Director of Internal Audit

Auberge Collection•Bethesda, MD

9h•$180,000 - $200,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Director of Internal Audit will establish, lead, and elevate Auberge Resorts LLC’s Internal Audit function. Reporting to the Chief Financial Officer, the Director will design and execute a risk-based audit program that provides independent, objective assurance to senior management, and will provide formal quarterly updates to the Executive Leadership and Internal Audit Committees. The role works closely with Operations Finance, Legal, and The Friedkin Group Internal Audit team. Initially the sole Internal Audit resource, the Director will be hands-on across enterprise risk assessment, audit planning, fieldwork, reporting, and issue follow-up. The Director will refine and mature the existing function, aligning its practices with the Global Internal Audit Standards and leading practices while remaining adaptable to a dynamic, growth-oriented luxury hospitality environment. The position requires an understanding of hotel and resort management, homeowners’ associations (HOAs), and related shared services, as well as executive presence and effective communication with senior leadership. The role is primarily office-based and may be based in Bethesda, Maryland, with extensive domestic and international travel to Auberge-managed properties across the United States and Europe. On-site audits require extended walking and standing and occasional lifting.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
CPA or CIA designation.
7–15 years of combined internal and external audit experience.
Prior experience leading or building an Internal Audit function, or serving in a highly autonomous audit leadership role.
Experience working with senior executives.
Ability to conduct onsite audits requiring extended walking, standing, and occasional lifting.

Nice To Haves

Strong operational audit experience in hospitality, real estate, asset management, or similarly complex, service-oriented industries.
International audit experience.

Responsibilities

Lead and enhance the Internal Audit function, documentation, and methodologies in alignment with the Global Internal Audit Standards and continuous-improvement objectives.
Design and maintain a risk-based Internal Audit plan informed by ongoing enterprise risk assessments, business strategy, and emerging hospitality and real estate risks.
Build a scalable, effective Internal Audit function focused on execution, quality deliverables, and best-practice methodology and tools.
Advise executive leadership on operational, financial, compliance, and strategic risks.
Lead continuous-improvement initiatives while managing change thoughtfully and maintaining strong partnerships with operations.
Benchmark Auberge’s audit practices against peer hospitality organizations and The Friedkin Group Internal Audit standards.
Establish metrics and processes to monitor department goals and coach team members.
Conduct comprehensive risk assessments with executive leadership, property and HOA management, and functional leaders.
Understand operations, key business drivers, and risks, and tailor audits to address identified risks.
Plan and execute audits covering operational, financial, compliance, and governance risks, including hotel operations, revenue management, hotel management agreement compliance, procurement, payroll, IT controls, HOA governance, third-party and vendor risk, and applicable regulations.
Personally perform audit fieldwork, testing, analysis, and report issuance; actively manage audit issue resolution.
Identify control gaps, inefficiencies, and root causes, and develop practical, cost-aware recommendations that balance risk mitigation with operational needs.
Prepare clear, concise audit reports for hotel management, executive management, and senior leaders; present audit results, risk themes, and emerging issues to senior leadership.
Maintain communication with management about audit observations, remediation plans, and progress tracking.
Evaluate the adequacy and effectiveness of governance, risk management, and internal control processes.
Coordinate with Auberge Legal on compliance, regulatory, and FCPA-related matters, with Legal retaining primary ownership of compliance governance.
Coordinate with The Friedkin Group Internal Audit and external auditors to align coverage of key risk areas.
Provide advisory support for new initiatives, system implementations, acquisitions, and process changes while maintaining Internal Audit independence.
Maintain awareness of regulatory and compliance requirements affecting hospitality operations, including anti-bribery and corruption risks relevant to international operations.
Use audit tools, technologies, automated workpaper solutions, and data analytics to improve efficiency, consistency, scalability, testing, and actionable insight.
Travel extensively domestically and internationally to conduct onsite audits and risk assessments, adapting audit approaches to different regulatory environments, operating models, and cultural contexts.
Share knowledge, insights, and lessons learned with The Friedkin Group Internal Audit to promote consistency, efficiency, and continuous improvement.