Senior IT Internal Auditor

Department:

Our Company Promise

We are committed to provide our Employees a stable work environment with equal opportunity for learning and personal growth. Creativity and innovation are encouraged for improving the effectiveness of Southwest Airlines. Above all, Employees will be provided the same concern, respect, and caring attitude within the organization that they are expected to share externally with every Southwest Customer.

Job Description:

As a Senior IT Internal Auditor, you’ll provide independent, risk‑based assurance and advisory services across Southwest’s technology processes and systems. Using an Agile audit approach, you’ll assess significant and emerging IT risks, evaluate the effectiveness of governance and controls, and deliver practical insights that help Leaders make informed decisions. You’ll have the flexibility to shift focus as risks evolve and tailor audits to areas of greatest business impact. This role offers broad exposure across the IT risk landscape while working in a collaborative audit environment focused on continuous improvement, critical thinking, and clear communication.

Additional Details

• The culture of Southwest Airlines means we value the camaraderie, collaboration, and innovation that occurs when we come together and interact face-to-face at our vibrant Corporate Campus. Due to the nature of this role, you would be required to work from our Dallas, TX Headquarters facility during business hours.

• U.S. citizenship or current authorization to work in the U.S. required and no current or future work authorization sponsorship available.

We’re committed to fair hiring practices and to making employment decisions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, military or veteran status, disability, genetic information, or other legally protected characteristics.

Responsibilities

• Review and evaluate areas such as information systems, data security, data integrity, operating systems, operations management to determine they are adequate and effectively maintained

• Identify and communicate meaningful, value-added solutions to business risks

• Appraise the effectiveness of existing policies, procedures, and business practices, and continuously challenge their effectiveness

• Develop and effectively communicate feasible recommendations to identified business risks

• Demonstrate deep expertise in technology domains, including information systems, cybersecurity, and data integrity, to effectively assess and audit IT controls, identify potential risks, and provide informed recommendations for enhancing technological safeguards and processes.

• Develop and execute audit plans and programs to achieve audit objectives and in accordance with accepted professional standards

• Prepare, maintain, and review audit workpapers pertinent to the audit’s coverage and findings

• Utilize strong project management skills to establish clear deadlines, communicate detailed audit plans to team members and stakeholders, and ensure timely completion of engagements while maintaining high-quality standards.

• Validate findings by thoroughly verifying the accuracy and relevance of data, ensuring that conclusions are supported by robust evidence and adhering to industry standards and best practices

• Interpret and comprehend the meaning of test results as they relate to internal control strengths and weaknesses

• Represent the Internal Audit Department on assignments and prepare oral and written presentations to management during and at the conclusion of the assignments

• Conduct and direct special assignments as requested by the Director of Internal Audit or Management

• Identify Customer needs and creatively adapt services to exceed their expectations

• May perform other job duties as directed by Employee’s Leaders

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of the relevance of risks associated with exceptions and considers the broader implications

• Knowledge of internal controls related to operational and/or compliance risk

• Knowledge of System Development Lifecycle for complex development projects

• Knowledge of IT audit (application controls, general IT controls) and project management (project management methodology, system development methodology and software quality)

• Knowledge of database designs and administration

• Knowledge of source control, provisioning solution design, active directory design, identity and system access design.

• Skilled in technology, including experience with operating systems, security software, network security, database management skills, business and operational applications, system development and project management practices

• Skilled in using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems

• Skilled in considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one

• Ability to develop and design testing and data analysis approaches based on audit objectives and the target population to form insights and draw conclusions

• Ability to schedule and monitor activities to ensure optimum use of time, the Audit Team fully utilized, and to expand/reevaluate the scope of the audit/project when necessary

• Ability to adapt to and use technology to improve the effectiveness of assignments, increase efficiencies, and quickly complete work objectives

• Ability to conduct difficult conversations in conveying the results of an audit to a professional manner to Leadership including Officers of the Company

Education

• Required: High School Diploma or GED

Experience

• Advanced level experience, seasoned and specialized knowledge in:

  • IT audit, cybersecurity compliance, or systems engineering

  • Developing and working with computer aided audit techniques

• Preferred: Experience using Alteryx automation flows

• Preferred: Experience with AWS cloud infrastructure

• Preferred: Experience with NIST CSF or 800-53 Control Library

• Preferred: Experience in an agile audit methodology

Licensing/Certification

• Preferred: Certifications related to Internal Audit (i.e., IIA CIA) or technology (i.e., ISACA CISA, ISC2 CISSP, AWS Cloud Practitioner)

Physical Abilities

• Ability to perform work duties from [limited space work station/desk/office area] for extended periods of time

• Ability to communicate and interact with others in the English language to meet the demands of the job

• Ability to use a computer and other office productivity tools with sufficient speed and accuracy to meet the demands of the job

Other Qualifications

• Must maintain a well-groomed appearance per Company appearance standards as described in established guidelines

• Must be a U.S. citizen or have authorization to work in the United States as defined by the Immigration Reform Act of 1986

• Must be at least 18 years of age

• Must be able to comply with Company attendance standards as described in established guidelines

Pay & Benefits:

• Competitive market salary from $103,750 per year to $115,300 per year* depending on qualifications and experience. For eligible Leadership and individual contributor roles, additional bonus opportunities are available and awarded at the discretion of the company.

Benefits you’ll love:    

• Fly for free, as a privilege, on any open seat on all Southwest flights (your eligible dependents too)  
• Southwest will help fund your Retirement Savings Plan with Company contributions up to 9.3% of your eligible earnings** 
• Potential for annual ProfitSharing contribution in the Southwest Retirement Savings Plan- when Southwest profits, you profit*** 
• Competitive health insurance for you and your eligible dependents (including pets) 
• Southwest offers health plan coverage options that start from the very first day of employment. You will have 30 days to select and enroll in your health plan with coverage retroactively available to your first day of employment. 
• Explore more Benefits you’ll love: https://careers.southwestair.com/benefits

*Pay amount does not guarantee employment for any particular period of time.

**401(k) match contributions are subject to Retirement Savings Plan vesting schedule and applicable IRS limits

***ProfitSharing contributions are subject to Retirement Savings Plan vesting schedule and are made at the discretion of the Company.

Southwest Airlines is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
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