Vice President & Senior Internal Auditor

SUMMARY

The VP Senior Internal Auditor serves as the senior audit professional supporting the SVP, Director of Internal Audit in executing the Bank’s risk-based internal audit plan. The position leads complex audits and special projects, supervises and reviews the work of the AVP Senior Internal Auditor, assists with departmental planning and quality-assurance activities, and serves as the Director’s primary departmental backup when formally delegated.

The position evaluates governance, risk management, and internal control processes and communicates audit results and recommendations to Internal Audit leadership and responsible management. The position may present audit matters to executive management or the Audit Committee at the direction of the Director.

These duties will be performed in accordance with established Bank policies and procedures, the Internal Audit Charter, the department’s audit methodology, applicable professional standards, and relevant state and federal banking laws and regulations.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

Audit Engagement Leadership

• Lead complex financial, operational, compliance, information technology, cybersecurity, internal control, and governance engagements assigned under the approved audit plan.
• Develop engagement risk assessments, objectives, scope, audit programs, testing strategies, sampling approaches, data analyses, resource requirements, and project timelines.
• Conduct or oversee interviews, process walkthroughs, control design evaluations, substantive procedures, and testing of control operating effectiveness.
• Evaluate supporting evidence, identify exceptions, determine root causes, assess risk and impact, and develop objective conclusions.
• Ensure engagement procedures appropriately address identified risks and approved objectives.
• Maintain complete and organized documentation supporting the work performed, evidence obtained, conclusions reached, and issues identified.
• Draft and finalize audit findings and reports in collaboration with the Director and responsible management.
• Monitor engagement progress, budgets, milestones, and deliverables and communicate potential delays or scope concerns promptly.

Supervision and Review

• Supervise, coach, and develop the AVP Senior Internal Auditor.
• Assign work based on risk, complexity, experience, availability, and developmental needs.
• Review engagement planning documents, risk assessments, audit programs, workpapers, findings, corrective-action validation, and draft reports.
• Ensure reviewed work is accurate, complete, sufficiently supported, and consistent with the department’s methodology.
• Provide timely, specific, and constructive review feedback.
• Assist the Director with establishing performance expectations and evaluating the AVP Senior Internal Auditor’s performance.
• Escalate significant issues, suspected misconduct, scope limitations, resource constraints, and potential independence concerns promptly to the Director.

Risk Assessment and Audit Planning

• Assist the Director in maintaining the audit universe and performing the enterprise-wide risk assessment.
• Provide recommendations concerning audit priorities, engagement frequency, scope, timing, and resource requirements.
• Assist in developing and maintaining the annual and multi-year risk-based audit plans.
• Monitor changes in Bank products, services, systems, processes, personnel, regulations, and strategic initiatives that may affect audit coverage.
• Identify emerging risks and communicate potential changes in risk or audit priorities to the Director.
• Assist with maintaining the audit schedule and monitoring completion of the approved audit plan.

Internal Controls Over Financial Reporting

• Lead or perform assigned testing and assessment of internal controls over financial reporting, including applicable FDICIA and SOX-related requirements.
• Evaluate the design and operating effectiveness of assigned key controls.
• Review process documentation, risk and control matrices, test plans, samples, exceptions, and conclusions.
• Assess potential control deficiencies and communicate significant matters to the Director.
• Coordinate assigned control-testing activities with management, external auditors, and other assurance providers under the Director’s oversight.

Audit Findings and Corrective Actions

• Develop findings that communicate the condition, applicable criteria, associated risk, cause, impact, and recommended corrective action, as appropriate.
• Discuss preliminary findings with responsible management to confirm factual accuracy and obtain relevant context.
• Evaluate management responses and proposed corrective actions for responsiveness to the identified risk.
• Monitor assigned corrective actions and perform independent validation procedures.
• Escalate significantly overdue, ineffective, or unsupported corrective actions to the Director.

External and Regulatory Coordination

• Assist the Director with external audit and regulatory examination activities.
• Coordinate assigned information requests, meetings, documentation, and follow-up activities.
• Support outsourced and co-sourced engagements by assisting with scope development, engagement monitoring, workpaper review, report evaluation, and corrective-action follow-up.

Quality and Departmental Support

• Assist with maintaining the Internal Audit Charter, methodology, policies, procedures, templates, and guidance.
• Participate in the department’s quality assurance and improvement program and perform periodic quality reviews or self-assessments as assigned.
• Identify opportunities to improve audit documentation, efficiency, consistency, data use, technology, and communication.
• Support the use of data analytics, continuous monitoring, and technology-enabled audit techniques.
• Serve as acting department lead only when formally delegated by the Director.

SECONDARY DUTIES

The VP Senior Internal Auditor assists with investigations, special reviews, advisory engagements, and other projects when authorized by the Director and when the work does not impair Internal Audit’s independence or assume management responsibility.

The position monitors developments in banking, internal auditing, accounting, technology, cybersecurity, fraud, and regulatory compliance and communicates relevant matters to the Director and other Internal Audit personnel.

The position performs duties specific to the position and other functions consistent with Internal Audit’s responsibilities and independence, as assigned.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY

The VP Senior Internal Auditor is responsible for the direct supervision, day-to-day guidance, development, and review of the AVP Senior Internal Auditor.

The VP Senior Internal Auditor may coordinate the work of consultants, outsourced providers, or co-sourced personnel for assigned engagements but does not assume responsibility for the overall Internal Audit function unless formally delegated by the Director.

ENVIRONMENT & PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

The employee works primarily in a professional office environment and is generally free to move about at will. The position may include driving a Bank-owned or personally owned vehicle to other Bank locations and may involve exposure to outside weather conditions.

Occasional travel to other Bank locations is required. Overnight or out-of-state travel may be required for professional training or other Bank business.

In performing this position, the employee may spend time writing, typing, speaking, listening, reading, analyzing information, sitting, standing, walking, bending, reaching, and lifting or carrying items weighing up to 25 pounds.

The employee routinely uses standard office equipment and technology, including a computer, telephone, scanner, copier, related peripherals, Microsoft Office applications, audit applications, and other business systems.

The work environment and physical demands described are representative of those encountered while performing the essential functions of the position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

MENTAL DEMANDS

The employee must be able to perform detailed and complex work involving reading, analysis, professional judgment, problem-solving, reasoning, mathematics, written and verbal communication, presentations, staff supervision, and management of multiple concurrent engagements. The position requires the ability to maintain independence, objectivity, confidentiality, professional skepticism, and sound judgment while meeting deadlines, responding to interruptions, and addressing sensitive or potentially contentious matters.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

These specifications are general guidelines based on the education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities normally considered necessary for satisfactory performance.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, business administration, information systems, or a related field required.

Certification

• Active Certified Internal Auditor, Certified Public Accountant, Certified Information Systems Auditor, Certified Fraud Examiner, or other relevant professional certification strongly preferred.
• A qualified candidate demonstrating progress toward an approved professional certification may be considered.
• Must adhere to the ethical requirements applicable to the internal audit profession.

Experience

• Minimum of five years of progressive internal audit, public accounting, risk management, regulatory compliance, information technology audit, or related experience.
• Financial institution experience strongly preferred.
• Experience leading complex audit engagements required.
• Experience reviewing the work of other audit professionals and evaluating internal controls over financial reporting strongly preferred.
• Experience interacting with external auditors or regulatory examiners preferred.

Knowledge and Skills

• Strong knowledge of internal audit practices, risk assessment, internal controls, banking operations, and applicable laws and regulations.
• Ability to lead projects, supervise staff, evaluate complex evidence, identify root causes, and develop practical recommendations.
• Strong analytical, organizational, project management, written, verbal, interpersonal, and presentation skills.
• Ability to handle disagreements and sensitive matters in an assertive, tactful, and professional manner.
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Office applications; experience with audit management applications, data analytics tools, or automated testing techniques preferred.
• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality.
• Current driver's license and appropriate vehicle insurance if required to drive in the performance of assigned duties.