Director of Internal Audit

Forvis Mazars US Executive Search Practice; Lexington (KY); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Forvis Mazars Executive Search is exclusively engaged for this opportunity to identify a Director of Internal Audit for a publicly traded company in the natural resources and industrial sector. This leader will establish and grow the internal audit function, transitioning from an outsourced model and partnering with senior leadership to build a scalable control framework.

The ideal candidate brings public accounting and corporate internal audit experience, exercises independent judgment, and

Qualifications

• Experience transitioning audit from outsourced to in-house
• Ability to develop a risk-based internal audit plan
• Strong stakeholder influence and communication with senior leadership

Responsibilities

• Lead the transition of internal audit activities from an external provider and establish an in-house function
• Evaluate and enhance internal control environment, compliance programs, and risk management processes
• Develop and execute a comprehensive risk-based internal audit plan aligned with organizational objectives
• Advise executive leadership on governance, risk, controls, and operational improvements
• Build and scale the internal audit department over time, potentially expanding the team and areas

Skills

Public accounting experience

Internal audit leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in accounting or related field

Job description

Forvis Mazars Executive Search is exclusively engaged for this exciting opportunity. Our client, a publicly traded natural resources and industrial company, is seeking a Director of Internal Audit to establish and lead its internal audit function during a period of continued growth and transformation. Reporting to senior leadership, this role will take ownership of transitioning internal audit responsibilities from an outsourced provider, assessing the current control environment, and building a scalable audit framework that supports the organization’s evolving business needs. This is a highly visible position that will interact with executive leadership and, over time, provide support to the Audit Committee while helping shape the long-term internal audit strategy.

The ideal candidate will bring a combination of public accounting and corporate internal audit experience, along with the confidence to operate independently and influence stakeholders across the organization. This leader will modernize and strengthen internal controls, enhance the use of compliance and audit technologies, and create a foundation for future growth of the internal audit function. The position offers the rare opportunity to build a department from the ground up while partnering closely with an experienced leadership team on initiatives that will have a meaningful impact on the business.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the transition of internal audit activities from an external provider and establish a best-in-class in-house internal audit function.
• Evaluate, test, and enhance the company’s internal control environment, compliance programs, and risk management processes.
• Develop and execute a comprehensive risk-based internal audit plan aligned with organizational objectives and regulatory requirements.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to executive leadership on governance, risk, controls, and operational improvement opportunities.
• Build and scale the internal audit department over time, including the potential development of a team and expansion into operational and specialized audit areas.