Senior Manager, Internal Audit

Fortune Brands • Deerfield, IL

2d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Manager, Internal Audit serves as a senior engagement leader for a portfolio of complex cross-functional financial, operational, IT, cyber, and specialized engagements (e.g., SOX independent testing coordination, fraud‑related reviews, sustainability/ESG control assessments). The Senior Manager ensures conformance with the Global Internal Audit Standards (2024), preserves independence, and partners with business and technology leadership to deliver clear, practical recommendations that strengthen governance, risk management, and internal control. The Senior Manager leads SOX/ICFR coordination for process areas (full IT scope) and external auditors, while preserving independence. Reports to: Director, Internal Audit with a dotted line to the VP & Chief Internal Auditor (CAE) for specialized assignments. Position location: Deerfield, IL - Hybrid (Flexibility to work from home Mondays and Fridays).

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or related field; MBA / master’s degree a plus.
• 10+ years combined internal audit / Big Four professional services experience, with 4+ years at a senior auditor level or 2+ years at a manager level.
• CIA or CISA plus at least one of the following certifications (CFE, CRMA, FSA, CAMS) required; additional relevant certifications a plus (CPA, CISM, CISSP, CRISC, CGEIT, CCEP, CIPP/x, or ACDA).
• Deep subject matter expertise with credentialing in IT, cyber, ESG, and/or fraud auditing.
• Thorough knowledge of the IIA Global Internal Audit Standards (2024), COSO Internal Control—Integrated Framework (2013), and SOX/ICFR concepts for process‑level controls.
• Advanced experience in SOX/ICFR testing and deficiency evaluation in a public‑company environment; comfortable coordinating requests with external auditors.
• Proficiency with audit management software and data analytics/visualization (e.g., SQL/Python/ACL/IDEA; Power BI/Tableau).
• Ability to travel up to 25%, primarily within North America, with some international travel as required.

Nice To Haves

• Prior internal audit experience in a public company setting.
• Experience with major ERPs (SAP, Oracle) and shared services environments.
• Experience building reusable analytics.
• Proficiency using AI / automation tools with appropriate data-handling and confidentiality practices.
• Mandarin Chinese or Spanish language fluency a plus.

Responsibilities

• Leads multiple, complex integrated/cross-functional financial, operational, IT, and specialized engagements end‑to‑end: risk‑based scoping, program design, fieldwork oversight, issue evaluation, report drafting, and remediation follow‑up) with procedures, workpapers, and reports conforming to the Global Internal Audit Standards (2024), recognized frameworks (e.g., COSO, NIST, COBIT), and department policy.
• Applies the COSO–ACFE Fraud Risk Management Guide (2nd ed.) to enhance fraud risk assessment in the audit plan; coordinates appropriately with Legal/Compliance and assists with fraud‑related reviews while preserving independence and objectivity.
• Leads or performs sustainability/ESG‑related control audits (as applicable), leveraging COSO’s guidance on Internal Control over Sustainability Reporting (ICSR) to evaluate design and operating effectiveness of underlying processes and data controls.
• Serves as engagement quality reviewer for complex audits; reviews and approves testing performed by seniors/staff; ensures conclusions are evidence based and right sized to risk and materiality; requires clear root cause analysis and practical management actions with owners and due dates.
• Monitors milestones; removes roadblocks; escalates significant delays, disagreements on ratings/management actions, or emerging risks to the Director/CAE per department protocol.
• Leads and coordinates SOX/ICFR process testing across all domains (walkthroughs, design/operating effectiveness testing, deficiency evaluation) and maintains documentation that supports management’s assessment and external auditor reliance.
• Partners with process/control owners and the Internal Controls team to improve control design and sustainability while maintaining audit independence.
• Communicates status, key issues, and proposed management actions to auditees and IA leadership; presents results that clearly link observations to risk, evidence, and impact; drives agreement on management actions, owners, and timelines.
• Coordinates with external auditors and co/outsourcing partners to avoid duplication and enable reliance where appropriate.
• Supervises, coaches, and develops managers/seniors/staff; provides timely feedback, on the job training, and input to performance reviews; models inclusive leadership.
• Upholds the department’s policies and methodology and contributes to the function’s Quality Assurance and Improvement Program (QAIP) (e.g., internal file reviews, thematic lessons‑learned), and readiness for External Quality Assessment at least every five years.
• Proposes enhancements to audit programs; scales reusable analytics across engagements/portfolio.
• Provides insights and input to the annual risk assessment (financial, operational, technology, and emerging risks) and recommends in‑year plan adjustments to the Director/CAE (e.g., macro changes, regulatory updates, significant system/ERP events).

Benefits

• Annual bonus plan based on company and individual performance, or a role-based sales incentive plan.
• Robust health plans.
• Market-leading 401(k) program with a company contribution.
• Product discounts.
• Flexible time off benefits.
• Adoption benefits.
• Numerous ERGs (Employee Resource Groups) to foster a sense of belonging for all associates.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees