VP, Internal Audit

Navigant Credit Union•Smithfield, RI

About The Position

The Vice President, Internal Audit provides independent, objective assurance and advisory services to evaluate and improve internal controls, risk management practices, governance processes, and operational effectiveness across the Credit Union. The role reports functionally to the Supervisory Committee and administratively to the SVP, General Counsel & Chief Risk Officer, and serves as the Supervisory Committee’s internal audit point of contact. The position develops, recommends, maintains, and executes an approved risk-based internal audit plan aligned with organizational risk priorities, regulatory expectations, and business objectives. It oversees audit execution, issue tracking and validation, coordination with co-sourced and external audit partners, and reporting on audit results, trends, and emerging risks. The Vice President, Internal Audit also leads the transition from a fully outsourced audit model to a hybrid co-sourced model, building internal capability while using external expertise when appropriate. The role calls for independence, executive presence, sound judgment, and the ability to strengthen audit processes and team capabilities as the function evolves.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, business administration, risk management, or a related field.
Minimum of 7–10 years of progressive experience in internal audit, risk management, regulatory oversight, external audit, or a related field; experience in a credit union, bank, or financial institution is preferred.
Prior audit leadership experience, including responsibility for audit planning, execution, issue management, reporting, and team or vendor oversight.
Experience interacting with boards, supervisory committees, audit committees, executive leadership, regulators, or external audit partners.
Ability to build internal audit capabilities, including audit methodology, audit universe maintenance, workpaper standards, staff development, vendor governance, and quality assurance practices.
Strong knowledge of internal audit standards, risk management practices, internal controls, governance processes, and the financial services regulatory environment.
Ability to develop, recommend, and execute a risk-based audit plan, maintain an audit universe, conduct risk assessments, and align audit coverage with organizational risk priorities.
Ability to evaluate audit findings, identify root causes, assess remediation effectiveness, and communicate practical recommendations to management and governance bodies.
Strong service orientation aligned with the Credit Union’s mission and core values.
Executive presence, independence, objectivity, sound judgment, and ability to influence collaboratively across organizational levels.
Excellent analytical, organizational, project management, problem-solving, verbal communication, written communication, and presentation skills.
Ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, exercise discretion, and handle highly confidential information professionally.
Ability to lead, coach, and develop audit professionals and promote continuous improvement within the internal audit function.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and standard office technology.

Nice To Haves

Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA), or similar audit, risk, compliance, or financial services credential.
Familiarity with audit management, data analytics, governance, risk, and compliance tools.

Responsibilities

Direct daily internal audit team operations, providing supervision, coaching, guidance, and training; oversee performance management, participate in employee engagement, and participate in interviews and recommend audit staff hiring.
Lead the transition from a fully outsourced internal audit model to a hybrid co-sourced model, including a transition roadmap, internal capability development, knowledge transfer, and appropriate use of external specialists.
Manage and lead internal audit activities while maintaining independence and objectivity through functional reporting to the Supervisory Committee and administrative reporting to the SVP, General Counsel & Chief Risk Officer.
Serve as the internal audit point of contact for the Supervisory Committee and prepare regular reporting on audit results, remediation, trends, emerging risks, co-sourcing progress, vendor performance, internal capability development, and audit plan status.
Develop, recommend, maintain, and execute a risk-based annual audit plan, including audit programming for operations, compliance, and technology.
Oversee audit planning, scoping, fieldwork, documentation, reporting, and validation of management corrective actions.
Support and maintain the audit universe and conduct annual and ongoing risk assessments to keep audit coverage responsive to changing risks.
Ensure effective tracking, escalation, and validation of audit findings and remediation activities, with clear reporting to the Supervisory Committee and senior leadership.
Coordinate and manage day-to-day relationships with co-sourced and external audit partners, including scope, priorities, performance expectations, knowledge transfer, and internal capability development.
Promote strong governance, internal controls, risk awareness, and compliance with applicable internal audit standards, regulatory expectations, policies, and procedures.
Prepare and present audit, risk, control, and operational updates and recommendations to executive leadership, management, external partners, and governance bodies.
Perform other duties as assigned by the Supervisory Committee or SVP, General Counsel & Chief Risk Officer.