Chief Internal Auditor

Job Description Summary:

Salary: $133,952.00 - $200,928.00 annually

The Chief Internal Auditor is responsible for managing and supervising the activities of the Internal Audit Department. The Chief Internal Auditor manages audit operations and a professional staff of auditors engaged in developing, implementing, and administering the district’s internal audit program covering financial, IT, operational and regulatory audit areas. The Chief Internal Auditor is also responsible for facilitating co-sourcing with third parties. The position reports administratively to the Director of Risk and Internal Audit and functionally to the Finance Committee, acting as the liaison between the district and the Finance and Audit Committee to ensure a strong control environment exists across the District.

Job Description

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

The duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to this position.

- Represents the Internal Audit Department and the district in a leadership role, demonstrating core values, supporting district policies and procedures and encouraging a common culture throughout the organization.

- Responsible for the strategic direction and quality of the audit function, including continuous improvement of audit procedures, communication of audit recommendations, monitoring the status of audit recommendations and findings, and management of the department’s budget.

- Assists in performing risk assessments of the district’s operations to develop a comprehensive internal audit program and calendar with the district’s third-party Internal Auditing Firm for the Director of Risk Management and Internal Audit as well as the Director of Finance to review and for the Finance and Audit Committee approval.

- Coordinates and performs financial, operational and compliance audits in accordance with the internal audit program including coordinating and managing the scope of procedures performed by the district’s third-party Internal Auditing Firm.

- Coordinates the agenda for meetings of the Finance and Audit Committee as it pertains to Internal Audit and assists the Director of Finance in the Committee’s duties and responsibilities.

- Performs Compliance Audits and presents the results to the Director of Risk Management and Internal Audit, the Director of Finance as applicable, and the Finance and Audit Committee.

- Tracks the status of internal audit findings / resolution for the Finance and Audit Committee.

- Interacts with management and other district personnel to perform audit work and reports audit findings and recommendations to management in a manner that helps management understand the risk and control issues

- Ensures written audit reports are clear, concise and have been fully vetted with management

- Develops recommendations for improving internal controls and operating efficiency.

- Prepares a time budget to facilitate achievement of audit calendar

- Provides supervision and guidance to internal audit staff

- Serves as a resource to the external auditors in the completion of the annual financial statement audit

- Reviews the expenses, time, and other costs associated with the General Manager and reports annually to the Finance and Audit Committee

- Participates in managing reported activity, either through HR, Internal Audit, a whistle blower hotline or other matter, and ensure the activity is responded to in accordance with established policy

- Serves as a resource to District staff for internal control and regulatory matters

- Identify training budget needs

- Performance review alignment

- Job description review

- Maintain familiarity with strategic district levels of service

- Continuous improvement monitoring and innovation efforts

- Perform other duties as required

Required Experience:

- Fifteen (15) years of verifiable professional financial experience, that must include five (5) years of internal auditing, preferably of complex financial and operational processes spanning a variety of businesses and industries

- Five (5) years of supervising/managing audits and personnel

Desired Experience:

- Experience and ability to effectively communicate and interact with the Board of Directors and senior management

- Governmental and/or Water district knowledge and experience

- Experience working effectively and efficiently under limited supervision

- Supervisory or management experience

- Solid and proven ability to think strategically

Required Education/Certification/License:

- Bachelor’s degree with major coursework in finance or accounting

- Valid Texas driver’s license

Desired Education/Certification/License:

- Audit certification such as CPA or CIA is highly preferred (or actively working towards either)

Success Factors/Job Competencies:

- Exercise discretion and independent judgment with respect to matters of significance

- Strong analytical, communication (oral and written) and computer skills

- Strong ability to maintain the necessary levels of independence and professional skepticism

- Ability to work independently while managing effective communication with management

Physical Demands and Work Environment

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

- Physical demands:

While performing duties of job, employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; use hand to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; balance; stoop; talk and hear. Employees must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

- Work environment:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee typically resides within an office or cubicle and may have occasional fieldwork that will expose the employee to weather conditions prevalent at the time.