Director of Audit

Exciting•Phoenix, AZ

About The Position

The Director of Audit leads and evolves Desert Financial’s audit function into a strategic enabler of enterprise risk management, regulatory readiness, and operational excellence ensuring audits deliver actionable insights, foster cross-functional collaboration, and support long-term organizational growth. Success in this role is measured by the audit function’s impact on strategic initiatives and risk mitigation, stakeholder satisfaction, the timeliness and quality of audit reporting and follow-up, the integration of audit insights into enterprise planning and operations, and the organization’s readiness for regulatory milestones. The Director is responsible for anticipating future business needs, scaling audit capabilities, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement and innovation to ensure the organization is growth-ready and strategically positioned for change. What you will do here: Strategic Alignment & Planning: Partner with Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) and executive leadership to align audit priorities with strategic initiatives, risk appetite statements and regulatory milestones. Lead strategic planning sessions with external audit partners and internal leadership to ensure audit engagements reflect organizational goals, risk profile, business priorities and regulatory expectations. Develop and maintain a multi-year, risk-based internal audit plan, leveraging enterprise risk assessments, business unit input and evolving regulatory/regime changes. Continuously evaluate emerging risks (e.g., technology, cyber, third-party vendor, business model changes) and drive adjustments to the audit plan accordingly. Audit Program Leadership: Oversee all internal, external, regulatory and special audits to ensure integration with ERM, compliance frameworks, business objectives and control environment. Drive continuous improvement of audit methodologies, audit lifecycle (pre-audit planning/kick-off, fieldwork, reporting, follow-up), and use of analytics, technology and automation in audit processes. Manage the audit budget, resource allocation, external audit partner/vendor relationships, and ensure the audit team and external providers deliver efficiently and effectively. Monitor audit quality (scope coverage, issue severity, timeliness, stakeholder feedback), and report on audit function performance metrics. Stakeholder Engagement & Communication: Establish and nurture direct communication channels between the audit team, LOB leaders, ERM, compliance, finance, operations and other stakeholders to promote transparency, responsiveness and sound business partnership. Present audit findings, strategic insights and recommendations to the Supervisory Committee, Board of Directors, senior leadership and relevant committees; ensure messaging is clear, prioritized and actionable. Serve as the primary liaison for audit-related matters with external auditors, regulators/examiners, and other third-party assurance providers. Risk Intelligence & Advisory: Lead strategic audits (including control environment reviews, business process risk reviews, emerging risk horizon scanning) and embed audit insights into enterprise decision-making, business strategy, and operational planning. Evaluate control designs and business processes; advise lines of business and support functions on control enhancements, process improvements, best practices, and innovation opportunities. Facilitate audit training, risk awareness, and control-culture programs across the organization to elevate risk intelligence and proactive mitigation mindset. Talent, Culture & Change Leadership: Mentor business unit partners, external audit providers and foster a consultative mindset, business-partner orientation and strategic thinking across the audit function. Promote a culture of ethics, continuous learning, innovation, and strong control consciousness throughout the organization. Lead change management efforts related to audit function transformation (process redesign, technology adoption, business partnering model). Growth Readiness & Transformation Leadership: Champion initiatives that build organizational capacity for growth, including scalable audit processes, talent development, and adoption of emerging technologies. Lead transformation projects that prepare the organization for expansion, mergers, new business lines, or regulatory changes. Compliance Oversight: Ensure audit activities and function comply with professional standards (e.g., The Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) Global Standards, regulatory frameworks applicable to credit unions) and maintain audit charter, policies and procedures accordingly. Oversee management’s implementation of audit recommendations, track issue closure, measure impact and ensure that control-enhancement initiatives are embedded and sustained. Support preparation of required reports for regulators, examiners and audit committees, and ensure readiness for regulatory examinations and asset-threshold milestones. Perform other job-related duties as assigned.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration or a related field preferred. Equivalent combination of education and experience required.
8 years of experience in internal audit, external audit or audit process management, preferably within a financial services, regulated or asset-based institution required.
5+ years of leadership experience required.
Deep understanding of internal audit standards (e.g., IIA Global Standards), ERM integration, regulatory audit frameworks, internal controls and risk assurance required.
Instill a growth mindset and strategic orientation throughout the audit team and audit partnership, encouraging proactive learning, experimentation, and cross-functional collaboration to drive enterprise value required.
Proven ability to lead cross-functional initiatives, influence senior stakeholders (executive leadership, Board/Supervisory Committee), and drive change required.
Strong consultative and strategic mindset, with ability to operate as a business partner rather than just a control reviewer required.
Excellent oral and written communication skills, facilitation and presentation skills, with experience presenting to senior leadership, audit committees or boards required.
Strategic foresight, leadership fluidity, resource prioritization, vendor/partner management, change management, innovation and visionary thinking required.
Demonstrated experience with audit analytics, process improvement, audit technology, and mature audit functions required.
High degree of ethics, integrity, and professionalism required.

Nice To Haves

Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) or equivalent professional certification preferred preferred.

Responsibilities

Strategic Alignment & Planning: Partner with Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) and executive leadership to align audit priorities with strategic initiatives, risk appetite statements and regulatory milestones.
Lead strategic planning sessions with external audit partners and internal leadership to ensure audit engagements reflect organizational goals, risk profile, business priorities and regulatory expectations.
Develop and maintain a multi-year, risk-based internal audit plan, leveraging enterprise risk assessments, business unit input and evolving regulatory/regime changes.
Continuously evaluate emerging risks (e.g., technology, cyber, third-party vendor, business model changes) and drive adjustments to the audit plan accordingly.
Audit Program Leadership: Oversee all internal, external, regulatory and special audits to ensure integration with ERM, compliance frameworks, business objectives and control environment.
Drive continuous improvement of audit methodologies, audit lifecycle (pre-audit planning/kick-off, fieldwork, reporting, follow-up), and use of analytics, technology and automation in audit processes.
Manage the audit budget, resource allocation, external audit partner/vendor relationships, and ensure the audit team and external providers deliver efficiently and effectively.
Monitor audit quality (scope coverage, issue severity, timeliness, stakeholder feedback), and report on audit function performance metrics.
Stakeholder Engagement & Communication: Establish and nurture direct communication channels between the audit team, LOB leaders, ERM, compliance, finance, operations and other stakeholders to promote transparency, responsiveness and sound business partnership.
Present audit findings, strategic insights and recommendations to the Supervisory Committee, Board of Directors, senior leadership and relevant committees; ensure messaging is clear, prioritized and actionable.
Serve as the primary liaison for audit-related matters with external auditors, regulators/examiners, and other third-party assurance providers.
Risk Intelligence & Advisory: Lead strategic audits (including control environment reviews, business process risk reviews, emerging risk horizon scanning) and embed audit insights into enterprise decision-making, business strategy, and operational planning.
Evaluate control designs and business processes; advise lines of business and support functions on control enhancements, process improvements, best practices, and innovation opportunities.
Facilitate audit training, risk awareness, and control-culture programs across the organization to elevate risk intelligence and proactive mitigation mindset.
Talent, Culture & Change Leadership: Mentor business unit partners, external audit providers and foster a consultative mindset, business-partner orientation and strategic thinking across the audit function.
Promote a culture of ethics, continuous learning, innovation, and strong control consciousness throughout the organization.
Lead change management efforts related to audit function transformation (process redesign, technology adoption, business partnering model).
Growth Readiness & Transformation Leadership: Champion initiatives that build organizational capacity for growth, including scalable audit processes, talent development, and adoption of emerging technologies.
Lead transformation projects that prepare the organization for expansion, mergers, new business lines, or regulatory changes.
Compliance Oversight: Ensure audit activities and function comply with professional standards (e.g., The Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) Global Standards, regulatory frameworks applicable to credit unions) and maintain audit charter, policies and procedures accordingly.
Oversee management’s implementation of audit recommendations, track issue closure, measure impact and ensure that control-enhancement initiatives are embedded and sustained.
Support preparation of required reports for regulators, examiners and audit committees, and ensure readiness for regulatory examinations and asset-threshold milestones.
Perform other job-related duties as assigned.