Torchora
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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Lead Auditor

💰 $110,000 - $155,000

AuditFinanceComplianceRisk Management

🎯 Role Definition

As a Lead Auditor, you will be a crucial leader within our corporate governance framework. You are responsible for planning and conducting complex operational, financial, and compliance audits to evaluate the effectiveness of internal controls, risk management, and governance processes. This role requires a blend of technical expertise, leadership acumen, and exceptional communication skills to drive process improvements and provide assurance to the Audit Committee and senior management. You will act as the in-charge auditor on engagements, mentoring staff, reviewing workpapers, and ensuring the successful completion of the annual audit plan.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Senior Auditor (Internal or External Audit)
  • Experienced Big 4 Public Accountant (CPA)
  • Senior IT Auditor

Advancement To:

  • Internal Audit Manager
  • Director of Internal Audit
  • Senior Manager, Risk & Compliance

Lateral Moves:

  • Senior Financial Analyst (FP&A)
  • Business Process Improvement Manager

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Plan, execute, and lead complex financial, operational, and compliance audit engagements from start to finish, including risk assessment, audit scoping, and development of comprehensive audit programs.
  • Supervise, train, and mentor a team of junior and senior auditors, providing real-time coaching, performance feedback, and ensuring the quality and timeliness of their work product.
  • Evaluate the design and operational effectiveness of internal controls over financial reporting (SOX), including performing walkthroughs, testing key controls, and documenting deficiencies.
  • Communicate audit findings, potential risks, and practical, value-added recommendations to senior management and business process owners through clear, concise, and impactful written reports and verbal presentations.
  • Utilize advanced data analytics and data visualization tools to enhance audit testing, identify trends, anomalies, and potential areas of risk that may not be apparent through traditional sampling methods.
  • Develop and maintain strong, collaborative relationships with key business stakeholders across the organization to foster a positive audit environment and gain a deep understanding of business processes.
  • Lead special investigations, ad-hoc projects, and fraud reviews as requested by management or the Audit Committee, employing forensic techniques and maintaining strict confidentiality.
  • Manage the entire audit lifecycle, from initial planning and resource allocation to fieldwork execution, report drafting, and follow-up on the implementation of management's corrective action plans.
  • Assess the organization's compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and internal policies, providing independent assurance to the board and senior leadership.
  • Contribute significantly to the development and execution of the annual risk-based internal audit plan, ensuring alignment with the company's strategic objectives and emerging risks.
  • Perform detailed reviews of audit workpapers and supporting documentation prepared by the engagement team to ensure they meet departmental and professional (IIA) standards and adequately support conclusions.
  • Serve as a subject matter expert on internal controls, risk management, and corporate governance, providing advisory and consultative services to business units on process improvements.
  • Coordinate and collaborate effectively with external auditors to optimize audit efficiency, facilitate reliance on internal audit work, and ensure a seamless annual financial statement audit process.
  • Stay current with evolving industry trends, professional auditing standards (IIA, COSO, PCAOB), and regulatory changes to continuously improve the internal audit function's methodologies and practices.
  • Lead post-audit reviews to assess the effectiveness of audit procedures and identify opportunities for improvement and efficiency gains in future engagements.
  • Perform comprehensive, entity-wide risk assessments of business units, processes, and systems to identify and prioritize key areas for audit focus and resource allocation.
  • Direct the testing and evaluation of IT General Controls (ITGCs) and application controls in collaboration with IT auditors to assess the integrity and reliability of critical information systems.
  • Prepare and present high-quality, executive-level materials for Audit Committee meetings, clearly articulating the results of audit activities, significant findings, and the status of remediation efforts.
  • Champion the adoption and use of technology, automation, and continuous auditing techniques within the internal audit department to increase efficiency, coverage, and the value delivered.
  • Manage project budgets and timelines for multiple concurrent audit engagements, ensuring projects are completed on schedule and within allocated resources while maintaining high-quality standards.
  • Review and assess third-party vendor risks and the effectiveness of controls at key service organizations, often through the detailed review of SOC 1 and SOC 2 reports.

Secondary Functions

  • Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory data analysis for management.
  • Contribute to the organization's enterprise risk management (ERM) framework and processes.
  • Collaborate with business units to translate data needs and control gaps into actionable requirements.
  • Participate in sprint planning and agile ceremonies if the audit team adopts an agile methodology.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Internal Audit Methodologies: Deep understanding of The IIA's International Professional Practices Framework (IPPF), COSO framework, and risk-based auditing.
  • Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) Compliance: Expertise in SOX 302/404 requirements, including walkthroughs, control testing, and deficiency assessment.
  • US GAAP / IFRS: Strong knowledge of accounting principles to assess financial statement risks.
  • Data Analytics & Visualization: Proficiency with tools like ACL, IDEA, Alteryx, Tableau, or Power BI to analyze large datasets and identify anomalies.
  • Audit Management Software: Experience using platforms such as AuditBoard, TeamMate, or Workiva.
  • Enterprise Risk Management (ERM): Knowledge of ERM principles and their application in identifying and mitigating business risks.
  • IT General Controls (ITGC): Familiarity with ITGC concepts, including change management, logical access, and IT operations.
  • Business Process Acumen: Ability to quickly understand and document complex business processes (e.g., procure-to-pay, order-to-cash).

Soft Skills

  • Leadership & Mentoring: Proven ability to lead audit teams, delegate tasks effectively, and develop junior staff.
  • Critical Thinking & Professional Skepticism: An analytical mindset with the ability to challenge assumptions, identify root causes, and solve complex problems.
  • Executive Communication: Superior written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present complex issues clearly and concisely to senior leadership and the Audit Committee.
  • Stakeholder Management & Influence: Excellent interpersonal skills to build rapport and trust with business partners and influence change without direct authority.
  • Project Management: Strong organizational and time management skills to manage multiple, concurrent audit projects from planning to completion.
  • Negotiation & Persuasion: Skill in negotiating audit findings and management action plans in a constructive and collaborative manner.
  • Adaptability & Resilience: Ability to thrive in a dynamic, fast-paced environment and manage competing priorities.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Bachelor's Degree

Preferred Education:

  • Master's Degree (e.g., MBA, Master's in Accountancy)

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Accounting
  • Finance
  • Business Administration
  • Management Information Systems

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

  • 5-8 years of progressive experience in internal audit, external audit, and/or risk management.

Preferred:

  • A professional certification such as Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), or Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) is strongly preferred or required.
  • Experience in a "Big 4" public accounting firm is highly desirable.
  • A combination of public accounting and corporate internal audit experience is considered a significant asset.
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