively, providing objective assurance on the effectiveness of the organization’s governance, risk management and internal control processes. The role also supports advisory projects, external audit coordination, and continuous improvement initiatives of the department. In alignment with the Company’s and the Internal Audit Department’s core values, this position must demonstrate integrity, excellence, teamwork and humility while maintaining the highest standards of ethics, independence and confidentiality. 

Essential Duties:

• Perform risk-based internal audit procedures to evaluate the design and operating effectiveness of controls.  
• Execute audit test-work and document results in accordance with the department methodology, applicable regulatory requirements, and professional standards.
• Research and develop an understanding of the audit area, including relevant business processes, policies, procedures, systems, laws and regulations; participate in engagement planning.  
• Conduct audit testing in an effective and efficient manner, while monitoring progress against budget and communicating variances as appropriate.  
• Prepare clear, complete and well-supported workpapers, leveraging tools provided including the audit management system.
• Apply self-review and quality control practices to ensure work is accurate, complete and ready for supervisory review.  
• Identify control weaknesses, root causes and opportunities for improvement, and assist in developing practical recommendations.
• Build and maintain effective working relationships with audit clients through professional, timely and direct communication.
• Communicate questions, concerns and emerging issues to the auditor in-charge and audit management in a timely manner. 
• Support the use of data analytics, automated testing techniques and other technology-enabled audit tools.
• Demonstrate working knowledge of emerging technologies, including AI enabled processes.
• Provide assistance to external auditors.
• Support advisory engagements, special projects, strategic initiatives.
• Develop in-charge capabilities and team coordination skills through progressively complex assignments, as applicable.
• Maintain proficient knowledge of and demonstrate ongoing compliance with all laws and regulations applicable to this position, ensure ongoing adherence to pertinent policies, procedures, and internal controls, and meet all training requirements in a timely manner.

Education, Training and Requirements:  Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business or related field required; Professional certifications such as CIA, CPA, CRCM, or CFIRS preferred, or progress toward certification strongly encouraged. 

Skills:  Demonstrated ability to evaluate, challenge, and leverage AI-driven environments; strong analytical, problem-solving, and critical-thinking skills.  Effective verbal and written communication skills with the ability to present observations and recommendations clearly. Ability to interpret, analyze and report financial, operational and compliance information. Knowledge of accounting principles, internal control concepts and internal audit standards.     

Experience:  Minimum of two years of audit experience required. Experience in financial services including banking, wealth management, employee benefits, or insurance preferred. 

Compensation: Commensurate with experience plus potential for annual merit increase. In addition to your competitive salary, you will be rewarded benefits including: 11 paid holidays, paid vacation, Medical, Vision & Dental insurance, 401K with generous match, Pension, Tuition Reimbursement, Banking discounts and the list goes on!

Physical Requirements:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be required to stand, walk or sit. Use hands and fingers, handle or feel, reach with hands or arms, and speak and hear. The employee may occasionally be required to lift and or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, and the ability to focus.

The Company is an Affirmative Action, Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation and gender identity), national origin, citizenship status, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local law.
The Company will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with a disability. If you have a physical or mental impairment and would like to request an accommodation with respect to the application process, please contact the Human Resources Department.

Responsible for performing risk-based operational, financial, and compliance audits, in accordance with department methodology, applicable regulatory requirements, and the Institute of Internal Audit Global Audit Standards. This role supports the internal audit plan by executing audit procedures, evaluating internal controls, documenting work performed, and communicating results to audit management and stakeholders.  

The Internal Auditor works independently and collaboratively, providing objective assurance on the effectiveness of the organization’s governance, risk management and internal control processes. The role also supports advisory projects, external audit coordination, and continuous improvement initiatives of the department. In alignment with the Company’s and the Internal Audit Department’s core values, this position must demonstrate integrity, excellence, teamwork and humility while maintaining the highest standards of ethics, independence and confidentiality. 

Essential Duties:

• Perform risk-based internal audit procedures to evaluate the design and operating effectiveness of controls.  
• Execute audit test-work and document results in accordance with the department methodology, applicable regulatory requirements, and professional standards.
• Research and develop an understanding of the audit area, including relevant business processes, policies, procedures, systems, laws and regulations; participate in engagement planning.  
• Conduct audit testing in an effective and efficient manner, while monitoring progress against budget and communicating variances as appropriate.  
• Prepare clear, complete and well-supported workpapers, leveraging tools provided including the audit management system.
• Apply self-review and quality control practices to ensure work is accurate, complete and ready for supervisory review.  
• Identify control weaknesses, root causes and opportunities for improvement, and assist in developing practical recommendations.
• Build and maintain effective working relationships with audit clients through professional, timely and direct communication.
• Communicate questions, concerns and emerging issues to the auditor in-charge and audit management in a timely manner. 
• Support the use of data analytics, automated testing techniques and other technology-enabled audit tools.
• Demonstrate working knowledge of emerging technologies, including AI enabled processes.
• Provide assistance to external auditors.
• Support advisory engagements, special projects, strategic initiatives.
• Develop in-charge capabilities and team coordination skills through progressively complex assignments, as applicable.
• Maintain proficient knowledge of and demonstrate ongoing compliance with all laws and regulations applicable to this position, ensure ongoing adherence to pertinent policies, procedures, and internal controls, and meet all training requirements in a timely manner.

Education, Training and Requirements:  Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business or related field required; Professional certifications such as CIA, CPA, CRCM, or CFIRS preferred, or progress toward certification strongly encouraged. 

Skills:  Demonstrated ability to evaluate, challenge, and leverage AI-driven environments; strong analytical, problem-solving, and critical-thinking skills.  Effective verbal and written communication skills with the ability to present observations and recommendations clearly. Ability to interpret, analyze and report financial, operational and compliance information. Knowledge of accounting principles, internal control concepts and internal audit standards.     

Experience:  Minimum of two years of audit experience required. Experience in financial services including banking, wealth management, employee benefits, or insurance preferred.