Deputy Director of Internal Audit

Austincc; Fairfax (VA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Fairfax County is seeking a Deputy Director of Internal Audit to support the Director in leading a high-performing Internal Audit Office. The role oversees daily audit operations, mentors staff, and guides complex audits across operational, IT, compliance, and investigative areas to strengthen transparency and accountability within county government.

The Deputy will shape the department’s strategic direction, lead countywide risk assessments, develop the annual audit plan, and align activities

Qualifications

• 4-year degree in business, public administration, or related field with accounting/auditing coursework; 5 years of internal auditing experience including 2 years supervisory experience.

Responsibilities

• Plan and direct reviews of county procedures for adequacy and objective attainment.
• Assist in preparing and updating the Internal Audit Office Strategic Plan.
• Help prepare an annual audit work plan and staff assignments.
• Conduct Countywide risk assessments to identify high-risk areas.
• Supervise staff in developing audit programs and recommendations for changes.
• Direct preparation of internal audit reports and recommendations for improvement.
• Complete performance evaluations for auditors on audit assignments.
• Oversee all phases of audit examinations in line with internal standards.
• Assess County activities for efficiency, effectiveness and compliance with laws and procedures.

Skills

Internal audit standards

Information systems

Government accounting

Management principles

Clear communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in business/public administration or related field

Job description

Deputy Director of Internal Audit

The Internal Audit Office is seeking an experienced and forward-thinking Deputy Director of Internal Audit to support the Director in leading a high-performing Internal Audit Office committed to delivering high-quality, risk-focused audit services. As Deputy Director, you will assist with overseeing daily audit operations, mentoring talented staff, and guiding complex operational, IT, compliance, and investigative audits that strengthen transparency and accountability across county government. The Deputy Director will play a key role in shaping the department’s strategic direction, strengthening audit maturity, lead countywide risk assessments, develop the annual audit plan and aligning audit activities with countywide goals.

Additional responsibilities include serving as the department's HR Manager and Equity Lead, supporting training related to internal controls, fraud, and ethics, coordinating peer reviews, and maintaining strong working relationships with leadership across the county. This role requires strong professional judgment, a deep understanding of local government operations, and the ability to deliver objective, value-added insights that enhance governance and internal controls.

Illustrative Duties

• With the Director, plans and directs the review of County procedures and records for their adequacy to accomplish intended objectives
• Assists the Director in preparing and updating the Internal Audit Office Strategic Plan
• Assists the Director in preparing an annual audit work plan which identifies audit areas and schedules the staff to be used
• Conducts formal Countywide risk assessments to assess organizational risk and focus audit resources on high-risk areas
• Supervises assigned staff in developing audit programs for major and/or complex audits and in developing recommendations for changes in complex internal financial, information systems, and operating procedures
• Directs the preparation of all internal audit reports on the results of audit examinations and recommendations for improvement
• Completes performance evaluations for individual auditors on each specific audit assignment
• Directs all phases of audit examinations in accordance with internal audit standards
• Appraises County activities in terms of efficiency, effectiveness, and compliance with applicable laws, regulations, procedures, and good management practices
• Assists the Director in the completion of annual performance evaluations

Required Knowledge Skills and Abilities

• Extensive knowledge of internal audit standards, procedures, techniques, and internal controls
• Extensive knowledge of information systems, standards, procedures and techniques
• Extensive knowledge of governmental accounting principles, methods, and practices
• Extensive knowledge of management principles, methods, and practices
• Extensive knowledge of information systems general and application controls
• Ability to apply governmental principles and practices to complex systems
• Ability to perform as a knowledgeable and skilled advocate of the County's leadership philosophy
• Ability to plan, organize, and supervise analyses and reports of financial activities
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, orally and in writing with all levels, including senior County management
• Ability to work effectively under pressure
• Ability to effectively use personal computers and common software, i.e. word processing, spreadsheet, flowcharting
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships

Employment Standards

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:Any combination of education, experience, and training equivalent to the following: (Click on the aforementioned link to learn how Fairfax County interprets equivalencies for "Any combination, experience, and training equivalent to")Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a bachelor's degree in business administration, public administration, or a related field, with major course work in accounting, auditing, finance, information systems, and/or computer science; Plus five years of professional internal auditing experience, including two years of supervisory experience.

Certificates and Licenses Required

Certification as a Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), Certified Public Accountant (CPA), or Certified Information System Auditor (CISA).

Necessary Special Requirements

The appointee to this position will be required to complete a criminal background check and credit check to the satisfaction of the employer.

Preferred Qualifications

Auditing experience with thorough knowledge of internal audit standards, procedures, and techniques; management principles, methods, and practices; accounting methods, principles, and practices.Government auditing experience, including extensive knowledge and experience working within the framework of Generally Accepted Government Auditing Standards.Experience working in an audit office that complies with the GAO Government Auditing Standards (Yellow Book) or IIA International Professional Practices Framework (Red Book).Experience performing and/or managing internal investigations.Experience and proficiency with electronic work papers, data analytics, artificial intelligence, and Microsoft Office.Strong communication skills with experience preparing and delivering presentations to an executive audience, trainings, reports, and writing official correspondence and memoranda.Strong knowledge of local government operations.

Physical Requirements

Work is generally sedentary. However, employee may be required to do some walking, standing, bending and carrying of items less than 25 pounds in weight. All duties performed with or without reasonable accommodations.

Selection Procedure

Panel interview and may include exercise.

Fairfax County is home to a highly diverse population, with a significant number of residents speaking languages other than English at home (including Spanish, Asian/Pacific Islander, Indo-European, and many others.) We encourage candidates who are bilingual in English and another language to apply for this opportunity.

Fairfax County Government prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetics, political affiliation, or military status in the recruitment, selection, and hiring of its workforce.

Reasonable accommodations are available to persons with disabilities during application and/or interview processes per the Americans with Disabilities Act. TTY 703-222-7314. [e-mail] EEO/AA/TTY.