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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Global Auditor

💰 $95,000 - $150,000

FinanceAuditAccountingComplianceRisk Management

🎯 Role Definition

The Global Auditor acts as a trusted advisor and independent assurance provider to the Audit Committee and senior management. This role is pivotal in executing a comprehensive, risk-based audit plan that spans financial, operational, and compliance domains across all international locations. You will be responsible for identifying risks, assessing the adequacy and effectiveness of internal controls, and recommending practical, value-added solutions to improve business processes. This position requires a strategic thinker with exceptional analytical skills and the ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams and leadership worldwide.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Senior Auditor (Public Accounting / Big 4)
  • Internal Auditor at a large corporation
  • Senior Financial Analyst with controls/compliance experience

Advancement To:

  • Senior Global Auditor / Audit Lead
  • Internal Audit Manager
  • Director of Internal Audit

Lateral Moves:

  • Risk Manager / Senior Risk Analyst
  • Senior Compliance Analyst
  • Finance Manager in a specific business unit

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Plan, execute, and lead comprehensive financial, operational, and compliance audits for the company's domestic and international business units.
  • Develop risk-based audit programs by evaluating the company’s strategic objectives, key business processes, and emerging industry risks to ensure audit efforts are focused on high-impact areas.
  • Perform detailed testing and analysis to assess the design and operational effectiveness of internal controls over financial reporting, including SOX 404 compliance testing.
  • Document audit procedures, testing, and findings in high-quality work papers in accordance with departmental standards and the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) guidelines.
  • Identify control gaps, process inefficiencies, and instances of non-compliance, and collaborate with management to develop practical and effective remediation plans.
  • Prepare clear, concise, and impactful audit reports and presentations that communicate findings and recommendations to business unit management and senior leadership.
  • Conduct follow-up procedures to monitor the implementation and effectiveness of management's action plans in response to audit findings.
  • Participate in or lead special projects and fraud investigations as requested by management or the Audit Committee, demonstrating discretion and professional skepticism.
  • Build and maintain strong, collaborative relationships with key stakeholders across the organization to facilitate the audit process and promote a culture of strong governance.
  • Assist in the annual enterprise-wide risk assessment process to provide input for the development of the annual internal audit plan.
  • Evaluate the company's adherence to policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements, including the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and other anti-bribery regulations.
  • Utilize data analytics tools and techniques to enhance audit efficiency and effectiveness, identifying trends, anomalies, and potential risk areas within large datasets.
  • Supervise and mentor junior audit staff on specific engagements, providing guidance, reviewing work papers, and contributing to their professional development.
  • Stay current on changes in accounting principles (US GAAP/IFRS), auditing standards, and relevant regulations to ensure the audit approach remains current and effective.
  • Assess the efficiency and effectiveness of business operations, providing insights and recommendations for process improvements that drive cost savings and operational excellence.
  • Travel internationally (typically 25-40%) to conduct on-site fieldwork, interviews, and testing at various global locations.

Secondary Functions

  • Support the external auditors during their interim and year-end audit procedures to ensure a coordinated and efficient overall audit effort.
  • Contribute to the continuous improvement of the Internal Audit department's methodologies, processes, and tools.
  • Assist in the development and delivery of training materials to business units on topics related to internal controls, risk management, and compliance.
  • Participate in pre-implementation reviews of new systems or business processes to ensure adequate controls are designed and embedded from the outset.
  • Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory data analysis for management and investigative purposes.
  • Contribute to the organization's data strategy and roadmap, particularly as it relates to governance and controls.
  • Collaborate with business units to translate data needs into engineering requirements for control monitoring.
  • Participate in sprint planning and agile ceremonies within the data and finance teams when involved in system-related projects.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Audit & Control Frameworks: Deep understanding of internal auditing standards (IIA), COSO framework, SOX 404 requirements, and risk assessment methodologies.
  • Accounting Principles: Strong knowledge of U.S. GAAP and/or IFRS, with the ability to assess financial statement risks.
  • Data Analytics: Proficiency with data analysis tools (e.g., ACL, IDEA, Alteryx, Tableau) to perform data-driven auditing and identify anomalies.
  • ERP Systems: Experience auditing in complex ERP environments such as SAP, Oracle, or Microsoft Dynamics.
  • Regulatory Compliance: Familiarity with key regulations such as the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and other anti-corruption laws.
  • Process Mapping: Skill in flowcharting and documenting business processes to identify key controls and weaknesses.

Soft Skills

  • Critical Thinking & Problem Solving: Exceptional analytical skills with the ability to identify the root cause of issues and develop practical solutions.
  • Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, capable of articulating complex audit findings clearly and persuasively to all levels of the organization.
  • Stakeholder Management: Strong interpersonal skills with a proven ability to build rapport and influence management and cross-functional teams in a collaborative manner.
  • Integrity & Professional Skepticism: Unquestionable ethics and the ability to maintain independence and objectivity while challenging the status quo.
  • Adaptability & Resilience: Ability to thrive in a dynamic, fast-paced environment and manage multiple projects simultaneously, often under tight deadlines and across different time zones.
  • Cultural Awareness: High degree of cultural sensitivity and the ability to work effectively with colleagues from diverse backgrounds during international assignments.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.

Preferred Education:

  • Master’s Degree in Business Administration (MBA), Accounting, or Finance.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Accounting
  • Finance
  • Business Administration
  • Economics

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

  • 3-7 years of relevant experience in internal audit, external audit, or a combination thereof.

Preferred:

  • Experience in a "Big 4" or large national public accounting firm is highly desirable.
  • Professional certification such as Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), or Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) is strongly preferred.
  • Experience working within the internal audit function of a large, multinational corporation.
  • Proven track record of leading audit engagements from planning through reporting.
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