Prin Internal Auditor

Consumers Energy•Jackson, MI

8d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Principal Internal Auditor is an individual contributor accountable for the strategic direction, technical integrity, and effectiveness of complex assurance and advisory work supporting Consumers Energy’s Sarbanes-Oxley Act compliance program and internal control over financial reporting. The role establishes risk-based approaches, resolves complex control and financial reporting matters, influences enterprise decisions, performs complex control testing, and provides authoritative counsel to Internal Audit leadership, business leaders, and control owners. The Principal drives improvements in governance, risk management, control effectiveness, and audit modernization while maintaining independence and objectivity. This is a hybrid position with required onsite work Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday at One Energy Plaza in Jackson, Michigan. The selected candidate must live within commuting distance or be willing to relocate; relocation assistance is available for those who qualify. The position is not eligible for current or future immigration sponsorship, including H-1B, TN, CPT, OPT, or STEM OPT participation.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field and at least 7 years of progressive relevant experience; OR an associate’s degree and at least 9 years of progressive relevant experience; OR a high school diploma/GED and at least 11 years of progressive relevant experience.
Relevant experience must be in Sarbanes-Oxley Act compliance, internal audit, public accounting, external audit, risk management, or a related assurance function, including substantial experience leading high-risk, complex, or enterprise-wide engagements.
Demonstrated success establishing risk-based audit or compliance approaches, evaluating internal control over financial reporting, and reaching defensible conclusions on complex control, accounting, and technology matters.
Experience serving as a technical authority and principal advisor to senior leaders and audit professionals; influencing cross-functional stakeholders; challenging assumptions; resolving disagreements; and driving timely, sustainable remediation.
Proven ability to provide final technical and quality oversight and shape external assurance activities.
Strong knowledge of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, internal control over financial reporting, accounting, auditing standards, and the internal control framework.
Ability to influence stakeholders, work effectively across levels, and maintain independence and objectivity.
Knowledge of business process controls, information technology general controls, automated controls, enterprise systems, and emerging technology risk.
Strong analytical, critical-thinking, problem-solving, project-management, and organizational skills.
Ability to communicate complex risks clearly and translate findings into practical business recommendations.
Ability to coach others and independently manage competing priorities and deadlines.
Must be within commuting distance of the Jackson, Michigan worksite or willing to relocate.
Must not require current or future immigration sponsorship; the role is not eligible for CPT, OPT, or STEM OPT employment.

Responsibilities

Shape governance and control decisions for significant business, financial, and technology initiatives by defining outcomes, challenging assumptions, establishing remediation expectations, and holding stakeholders accountable for sustainable risk reduction.
Render authoritative judgments on complex accounting, financial reporting, system, and control matters, and provide final technical and quality review of high-risk work, significant deficiencies, conclusions, and recommendations.
Own and lead the risk-based strategy, methodology, standards, and activities for complex Sarbanes-Oxley Act and internal control over financial reporting assessments, including risk assessment, process and control evaluation, testing, deficiency assessment, and remediation validation.
Lead the external audit reliance strategy, resolve complex assurance matters, and improve the efficiency and credibility of assurance activities.
Advise senior leaders on significant control themes, emerging risks, and required actions.
Set practice standards, build organizational capability, and guide audit professionals in resolving unprecedented or highly complex issues.
Modernize the assurance program through data analytics, automation, artificial intelligence, and continuous controls monitoring, with measurable improvements in risk coverage, insight, and efficiency.
Direct enterprise-level assessments of financial reporting risk and the design and operating effectiveness of business process, information technology, automated, interface, and report controls.
Perform other duties as assigned or necessary.