Director of Internal Audit

C.H. Guenther & Son, Inc.; San Antonio (TX); On-site; USD 161,000 - 257,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health and disability insurance

Retirement savings options

Flexible spending accounts

Employee assistance programs

Educational assistance

Parental leave

Paid time off

Company-paid holidays

Job summary

C.H. Guenther & Son, Inc. seeks a Director of Internal Audit to lead the global internal audit function, partnering with executive leadership to identify enterprise risks and strengthen controls across plants, warehouses, and international operations.

The role requires directing risk-based audits, maintaining independence, and coordinating with external auditors while advancing governance and compliance. Travel is expected.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration or related field required; Master's degree preferred.
• One or more of the following certifications highly preferred: CIA, CPA, CISA, CRMA.
• 10+ years of progressive audit, accounting, finance, risk management or compliance experience, including 5+ years in a leadership role.
• Manufacturing industry experience including leading audits across multiple locations.
• Experience presenting to executive leadership and boards.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a risk-based internal audit plan reviewed with executive leadership and presented to the Board.
• Lead audit activities across manufacturing plants, distribution and warehouse facilities, corporate functions and international operations.
• Maintain independence and objectivity by avoiding audits of processes the Director has recently managed.
• Coordinate with external auditors and IT to strengthen system security and governance.
• Oversee fraud risk assessments and investigations when required.

Skills

Internal audit leadership

Governance

Risk assessment

Data analysis

Communication with executives

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration or related field

MBA preferred

Tools

SAP

Job description

The Director, Internal Audit

The Director, Internal Audit leads C.H. Guenther's internal audit function and provides independent, objective assurance on the effectiveness of governance, risk management, internal controls and compliance across corporate functions, food manufacturing plants, warehouses and international operations. The Director partners with executive leadership to identify and prioritize enterprise risks, strengthen controls and safeguard company assets, while maintaining the independence and objectivity the role requires.

Duties and Responsibilities

Internal Audit Leadership and Independence

Develop and execute an risk-based internal audit plan, reviewed with executive leadership and presented to the Board of Directors (or its designated committee). Lead audit activities across manufacturing plants, distribution and warehouse facilities, corporate functions and international operations. Maintain a highly respected internal audit function aligned with professional internal audit standards. Preserve independence and objectivity by not auditing any process, project or integration the Director has managed or designed within the prior 12 months.

Enterprise Risk Management

Facilitate the annual enterprise-wide risk assessment with the Senior Leadership Team and Executive Leadership Team, prioritizing risks by probability of occurrence and impact. Summarize the Company's top risks for Board review and monitor emerging risks, including manufacturing operations, commodity costs, food safety, cybersecurity, supply chain and regulatory compliance. Provide independent assessment of management's controls over significant business risks and of risks affecting EBITDA performance and enterprise value.

Operational and Plant Controls

Lead the supply chain Controls Self-Assessment (CSA) program: ensure all plants complete the self-assessment quarterly, train key plant associates on control expectations, follow up on identified gaps and report results to management. Continuously update the Controls Self-Assessment to reflect best practices and process standardization. Perform risk-based operational audits covering inventory management, procurement, preventive maintenance, asset condition, fire and dust hazard prevention, safety and environmental compliance, and third-party warehouse controls. Audit capital expenditure projects, including Capital Expenditure Request (CER) quality and policy conformance, project execution and post-investment performance. Validate reported savings from continuous improvement initiatives as an independent assurance activity. Develop and maintain global year-end inventory count procedures and train plant leaders and plant accountants on count procedures and control expectations.

Food Safety and Regulatory Compliance Assurance

In partnership with the Food Safety & Quality Assurance function, perform risk-based audits of food safety and quality controls, including compliance with FDA, USDA and Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) requirements, at plants, suppliers and third-party warehouses. Evaluate workforce compliance controls, including employment eligibility (Form I-9) practices at company locations and temporary staffing agencies.

Financial Controls and External Audit Coordination

Assess the design and operating effectiveness of financial reporting controls. Evaluate compliance with GAAP, company policies, debt covenant requirements, private equity reporting requirements, and tax and treasury controls. Coordinate with and support the external auditors, including inventory observations and assigned audit testing, to improve audit efficiency and reduce duplication of effort.

IT Audit and Cybersecurity

Evaluate IT general controls and cybersecurity controls, including SAP, manufacturing execution systems, operational technology, access management, data privacy, disaster recovery and business continuity. Assess management's execution of cybersecurity recommendations and partner with IT leadership to strengthen system security and governance.

Board and Executive Reporting

Prepare and present audit reports, risk assessments and remediation status to the Board of Directors (or its designated committee) and the Executive Leadership Team. Track remediation of audit findings and ensure accountability for corrective actions through closure.

Investigations and Ethics

Oversee fraud risk assessments and lead investigations involving fraud, financial misconduct, ethical concerns, compliance violations and asset misappropriation. Manage confidential hotline matters, recommend corrective actions and ensure appropriate escalation of significant issues.

Mergers and Acquisitions

Support Perform due diligence audits for potential acquisitions, such as inventory valuation, cash reconciliation and employment eligibility reviews. Deploy the Controls Self-Assessment program and core internal controls at newly acquired businesses. Support integration planning and project management office (PMO) activities as assigned by executive leadership, including maintaining the Company's acquisition integration playbook. Any integration the Director manages is excluded from the Director's own subsequent audits; independent review is arranged through another qualified party.

Minimum Job Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration or related field required; Master's degree (MBA or related discipline) preferred.
• One or more of the following certifications highly preferred: Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA), Certification in Risk Management Assurance (CRMA).
• 10+ years of progressive audit, accounting, finance, risk management or compliance experience, including 5+ years in a leadership role.
• Manufacturing industry experience, including leading operational and financial audits across multiple locations.
• Experience presenting to executive leadership and boards.
• Preferred: food manufacturing or consumer products experience; private equity portfolio company experience; ERP system audit experience (SAP preferred); fraud investigation and forensic review experience; acquisition due diligence or integration experience.
• Must possess a valid driver's license and passport.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong knowledge of internal control frameworks, risk management and professional internal audit standards.
• Working knowledge of food safety regulatory requirements (FDA, USDA, FSMA) and manufacturing operations, including lean manufacturing principles.
• Builds credibility with executives and Board members and influences without direct authority.
• Exceptional executive presence and strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong risk assessment and root cause analysis skills; data-driven decision making, including SAP transactional data analysis.
• Aligns audit strategy with business objectives and identifies emerging risks.
• Strong sense of integrity and professional courage to maintain objectivity.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Directly supervises the Internal Audit Department staff, including Senior Internal Auditor and Operations Internal Auditor positions.
• Recruit, develop, coach and retain audit professionals, including development and succession plans for audit team members.
• Foster a culture of integrity, accountability, continuous improvement and professional excellence.
• Manage external audit and consulting resources as required.

Working Conditions and Physical Effort: Typical work in office and manufacturing environment which will have exposure to unusual elements, such as dirt, dust, fumes, odors, darkness and/or poor lighting, noise, and vibration. Seasonal exposure to weather elements to include, but not limited to, extreme temperatures, wetness, and humidity. Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer. Must be able to lift and carry up to 15 pounds at times. Travel approximately 20%, including domestic and occasional international travel to manufacturing facilities, or as business needs require.

Expectations

• Will demonstrate, promote, and exemplify the Company’s Core Values.
• Complete the annual risk-based audit plan and the enterprise-wide risk assessment on schedule.
• Drive timely closure of audit findings, with a focus on high-risk issues and control enhancement implementation.
• Strengthen internal controls across manufacturing sites and improve visibility into operational, financial, food safety and compliance risks.
• Enhance governance and reporting for the Board of Directors and private equity owners.
• Develop audit processes that support future growth, acquisitions and exit readiness.

At C.H. Guenther, we value transparency in compensation. By providing the salary range for this role, we aim to promote fairness and help candidates make informed choices about their career. The salary range for this role is: $160,500.00 - $256,800.00 USD Actual compensation may vary based on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience, as well as geographic location. C.H. Guenther & Son will never offer or pay a wage or salary that is not compliant with applicable local, state, or federal pay laws, including minimum salary thresholds.

• health and disability insurance
• retirement savings options
• flexible spending accounts
• employee assistance programs
• educational assistance
• parental leave
• paid time off
• company-paid holidays

For additional information about our company, go to www.chg.com.

C.H. Guenther & Son and its subsidiaries are E-Verify participating employers.

All offers of employment are contingent upon successful completion of the pre-employment screening process which includes a drug screen and review of criminal background and other records as required.

AA/EEO/Drug-Free Employer

C.H. Guenther is a growing, privately owned corporation that has delivered high quality products, traditional flavors and our just “baked from scratch” taste since 1851. We are a leading supplier of baked and frozen food products; appetizers, snacks and soups; gravies, sauces and seasonings; biscuits and more for foodservice and consumer markets in North America and Europe. Our well-loved retail brands such as Pioneer, White Wings, Sun-Bird and Cuisine Adventures have been included at family meals for generations. With a relentless pursuit of excellence, we develop innovative food solutions and create sustainable value for our people, our customers, and our communities. We accomplish this by deploying best in class capabilities and being an employer of choice. We strive for high-performance, with a positive attitude in all that we do. We are results driven, communicate openly and honestly, value diversity and foster long-term relationships. Our leaders are committed to nurturing our diverse talent, their ideas, and unique perspectives. We strive to harness the full potential of our most important resource – our people. Our heritage is driven by our commitment to the core values of integrity/respect, empowerment, accountability, collaboration, and agility. Our vision is to nourish society as a transformational leader in the future of food. Join us in our purpose to create memorable moments through the power of food!