VP, Chief Internal Auditor | Great West

The Canada Life Assurance Company; Toronto; On-site; CAD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health & Wellness benefits

Time off and volunteering days

Pension plan & share ownership options

Employee recognition programs

Job summary

Great-West Lifeco is seeking a Chief Internal Auditor to lead the Internal Audit function across Canada, acting as de facto Head of Audit for assigned businesses. You will collaborate with leadership to strengthen governance, risk management and control processes, delivering insights to the Board and regulators.

The role emphasizes strategic oversight, relationship-building, and talent development within a global matrixed environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or Business; CPA/CA designation is an asset.
• 15+ years of executive experience in a complex, highly regulated environment.
• Proven success leading an internal audit function and strengthening governance.
• Experience managing regulators, external auditors, and senior stakeholders.
• Ability to balance independence with business priorities in a global org.
• Track record building and retaining high-performing, diverse teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead a high-performing Internal Audit function across Canada and partnered businesses.
• Provide independent assurance to the Board on governance, risk management and controls.
• Develop strong relationships with leadership and business executives to drive improvements.
• Deliver high-impact written reports and presentations to Audit Committee and regulators.
• Foster talent development and maintain a robust risk profile across delegated areas.

Skills

Executive leadership

Regulatory experience

Governance & risk

Strategic thinking

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting/Finance/Business

CPA/CA designation (asset)

Job description

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The Chief Internal Auditor, Canada has responsibility for leading the talented, well-respected Internal Audit community team in Canada.

The primary role of Internal Audit is to assist the Board in discharging its governance responsibilities in monitoring and reviewing the effectiveness of systems of internal control, by providing independent reliable assurance that the organization’s governance, risk management and control processes are adequate, effective and sustainable.

The secondary objective is to work in partnership with the leadership team and business executives, developing strong and mutually beneficial relationships, to support and influence continuous improvement in the governance, risk management and control processes and practices through the sharing of best practices. Working as part of a dynamic Global Internal Audit team, the successful candidate will operate as “de facto Head of Audit” for all of the assigned businesses

What you will do

• Ensure the function drives a best practice approach and has a strong customer focus.
• Work to support stakeholders’ understanding of issues relating to the governance and risk management framework and ensure Internal Audit leverages the work being led by 2nd Line Risk and Compliance, while still providing the level of independent assurance expected by the Board.
• Maintain a comprehensive, reliable risk profile across delegated areas that will be derived from high executive visibility/connectivity and a fundamental understanding of the underlying risks.
• Have the ability to create a flexible plan from a “blank sheet of paper” based on collaboration with executives, management, Internal Audit colleagues, written documentation from Management and most importantly, from their knowledge and experience.
• Deliver high impact written reports and presentations on pertinent governance, risk management and control issues to the Audit Committee, senior executives, regulators and other key stakeholders.
• Instill a professional approach to the manner and methodology through which the Audit staff deliver their work.
• Enhance the function’s performance while improving personal performance and career development to provide a professional and reliable audit opinion with the aim of continuous development of the control environment

What you will bring

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, or a related discipline; CPA/CA designation is an asset.
• 15+ years of executive experience in a complex, highly regulated environment, ideally within financial services or insurance.
• Proven success leading a progressive internal audit function, strengthening audit practices, governance frameworks, and enterprise risk management capabilities.
• Strong experience managing relationships with regulators, external auditors, and senior stakeholders, with the credibility and judgment to influence across a complex global organization.
• Demonstrated ability to balance audit independence and governance rigor with business priorities, contributing meaningfully to strategic and commercial discussions.
• Track record of building, developing, and retaining high-performing, diverse teams, while fostering talent and leadership at all levels.
• Experience operating in global, matrixed environments, navigating competing priorities and collaborating effectively across geographies and functions.
• Exceptional communication, presentation, and relationship-building skills, with the presence to earn trust and respect from Boards, executives, colleagues, regulators, and external partners.
• Strategic yet hands‑on leader who combines strong business acumen, sound judgment, and attention to detail with the ability to drive execution and results.
• Resilient, adaptable, and culturally agile, with the confidence to lead through complexity, challenge assumptions, make balanced decisions, and remain effective under pressure.

Career opportunities will be open a minimum of 5 business days from the date of posting, closing dates will vary depending on the search activity. All applications received will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Grow with Great-West Lifeco

Great-West Lifeco Inc is a Canadian headquarter, international financial services holding company with interests in life insurance, health insurance, retirement and investment services, asset management, and reinsurance businesses. We operate in Canada, the United States, and Europe under the brands: Canada Life, Empower and Irish Life.At the end of 2024, our companies had over 32,250 employees, 106,000 advisor relationships, and thousands of distribution partners – serving approximately 40 million customer relationships.

Great-West Lifeco trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) under the ticker symbol GWO and is a member of the Power Corporation group of companies.

What we offer

We’re committed to supporting our employees through every stage of their career. Here’s what you can expect as a full-time or part-time permanent team member:

Career Development

Opportunities for career advancement, access to industry-leading learning programs and up to$2,000 annuallytowardseducation reimbursement.

Health & Wellness

Flexible health and dental benefits,plus a $5,000 mental health benefit to support your well-being.

Time Off

In addition to regular vacation andpersonal days,we support communityinvolvement with avolunteer day.

Financial Security

Company-matching pension plan,share ownership program andadditionalinvestment options.

Rewards and Recognition

Employee recognition programs, service milestone celebrations, employee discounts and more!

Emphasis onCommunity

We provide aworkplace whereemployeesfeel connected and supported throughEmployee Resource Groups (ERGs),mentorshipprograms,socialclubsandevents.

We’recomitted to removing barriers and ensuring equal access to employment. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation during the application process may contact [e-mail]. All information provided will be handledin accordance withapplicable laws and Great-West Lifeco policies.

Location: Toronto, ON, CA Winnipeg, MB, CA London, ON, CA