Head of Internal Audit: Professional Practices & QAIP

Community Financial System, Inc.; Buffalo (NY); On-site; USD 92,000 - 161,000; Full time

Job summary

Community Financial System, Inc. (CFSI) invites a seasoned audit professional to lead the Internal Audit Professional Practices.

The Head of Professional Practices will drive the QAIP program, ensure alignment with IIA standards and regulatory guidance, and partner with the Audit Committee and management to foster high-quality, compliant audits across the organization. The role requires extensive experience in financial services audits, strong leadership, and the ability to implement continuous

Qualifications

• Ten or more years of progressive financial, operational and compliance audit experience, with focus on financial services including banking, wealth management, insurance, and/or employee benefit plan administration.
• Management of professional practices or quality assurance and improvement programs experience required.
• Bachelor's degree and CIA required.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership over the QAIP to include Internal Audit departments standards, methodology and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Execute Internal Quality Assessment Review and manage outsourcing of External Quality Assessment Review in accordance with IIA Global Standards and regulatory guidance, providing report on results and opportunities for improvement.
• Maintain Internal Audit department policies and procedures (Audit Manual), update as required.
• Provide guidance on Internal Audit methodology.
• Support the execution of the annual risk assessment and audit planning processes.
• Manage the department's training program to ensure the team possesses the appropriate technical skills of a high performing department.
• Manage the preparation of Department reporting to the Audit Committee, ensuring high quality documentation.
• Monitor the issues remediation and reporting process.
• Support the root cause analysis and reporting process.
• Provide oversight to the audit program review process in accordance with policy, procedure, regulatory requirements and best practices, providing recommendation for process improvements.
• Provide system administration/support to ensure audit workpaper application adheres to professional standards and regulatory guidance.
• Monitor key performance and key risk indicators.
• Stay abreast of emerging risks, regulatory changes and industry trends and communicate with the Director and audit team.
• Establish effective working relationships with department personnel, management and stakeholders to build ongoing business relationships.

Skills

Communication

Interpersonal skills

Problem solving

Organizational skills

Self-starter

Internal audit standards

Regulatory guidance

Education

B.S./B.A. degree

CIA certification

Job description

Community Financial System, Inc. (CFSI) invites a seasoned audit professional to lead the Internal Audit Professional Practices.

The Head of Professional Practices will drive the QAIP program, ensure alignment with IIA standards and regulatory guidance, and partner with the Audit Committee and management to foster high-quality, compliant audits across the organization. The role requires extensive experience in financial services audits, strong leadership, and the ability to implement continuous