Director, Government Risk Consulting

RSM US LLP; Des Moines (IA); Hybrid; USD 127,000 - 255,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid workstyle

Total rewards package

Job summary

RSM US LLP is seeking an experienced senior leader in government risk and internal audit to guide engagements from planning through execution. You will develop relationships with agency executives, audit committees, and senior stakeholders while mentoring teams across projects.

This role emphasizes leadership in public sector advisory, collaboration with risk, audit, technology, and marketing teams, and active involvement in business development and market leadership.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in accounting, business, finance, public administration, or related discipline.
• 8+ years of relevant internal audit, internal controls, risk, compliance, or advisory experience (≥5 in public accounting).
• Experience serving government or public sector organizations.
• Experience leading complex internal audit, risk, controls, or governance engagements.
• CPA, CIA, CISA, or similar credential.
• Proven ability to build senior-level client relationships.
• Experience supporting business development, proposals, and market-facing activities.
• Strong written, verbal, presentation, and interpersonal skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee government risk and public sector advisory engagements from planning to execution.
• Develop relationships with agency executives and audit committees.
• Mentor and develop professionals; recruit and train staff.
• Support business development, proposals, and market-facing activities.
• Collaborate across risk, consulting, audit, technology, and marketing teams.

Skills

Internal audit

Risk management

Client relationship management

Regulatory knowledge

Leadership

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in accounting, business, finance, public administration, or related discipline

Job description

We are the leading provider of professional services to the middle market globally, our purpose is to instill confidence in a world of change, empowering our clients and people to realize their full potential. Our exceptional people are the key to our unrivaled, culture and talent experience and our ability to be compelling to our clients. You’ll find an environment that inspires and empowers you to thrive both personally and professionally. There’s no one like you and that’s why there’s nowhere like RSM.

Contributions to Firm Culture

Model the firm’s core values of respect, integrity, teamwork, excellence, and stewardship in interactions with clients and colleagues. Lead and contribute to practice-wide initiatives focused on government risk and public sector advisory, including recruiting, talent development, methodology, engagement economics, and industry leadership. Lead by example, fostering a collaborative environment that encourages innovation, professional development, diverse perspectives, and high-quality client service. Mentor and develop professionals at various levels, helping build the next generation of leaders within the government and public sector practice.

Client Experience

Serve as a trusted advisor to government and public sector clients, drawing upon deep experience in internal audit, internal controls, risk management, compliance, and governance. Advise clients on emerging risks, regulatory requirements, operational challenges, and leading practices relevant to federal, state, local, and other public sector organizations, as applicable to the practice. Develop strong relationships with agency executives, finance and audit leaders, audit committees, oversight bodies, and other senior stakeholders. Lead complex risk and internal audit engagements from planning through execution, including responsibility for scope, quality, deliverables, client communications, and engagement economics. Review project deliverables and workpapers to ensure they meet engagement objectives, professional standards, contractual requirements, and firm quality expectations. Understand each client’s mission, operating environment, and risk landscape and incorporate that perspective into practical, actionable recommendations. Manage complex client relationships and issues, exercising sound judgment around escalation, risk, and engagement quality.

Talent Leadership

Lead, motivate, and mentor teams delivering government risk, internal audit, controls, and advisory engagements. Recruit and develop professionals with expertise relevant to public sector client needs. Provide meaningful coaching and candid feedback while aligning team members with opportunities that support their skills and long-term career goals. Effectively manage engagement teams and assignments across multiple concurrent client projects.

Business Development & Market Leadership

Develop new relationships and leverage an existing network within the government and public sector market to support practice growth. Identify and pursue new opportunities with existing and prospective clients, including supporting proposals, RFP responses, scoping, pricing, presentations, and pursuit strategy. Maintain an active presence in relevant government, public sector, internal audit, and risk management associations and industry events. Develop thought leadership and represent the firm at internal and external conferences, panels, and industry events. Collaborate across risk, consulting, audit, technology, business development, and marketing teams to bring the appropriate capabilities to clients.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in accounting, business, finance, public administration, or a related discipline.
• Minimum of 8 years of relevant internal audit, internal controls, risk, compliance, or advisory experience, including at least 5 years within public accounting or professional services.
• Significant experience serving government or public sector organizations, with a strong understanding of their unique governance, risk, compliance, and operational environments.
• Demonstrated experience leading complex internal audit, risk assessment, internal controls, compliance, and/or governance engagements.
• Relevant professional certification such as CPA, CIA, CISA, or other applicable risk/audit credential.
• Proven experience building senior-level client relationships and communicating with executives, audit committees, agency leadership, and other key stakeholders.
• Demonstrated success supporting business development, proposals, pursuits, and market-facing activities within a professional services environment.
• Strong written, verbal, presentation, leadership, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to lead multiple engagements and teams simultaneously while maintaining quality and client service.
• Ability to travel based on client and engagement needs.

Benefits and Compensation

At RSM, we offer a competitive benefits and compensation package for all our people.Learn more about our total rewards at https://rsmus.com/careers/working-at-rsm/benefits.

We believe flexibility and in-person connection both play an important role in how we work and grow. Most roles at RSM follow a hybrid workstyle, which means team members are aligned to an RSM office and come together in person when it best supports clients, teams, development or relationship-building. Some roles may be virtual or primarily on-site based on role requirements, team priorities and client needs.

Equal Opportunity and Diversity

All applicants will receive consideration for employment as RSM does not tolerate discrimination and/or harassment based on race; color; creed; sincerely held religious beliefs, practices or observances; sex (including pregnancy or disabilities related to nursing); gender; sexual orientation; HIV Status; national origin; ancestry; familial or marital status; age; physical or mental disability; citizenship; political affiliation; medical condition (including family and medical leave); domestic violence victim status; past, current or prospective service in the US uniformed service; US Military/Veteran status; pre-disposing genetic characteristics or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state or local law. Accommodation for applicants with disabilities is available upon request in connection with the recruitment process and/or employment/partnership.RSM is committed to providing equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation for people with disabilities. If you require a reasonable accommodation to complete an application, interview, or otherwise participate in the recruiting process, please call us at 800-274-3978 or send us an email at [e-mail].

Visa and Sponsorship

RSM does not intend to hire entry level candidates who will require sponsorship now OR in the future (i.e. F-1 visa holders). If you are a recent U.S. college / university graduate possessing 1-2 years of progressive and relevant work experience in a same or similar role to the one for which you are applying, excluding internships, you may be eligible for hire as an experienced associate. RSM will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records. For those living in California or applying to a position in California, please click here for additional information. At RSM, an employee’s pay at any point in their career is intended to reflect their experiences, performance, and skills for their current role. The salary range (or starting rate for interns and associates) for this role represents numerous factors considered in the hiring decisions including, but not limited to, education, skills, work experience, certifications, location, etc. As such, pay for the successful candidate(s) could fall anywhere within the stated range.

Compensation Range: $126,500 - $254,700. Individuals selected for this role will be eligible for a discretionary bonus based on firm and individual performance.

Company Culture

Why work at RSM? At RSM, we accomplish meaningful work and make an impact on the world around us. We work hard to fully understand our clients and work even harder to understand and identify your unique skills. We celebrate the differences among us and empower our talented professionals to grow forward, both personally and professionally. Our clients benefit from fresh insights and energy as we collaborate to support them, and our teams enjoy a work environment that inspires and empowers them to thrive.