Associate Audit Director

Western Alliance Bancorporation•Phoenix, AZ

28d

About The Position

As an Associate Audit Director you'll plan, oversee and report on various audits in your assigned coverage areas, supporting the execution of department's annual audit plan. You'll also assist in the annual risk assessment and related quarterly continuous monitoring that supports the risk assessment. You'll lead all assigned audits and ensure timely wrap-up and completion per the audit plan. You'll evaluate processes and internal controls for adherence to bank policies and procedures, and compliance with federal and state banking regulations. You'll interact with and proactively inform senior leadership of audit results and related risk. You'll complete root cause analysis for identified issues to focus on strengthening and improving controls. You'll report to a Audit Director or Senior Audit Director; however, you'll have the opportunity of working with our audit leaders across the department, as many of our audits are integrated with the finance, banking operations, credit administration, risk management and compliance audit teams. Also, you'll be responsible for attracting, hiring, and retaining a team of high-performing Auditor and Senior Auditor professionals that will report directly to you. With the assistance of the Audit Project Manager(s), you'll oversee day-to-day activities of the audit team. Works with other audit teams for effective utilization of all staff for completion of the overall audit plan. You'll be responsible for ongoing coaching, training, development and motivation of your audit team. Your position promotes risk awareness in the enterprise through a positive and collaborative relationship with department heads, business leadership, and staff. Support the Audit Director or Senior Audit Director in completing the annual risk assessment and development of the resulting audit plan. Prepare a comprehensive risk-based, multi-year plan of audit coverage for assigned area, ensuring audits are within cycle and logically budgeted/resourced. Lead execution of the assigned area of the audit plan, appropriately leveraging and delegating to the Audit Project Manager(s). Ensure key risks and all critical plan inputs are considered as part of audit planning for audits within assigned area. Understand risk management frameworks to lead in internal control evaluation of audit assignments. Oversee the completion of all phases and wrap-up of the assigned audit areas utilizing the audit software (Wdesk/Workiva) while reviewing and providing feedback to the audit team over critical planning and testing approach audit documentation. As needed, discuss scope and approach with other department leadership to ensure appropriate audit coverage. Review the Audit Project Manager's work along with review of higher risk controls and related exceptions to ensure compliance with stated requirements and objectives, IIA standards and audit methodology. Provide guidance, coaching and clear feedback to audit team, ensuring resolution of all review notes prior to audit wrap-up. Incorporate data analytics into various audit testing. Finalize root cause analysis for all audit issues noted in audit team's test work. Clarify and clear audit review notes provided by the Audit Director or Senior Audit Director. Complete hours analysis for overall audit and perform final quality assessment of organization and documentation for completeness and compliance with audit methodology. Draft and present audit reports that clearly communicate risks and issues to Audit Director or Senior Audit Director and department leadership team for approval. Proactively work with management to create effective management action plans in a timely manner. Attend monthly meetings with management to monitor status of open audit issues, understand progress, and provide constructive feedback toward closure. Ensure delays or needed extensions are appropriately escalated and addressed per audit methodology. Actively monitor issue deadlines, implementations and closures, assigning test of validation work based on workload balance and expertise. Follow up on disposition of exceptions noted during audits, including internal, external and regulatory examination reports. Review, approve and close medium and/or low risk issues. Provide ad-hoc reports and status updates to supervisors. Work with co-source partners, when necessary, to provide an overall efficient audit process.Comply with department annual training requirements and proactively draft and discuss performance goals with Audit Director or Senior Audit Director. Attend and/or lead team, peer and one-on-one meetings. Owns and completes department initiatives by finding efficiencies with strategic thinking focused on leading change to audit methodologies and supporting technology based solutions as applicable. Support Audit Project Manager department initiatives by acting as a reviewer prior to completion. Lead inclusive teams and develop a team while empowering others. Support and assist in training of staff to improve Auditor and Senior Auditor skill assessment results. Lead and develop a team; responsible for hiring, coaching, performance management, training and development.

Requirements

8+ years of related experience in Internal Audit, Risk Management, Regulatory Compliance, Internal Audit, Risk Management, Regulatory Compliance, Internal Audit, Risk Management, Regulatory Compliance, Internal Audit, Risk Management, Regulatory Compliance, Internal Audit, Risk Management, Regulatory Compliance or similar field.
Bachelor's degree in related field required.
Previous leadership experience preferred.
Intermediate to advanced experience and knowledge in your assigned internal audit area.
Intermediate ability to deal with complex problems involving multiple facets and variables in non-standardized situations; define problems, collect data, establish facts and draw valid conclusions.
Intermediate to advanced knowledge of applicable regulatory and legal compliance obligations, rules and regulations, industry standards and practices.
Intermediate to advanced time management and organizational skills; knowledge of data analytic tools preferred.
Intermediate to advanced knowledge of internal control analysis and risk assessment methodologies, COSO framework, Institute of Internal Auditor standards, FRB Supervisory Letter 13-1 standards, FFIEC IT Handbooks / Guidelines, and/or Sarbanes-Oxley Section 302/404 regulatory requirements.
Advanced speaking and writing communication skills.
Certified Internal Auditor required.
Certified Public Accountant required.
Certified Regulatory Compliance Manager required.
Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist required.
Credit Risk Certification (RMA), Certification in Control Self-Assessment (IIA) or Certification in Risk Management Assurance (IIA); required.
Occasional travel required.

Nice To Haves

Previous leadership experience preferred.

Responsibilities

plan, oversee and report on various audits
assist in the annual risk assessment
lead all assigned audits
evaluate processes and internal controls
interact with and proactively inform senior leadership of audit results and related risk
complete root cause analysis for identified issues
attracting, hiring, and retaining a team of high-performing Auditor and Senior Auditor professionals
oversee day-to-day activities of the audit team
ongoing coaching, training, development and motivation of your audit team
meet regularly with department heads and business leaders to discuss audits, assess risks, evaluate issue remediation progress, provide feedback and gather insights on business activities
Prepare a comprehensive risk-based, multi-year plan of audit coverage for assigned area
Lead execution of the assigned area of the audit plan
Oversee the completion of all phases and wrap-up of the assigned audit areas utilizing the audit software (Wdesk/Workiva)
Incorporate data analytics into various audit testing
Draft and present audit reports
Actively monitor issue deadlines, implementations and closures
Work with co-source partners
Comply with department annual training requirements
Lead inclusive teams and develop a team while empowering others
Support and assist in training of staff to improve Auditor and Senior Auditor skill assessment results
Lead and develop a team; responsible for hiring, coaching, performance management, training and development