Director of Internal Audit

Stanford Climate Ventures; Houston (TX); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision

401(k) with match

Paid time off & parental leave

Employee stock purchase program

Life insurance & disability

Job summary

Fervo Energy seeks a Director of Internal Audit to build and lead our audit function, establish a robust SOX program, and provide independent assurance across financial reporting, IT, OT, cybersecurity, and regulatory compliance. This is a hands-on leadership role reporting to the Audit Committee.

You will partner with Finance, Legal, IT, and Operations, shape the risk universe, and guide external auditors while ensuring a strong control environment in a fast-moving, asset-heavy energy company.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or related field; CPA, CIA, or CISA strongly preferred (MBA a plus).
• 10+ years of progressive internal/external audit or ICFR experience at a Big Four or public/near-IPO company.
• Experience standing up or rebuilding a SOX program with scoping, testing, remediation.
• Deep fluency with COSO 2013, PCAOB AS 2201, and SEC rules governing ICFR.
• Working knowledge of IT general controls and cybersecurity frameworks (NIST/ISO).
• Proven ability to coordinate with external auditors and present to audit committees.
• Travel to Fervo offices and project sites as needed.

Responsibilities

• Build internal audit function from the ground up with charter and plan.
• Define enterprise risk universe with Finance, Legal, IT, and Ops.
• Own SOX program testing, remediation, and reporting to Audit Committee.
• Coordinate SOX scoping and walkthroughs with external auditors.
• Design ITGC, application controls, and cybersecurity audits.
• Deliver regulatory and compliance audits (FERC, NERC, etc.).
• Lead and develop a small audit team and train staff.
• Present findings to executives and the Board with clarity.

Skills

Auditing leadership

Strategic thinking

Communication with C-suite & Board

Independent judgment

Travel ability

Education

Bachelor's in accounting/finance

CPA/CIA/CISA preferred

MBA a plus

Tools

ERP systems (Quorum a plus)

Audit/GRC platforms

COSO 2013 & PCAOB AS 2201 knowledge

Job description

About Fervo Energy

Fervo Energy (NASDAQ: FRVO) is a modern power company developing next-generation geothermal resources to meet the growing demand for affordable, reliable, 24/7 carbon-free energy. Our mission is to transform geothermal into America’s most dependable and affordable source of clean, around-the-clock power. By combining innovations in horizontal drilling, fiber-optic sensing, and advanced reservoir engineering, Fervo has developed a repeatable approach to building utility-scale enhanced geothermal systems. Our flagship Cape Station development in Utah is planned to deliver 500 MW of firm, carbon-free power, and we are advancing a development pipeline of more than 50 GW. Join us and work alongside world-class engineers, geoscientists, operators, project builders, and business leaders working to make geothermal a cornerstone of a more reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy future.

Position Description

The Director, Internal Audit will be the builder responsible for designing the internal audit function from first principles, guiding the establishment of our SOX compliance program, defining the risk universe, and delivering independent assurance across financial reporting, IT, operational technology (OT), cybersecurity, and regulatory compliance.

This is a hands-on leadership role for a seasoned internal audit professional who thrives in ambiguity and wants to shape a function rather than inherit one. You will partner closely with the Head of Compliance & Regulatory Programs, the CFO, external auditors, and the Audit Committee of the Board to ensure Fervo’s control environment is appropriate, risk-aligned, and continuously improving.

This position reports directly to the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors, consistent with Nasdaq listing standards and IIA professional standards for internal audit independence, with a dotted-line (administrative) reporting relationship to the Head of Compliance & Regulatory Programs.

Responsibilities

Internal Audit Strategy & Governance

• Build Fervo’s internal audit function from the ground up, including charter, methodology, risk-based annual audit plan, and quality assurance and improvement program aligned with IIA standards
• Serve as the primary point of contact for the Audit Committee—preparing materials, delivering updates on key risks and control issues, and ensuring concerns are surfaced early and resolved decisively
• Define the enterprise risk universe in partnership with Finance, Legal, Compliance, IT, and Operations, and translate it into a multi-year audit roadmap that scales with the business
• Establish audit standards, documentation norms, and workpaper discipline sufficient to withstand external auditor and regulator scrutiny

SOX Program Design & Execution

• Partner with Finance and Accounting to support the design and build-out of Fervo’s SOX program, including scoping, risk assessment, control design evaluation, and deficiency remediation tracking, ensuring controls are designed into processes rather than layered on after the fact
• Own the independent testing layer of Fervo’s SOX program, executing control testing, evaluating deficiency severity, and reporting results to the Audit Committee independently of management’s conclusions
• Coordinate directly with external auditors on SOX scoping, walkthroughs, testing reliance, and deficiency evaluation—driving one version of the truth and minimizing duplication
• Provide control guidance on new system implementations, M&A activity, and strategic initiatives to ensure SOX and broader control considerations are addressed up front

IT & Cybersecurity Audits

• Design and execute IT general controls (ITGC), application controls, and cybersecurity audits across financially significant systems, OT environments, and field-data infrastructure
• Assess cyber risk posture in coordination with IT and Security leadership, including reviews of access management, change management, incident response, and third-party and cloud risk
• Build data analytics, continuous monitoring, and fraud detection capabilities into the audit toolkit to surface trends, anomalies, and emerging risks

Regulatory & Compliance Audits

• Deliver independent audits of Fervo’s regulatory compliance programs—including FERC, NERC, energy market participation, domestic content and prevailing wage, trade and sanctions, ethics and anti-corruption, supply chain compliance, and third-party/vendor compliance—in coordination with the Director, Compliance & Regulatory Programs
• Evaluate the design and operating effectiveness of controls embedded in engineering, operations, and commercial workflows to confirm that compliance happens in the field, not just on paper
• Support investigations and special projects as requested by the Audit Committee, General Counsel, or executive leadership, with defensible methodology and independent reporting

Team & Stakeholder Leadership

• Build and lead a small, high-caliber internal audit team over time—balancing in-house talent with co-source relationships to match capability to the risk profile
• Develop strong working relationships with business leaders by communicating best practices and delivering internal control awareness and training across the organization
• Communicate effectively with C-suite and Board-level stakeholders, presenting findings and recommendations with clarity, judgment, and appropriate candor

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or a related field; CPA, CIA, or CISA strongly preferred (MBA a plus)
• 10+ years of progressive internal audit, external audit, or ICFR experience, including meaningful time at a Big Four or top-tier professional services firm and at a public or near-IPO company
• Demonstrated experience standing up or materially rebuilding a SOX program—scoping, control design, testing, and remediation—not just executing within an established one
• Deep fluency with COSO 2013, PCAOB AS 2201, and SEC rules governing ICFR, disclosure controls, and audit committee reporting
• Working knowledge of IT general controls, cybersecurity frameworks (e.g., NIST CSF, ISO 27001), and audits of complex ERP and operational technology environments
• Proven ability to coordinate effectively with external auditors and to present to audit committees and senior executives
• Track record of operating independently, exercising sound judgment under ambiguity, and delivering results in fast-moving, resource-constrained environments
• Ability to travel to Fervo offices and project sites as needed

Preferred

• Experience in energy (power generation and/or distribution), infrastructure, upstream oil & gas, or other asset-heavy industries
• Exposure to regulatory compliance audits in regulated energy environments (FERC, NERC, DOE loan programs, IRS domestic content and prevailing wage)
• Experience auditing complex capital projects, joint ventures, or project finance structures
• Hands-on experience with ERP systems (Quorum a plus) and audit/GRC platforms
• Experience building an internal audit function at a recently public or pre-IPO company

Location

Fervo Energy has offices in Houston, TX, Golden, CO, Reno, NV, Oakland, CA, and Salt Lake City, UT. This position will be eligible for some hybrid work flexibility, but regular in-office presence at our Houston Office will be required.

Benefits & Perks

• Fervo offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your health, financial well-being, and life outside of work. Benefits for eligible employees include:
• Medical, dental, and vision plan options
• Employer-paid basic life insurance and short-term and long-term disability coverage
• A 401(k) plan with up to 6% match
• Flexible paid time off and paid parental leave
• Family-building, fertility, hormonal health, pregnancy, postpartum, and parenting support through Carrot
• A dependent care FSA for eligible child and elder care expenses
• An annual Lifestyle Spending Account for eligible wellness expenses, including fitness, financial planning, pet insurance, and pet care
• Employee ownership opportunities through Fervo’s Employee Stock Purchase Program, as well as LTI and bonus opportunities for eligible roles

Benefits and programs are subject to eligibility requirements and may change.

Our Workplace

Fervo Energy highly values having employees work in the office to foster collaboration and strengthen our company culture. This role follows a hybrid schedule, with team members expected to work in the office three days per week. Fervo considers this in-office schedule an essential function of the role. Your recruiter can share more information about the schedule.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Fervo Energy is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, gender, religion, marital status, registered domestic partner status, age, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, sex, genetic information, sexual orientation, military or veteran status, or any other consideration made unlawful by federal, state, or local law. Fervo also prohibits discrimination based on the perception that an individual has any of these characteristics or is associated with a person who has or is perceived as having any of these characteristics.