Director, Internal Audit

Petco

21h

About The Position

The Director of Internal Audit is the senior-most leader of the Internal Audit function at Petco, a publicly traded, multi-channel retail organization with integrated veterinary hospitals and pet services. This role is responsible for establishing and executing a comprehensive, risk-based audit strategy. The Director provides independent, objective assurance and advisory services to strengthen internal controls, enhance governance, and mitigate risk within a SOX-regulated public company environment. A critical aspect of the role is supporting the integrity of financial reporting, regulatory compliance, and operational excellence. The position involves leading all aspects of Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) compliance, serving as the primary liaison to the Audit Committee, and monitoring compliance with SEC regulations and corporate governance standards. The role also includes evaluating internal controls across various domains, identifying enterprise risks, overseeing operational and business audits across retail, eCommerce, supply chain, and veterinary services, and evaluating IT general controls and cybersecurity frameworks. The Director will also build and lead a high-performing Internal Audit team, manage relationships with external auditors and co-sourcing partners, and partner with executive leadership across various departments, providing advisory support on strategic initiatives.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field
CPA, CIA, CISA, or equivalent certification
10+ years of progressive experience in internal audit, public accounting, or risk management, including leadership roles
Direct experience in a publicly traded company environment, including SOX compliance and Audit Committee engagement
Strong knowledge of ICFR, SEC reporting requirements, and public company governance frameworks
Deep understanding of public company governance and regulatory expectations
Strong business acumen across retail, digital, and clinical operations
Executive presence with the ability to engage Board-level stakeholders
High integrity and commitment to ethical standards
Ability to navigate complex, regulated environments

Nice To Haves

MBA or advanced degree
Experience in omnichannel retail environments
Experience implementing or enhancing SOX programs and audit functions at scale
Proficiency with data analytics and audit technologies
Demonstrated experience in building or leading an audit team's data analytics capabilities, including the use of tools such as Python, SQL, Tableau, or PowerBI

Responsibilities

Develop and execute a dynamic, risk-based internal audit plan aligned with enterprise risks, strategic priorities, and public company requirements.
Lead all aspects of Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) compliance, including scoping, control design assessment, testing, deficiency evaluation, and coordination with external auditors.
Serve as the primary liaison to the Audit Committee, providing transparent reporting on internal controls over financial reporting (ICFR), audit results, and emerging risks.
Monitor and assess compliance with SEC regulations, corporate governance standards, and evolving regulatory expectations.
Provide independent assurance over the company's Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) reporting, including the integrity of data and alignment with established frameworks.
Evaluate the effectiveness of internal controls across financial, operational, IT, and compliance domains, with a strong focus on ICFR in a public company setting.
Identify and assess enterprise risks, including those related to: Revenue recognition across retail, eCommerce, and services; Inventory valuation and shrink; Data privacy and cybersecurity; Regulatory compliance in healthcare services; ESG-related risks, including climate change, supply chain sustainability, and ethical sourcing.
Provide recommendations to strengthen control environments and mitigate risk exposure.
Oversee audits across: Retail stores (cash controls, inventory, shrink, labor management); eCommerce & digital platforms (order-to-cash, payment processing, cybersecurity, data privacy); Supply chain & distribution (vendor management, logistics, inventory flow); Veterinary hospitals & pet services (clinical operations, regulatory compliance, billing integrity, patient safety).
Identify opportunities for operational improvement, scalability, and cost efficiency.
Evaluate IT general controls (ITGCs), system implementations, and cybersecurity frameworks relevant to a public company.
Champion and expand the use of data analytics, robotic process automation (RPA), and continuous auditing/monitoring techniques to increase audit efficiency and coverage.
Assess risks related to digital commerce platforms, customer data, and payment systems.
Build and lead a high-performing Internal Audit team with expertise in financial, operational, IT, and regulatory auditing.
Manage relationships with external auditors and co-sourcing partners, ensuring alignment and efficiency in SOX and audit activities.
Develop talent and succession plans within the function.
Partner with executive leadership across Finance, Operations, IT, Legal, Compliance, and Veterinary Services.
Provide advisory support on strategic initiatives, including system implementations, acquisitions, and expansion of veterinary services.
Maintain independence while influencing decision-making at the highest levels of the organization.