Internal Audit Senior - Financial Services

ED03 Elliott Davis Advisory, LLC; Nashville (TN); On-site; USD 90,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous holidays

Flexible schedules

Parental leave

Wellness benefits

Professional coaching

Leadership development

Beyond program

Job summary

Elliott Davis Advisory, LLC seeks a Senior Associate – Risk Advisory to join our Financial Services Group in Nashville. You will lead internal audit engagements across banking operations, mentor staff, and ensure timely, high-quality advisory services to financial institutions.

The role emphasizes client management, engagement execution, and development of junior staff, with opportunities to advance within a collaborative, growth-oriented firm.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, business administration, or related field.
• 3+ years of experience in internal audit, external audit, banking operations, risk management, or related fields.
• Strong understanding of internal control frameworks (e.g., COSO) and risk assessment techniques.
• Demonstrated ability to review work, identify issues, and ensure quality deliverables.

Responsibilities

• Execute and lead internal audit engagements across key banking functions, including loan operations and credit administration, deposit operations, ACH and electronic payments, wire transfers, branch operations, accounting and financial reporting, HR and payroll, ERM, MRM, investment and treasury operations.
• Plan and coordinate audit testing activities, including walkthroughs, control testing, and substantive procedures.
• Evaluate the design and operating effectiveness of internal controls and identify risks, control deficiencies, and process improvement opportunities.
• Review associate workpapers, ensuring accuracy, completeness, and adherence to firm audit methodology and quality standards.
• Ensure engagements are completed on schedule and within scope by actively monitoring timelines, deliverables, and resource needs.
• Provide day-to-day guidance, coaching, and mentoring to associates, including training on audit procedures, documentation standards, and banking concepts.
• Assist in the development of associates by providing constructive feedback and supporting skill progression.
• Prepare and review audit reports, including observations, root cause analysis, and actionable recommendations.
• Support communication with clients, including leading portions of meetings, discussing audit findings, and responding to inquiries.
• Assist managers and senior leadership in engagement planning, risk assessments, and scoping activities.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of audit processes, methodologies, and internal tools.
• Support multiple concurrent engagements while maintaining high-quality work and attention to detail.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Internal audit

Risk assessment

COSO framework

Analytics

Communication

Team leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, or related field

Tools

Audit software

Job description

WHO WE ARE Elliott Davis pairs forward‑thinking tax, assurance and consulting services with industry‑leading workplace culture. Our nine offices — located in the fastest growing cities in the U.S. — are built on a foundation of inclusivity, collaboration, and collective growth. We work daily to provide exceptional service to our people, customers, and our communities.

Position Overview

We are seeking a Senior Associate – Risk Advisory to join our Financial Services Group (FSG). Our team serves a diverse portfolio of financial institutions and provides independent, risk‑based assurance and advisory services across a wide range of banking operations. In this role, you will take on increased responsibility in leading internal audit engagements, supervising staff, and ensuring the timely delivery of high‑quality advisory services to financial institutions. The Senior Associate role is designed for professionals who have developed a foundation in audit or banking operations and are ready to contribute to engagement execution, client management, and team development. You will play a key role in maintaining engagement quality standards while mentoring junior staff and supporting efficient project delivery.

Responsibilities

• Execute and lead internal audit engagements across key banking functions, including loan operations and credit administration, deposit operations, ACH and electronic payments, wire transfers, branch operations, accounting and financial reporting, human resources and payroll, enterprise risk management (ERM), model risk management (MRM), investment and treasury operations.
• Plan and coordinate audit testing activities, including walkthroughs, control testing, and substantive procedures.
• Evaluate the design and operating effectiveness of internal controls and identify risks, control deficiencies, and process improvement opportunities.
• Review associate workpapers, ensuring accuracy, completeness, and adherence to firm audit methodology and quality standards.
• Ensure engagements are completed on schedule and within scope by actively monitoring project timelines, deliverables, and resource needs.
• Provide day‑to‑day guidance, coaching, and mentoring to associates, including training on audit procedures, documentation standards, and banking concepts.
• Assist in the development of associates by providing constructive feedback and supporting skill progression.
• Prepare and review audit reports, including observations, root cause analysis, and actionable recommendations.
• Support communication with clients, including leading portions of meetings, discussing audit findings, and responding to inquiries.
• Assist managers and senior leadership in engagement planning, risk assessments, and scoping activities.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of audit processes, methodologies, and internal tools.
• Support multiple concurrent engagements while maintaining high‑quality work and attention to detail.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, business administration, or a related field; or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• 3+ years of experience in internal audit, external audit, banking operations, risk management, or related fields.
• Strong understanding of internal control frameworks (e.g., COSO), audit methodologies and risk assessment techniques, banking operations and regulatory expectations.
• Demonstrated ability to review work, identify issues, and ensure quality deliverables.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills with high attention to detail.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills, including ability to convey complex concepts clearly.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines in a fast‑paced environment.
• Proven ability to work both independently and collaboratively within a team environment.
• Ability to travel when required (estimated maximum of 25 nights per year).

Desired Qualifications

• Prior experience leading or supervising individuals in a banking or professional services environment.
• Familiarity with banking regulations and regulatory expectations (e.g., FDIC, OCC, Federal Reserve).
• Experience reviewing workpapers and ensuring adherence to audit standards (e.g., IIA Standards).
• Progress toward or attainment of a professional certification such as CPA, CIA, or CISA.
• Demonstrated interest in developing leadership and mentoring skills.

Why This Role

This role provides the opportunity to expand your technical audit expertise while developing leadership and project management skills. You will play a critical role in delivering high‑quality audit services, mentoring junior staff, and helping financial institutions strengthen their risk management and control environments.

Benefits

• Generous time away and paid firm holidays, including the week between Christmas and New Year’s.
• Flexible work schedules.
• 16 weeks of paid maternity and adoption leave, 8 weeks of paid parental leave, 4 weeks of paid and caregiver leave (once eligible).
• First‑class health and wellness benefits, including wellness coaching and mental health counseling.
• One‑on‑one professional coaching.
• Leadership and career development programs.
• Access to Beyond: a one‑of‑a‑kind program with experiences that help you expand your life, personally and professionally.

ADA Requirements

• Physical requirements: regularly required to remain in a stationary position, use hands repetitively to operate standard office equipment, and to talk or hear, both in person and by telephone.
• Specific vision abilities which include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
• Cognitive and mental requirements: use written and oral communication skills, read and interpret data, information, and documents, observe and interpret situations, work under deadlines with frequent interruptions, and interact with internal and external customers and others in the course of work.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.