Lead Specialist, General Audit

Guardian Life; Holmdel Township (NJ); Hybrid; USD 86,000 - 142,000; Full time

Job summary

Guardian Life is seeking a Lead Specialist, General Audit to join our Internal Audit team. The role involves planning, executing, and reporting audits with a focus on high‑quality assurance and advisory services across corporate functions.

You will work with management to strengthen controls and risk management in a collaborative, deadline-driven environment. You have 5+ years in internal or external audit, strong analytical and communication skills, and relevant certifications.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of broad-based experience in internal audit, external audit, or related functions.
• Strong analytical skills to assess processes, data, risks and controls.
• Excellent organizational skills with multitasking and meeting deadlines with minimal supervision.
• Strong written and oral communication skills; ability to write clearly and concisely.
• Ability to collaborate across teams and management levels while managing expectations.

Responsibilities

• Lead and execute complex assurance projects in accordance with established methodologies and standards.
• Influence stakeholders to improve risk posture and proactive management of risk.
• Collaborate with audit team to leverage skills and knowledge; mentor junior staff.
• Monitor outstanding recommendations and action plans; perform follow-up testing.
• Provide governance, compliance, and enterprise risk assessment support as needed.
• Coordinate with external auditors and the Controls Assurance team on testing activities.

Skills

Audit leadership

Risk assessment

Project management

Communication skills

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelor’s degree

CIA/CPA/CFE/CISA certifications

Job description

Fully Remote

Bethlehem

New York

Holmdel

Full time

R000109966

Is the opportunity to join a culture where “We Do the Right Thing,” and “We Courageously Shape Our Future Together” important to you? If so, Guardian is seeking a motivated individual to join our team as Lead Specialist, General Audit.

This role will support the Head of Corporate Shared Services, Internal Audit. Typically, this position functions as a working audit project manager, fully responsible for planning, executing, and reporting audits independently and, on occasion, within a team. This role is focused on performing high quality, value-add, assurance and advisory services that identify, evaluate, and report on highly complex business risks and controls in accordance with the Institute of Internal Auditors Standards and established methodologies.

This role will identify meaningful observations about the design and operating effectiveness of controls and discuss with various levels of management on improving the internal control environment. You will be frequently sought after as a key resource for complex assignments. This position is focused on the Corporate Functions (e.g., Strategic Initiatives, Corporate Development, Law, Compliance, Marketing, Communication, Talent & Culture, etc.) with the possibility of covering other business and functional areas of the Company.

You are

• An individual who is highly efficient and effective to lead an audit from planning, execution, and reporting. Possesses an experienced knowledge level of business processes, risks, and controls. You have a strong knowledge of general business and the insurance industry. Ability to multi-task and exemplify strong organizational skills and project management skills in a deadline-driven environment.

You will

• Lead and execute complex assurance projects in accordance with established methodologies and professional standards.

• Demonstrate influencing skills when communicating with business areas and other risk assurance providers aimed to continually improve relationships and enable management to proactively manage risk.

• Collaborate with other members of the audit team to leverage their skill sets, experience, and expertise; providing the same.

• Act as a mentor to new or less experienced auditors by providing guidance on Department processes and sharing knowledge of Company operations, product lines, etc.

• Monitor all outstanding recommendations and action plans for the assigned audits; prepare status commentary and perform follow-up testing as needed.

• Provide advisory services on projects, business functions, and processes, if requested.

• Provide governance, compliance, investigation, and enterprise risk assessment support, if requested.

• Assist the external auditors and the Controls Assurance team (Model Audit Rule Program) through coordinating and executing direct assistance testing for select assignments.

• Work with Internal Audit leadership to identify and continuously improve departmental practices.

• Monitor and demonstrate compliance with departmental policies and practices, as evidenced by strong quality assurance results, and strong performance within standards and related metrics.

• Stay abreast of current issues, standard industry practices, regulations, and obtain continuing education and training. Participate in special projects and perform other duties as requested.

• Interact with all levels of management to provide effective risk and control advice, maintaining active communication with clients to enhance risk and control awareness and manage expectations.

You have

• 5+ years of broad-based experience in internal audit, external audit, or related functions.

• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to effectively assess a process, analyze data, and assess risks and controls.

• Strong organizational skills, with the ability to manage concurrent projects (multi-task) and meet deadlines with minimal supervision.

• Strong written and oral communication skills, with the ability to write clearly and concisely.

• Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to build strong relationships and clearly articulate thoughts and ideas.

• Ability to collaborate with others, both inside and outside of the department, while working toward common goals and fostering understanding and agreement.

• Experience in the insurance or financial services industry is a plus.

• Working knowledge of information technology, cybersecurity, and ability to apply to operational audits is a plus.

• Understanding of enabling technologies, including robotics process automation (RPA), natural language processing (NLP), and/or artificial intelligence (AI) is a plus.

• Bachelor’s degree required (accounting or business degree is a plus)

• Professional accreditations, licenses, or designations required – (CIA, CPA, CFE, CISA, etc.)

Location

Hybrid role - 3 days in office in Hudson Yards, NYC; Bethlehem, PA or Holmdel, NJ office; 2 days WFH

Salary Range:

$86,210.00 - $141,635.00

The salary range reflected above is a good faith estimate of base pay for the primary location of the position. The salary for this position ultimately will be determined based on the education, experience, knowledge, and abilities of the successful candidate. In addition to salary, this role may also be eligible for annual, sales, or other incentive compensation.

Our Promise

At Guardian, you’ll have the support and flexibility to achieve your professional and personal goals. Through skill-building, leadership development and philanthropic opportunities, we provide opportunities to build communities and grow your career, surrounded by diverse colleagues with high ethical standards.

Inspire Well-Being

As part of Guardian’s Purpose – to inspire well-being – we are committed to offering contemporary, supportive, flexible, and inclusive benefits and resources to our colleagues. Explore our company benefits at www.guardianlife.com/careers/corporate/benefits . Benefits apply to full-time eligible employees. Interns are not eligible for most Company benefits.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Guardian is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to age, race, color, creed, religion, sex, affectional or sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, marital status, disability, military or veteran status, or any other classification protected by applicable law.

Accommodations

Guardian is committed to providing access, equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. Guardian also provides reasonable accommodations to qualified job applicants (and employees) to accommodate the individual's known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, unless doing so would create an undue hardship. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact [e-mail] . Please note: this resource is for accommodation requests only. For all other inquires related to your application and careers at Guardian, refer to the Guardian Careers site.

Visa Sponsorship

Guardian Life is not currently or in the foreseeable future sponsoring employment-based visas (e.g., such as an H-1B). In order to be a successful applicant, you must be legally authorized to work in the United States, without the need for employer sponsorship/support now or at any time in the future.

Notice Regarding Guardian’s Use of Artificial Intelligence in Recruitment

As part of Guardian’s job application process, Guardian may use artificial intelligence tools (“AI Tools") to automate the sorting and filtering of information provided by applicants as part of its preliminary screening. This preliminary screening may be used to help identify applicant materials and resumes relative to their indication that the applicant meets the requirements for the specific job for which they are applying, as specified in the listing posted on Guardian’s jobs website (Careers at Guardian at https://www.guardianlife.com/careers (http://%20https://www.guardianlife.com/careers) ). At Guardian, we do not use AI Tools to substantially assist or replace human judgment or discretionary decision making in our hiring process. All hiring decisions will be made by Guardian colleagues.

Please be aware that if you apply for a specific position with Guardian, you will have the choice of opting out of Guardian’s use of AI Tools during the job application process. If you would like to request an alternative process that does not utilize AI Tools or would like to request a reasonable accommodation, within ten business days of your position application, you must email your request to [e-mail] , making sure to provide your name and job requisition identification number. Guardian will retain your applicant materials and resume and all information therefrom in accordance with Guardian’s document retention policy, a copy of which you may request via [e-mail] .

Additionally, at applicable times, Guardian will make public the most recent bias audit results for such AI tools, which may be found here (https://assets.ctfassets.net/gau1nv66ynug/1M2AOzFsFCirlWeAmIh4MD/23463b78b6cdd8ebdce9410b98d7a080/Audit.pdf) .

Every day, Guardian helps our 29 million customers realize their dreams through a range of insurance and financial products and services. Our Purpose, to inspire well-being, guides our dedication to the colleagues, consumers, and communities we serve. We know that people count, and we go above and beyond to prepare them for the life they want to live, focusing on their overall well-being — mind, body, and wallet. As one of the largest mutual insurance companies, we put our customers first. Behind every bright future is a GuardianTM. Learn more about Guardian at guardianlife.com .

Visa Sponsorship:

Guardian Life is not currently or in the foreseeable future sponsoring employment-based visas (e.g., such as an H-1B). In order to be a successful applicant, you must be legally authorized to work in the United States, without the need for employer sponsorship/support now or at any time in the future.