Senior Associate, Internal Audit

Ares Management; New York (NY); On-site; USD 125,000 - 155,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, Vision

401(k) with company match

Life and Disability Insurance

Employee Assistance Program

Flexible Savings Accounts

Job summary

Ares Management is seeking an experienced Internal Audit professional to lead AI risk coverage and strengthen risk management in a rapidly evolving environment. You will assess AI risk across audits, collaborate with technology and risk partners, and implement data-analytics driven testing to improve controls.

The role requires 5+ years in financial services internal audit, strong communication, and a proactive approach to ethics and governance. Located in New York with competitive compensation.

Qualifications

• Strong experience with data analytics and manipulating large data sets.
• Experience in developing/validating/auditing AI/ML models
• Subject matter expertise in auditing and enterprise risk management concepts (e.g., risk assessment/prioritization, process & internal controls, root cause analysis)
• Understanding of local and globally significant regulatory requirements pertaining to AI
• Understanding of the operation of financial markets, financial instruments and strategies.
• 5 years of internal audit experience in the Financial Services Industry with an emphasis in the Investment Management industry.
• Strong managerial skills, written and verbal communication skills, analytical, problem-solving, organizational, and interpersonal skills
• Enthusiastic/ self-motivated/ strong interest in learning/ effective under pressure and willing to take personal responsibility/accountability.
• Related certifications (CPA, CA, CIA or similar) preferred.

Responsibilities

• Support the AI audit coverage strategy, including risk assessments and recommendations to strengthen risk mitigation.
• Provide practical guidance for assessing AI risks across audit projects.
• Engage stakeholders to ensure AI risks are appropriately identified, assessed, and documented.
• Stay current on AI technologies, ethical considerations, and regulatory requirements to inform audit coverage.
• Partner with Technology, Risk, Privacy, Legal, and other stakeholders to support AI audit planning and execution.
• Identify audit process improvements to increase productivity, efficiency, and contribution to economic profit without compromising effectiveness.
• Leverage and advocate for the use of technology across the audit function, with a particular emphasis on data analytics.
• Partner with business and technology stakeholders to develop use cases and integrate automation into control testing.
• Identify and evaluate risks and assess the adequacy, effectiveness, and compliance of internal controls.
• Assess control effectiveness and deliver high-quality audit findings and recommendations.
• Demonstrate strong judgement and sound decision-making.
• Identify and communicate existing and emerging business risks and significant issues in a timely and proactive manner.
• Exhibit strong organizational and follow-up skills.
• Execute responsibilities accurately, efficiently, and proactively.
• Maintain all organizational and professional ethical standards.
• Maintain independence and objectivity in all audit activities.
• Maintain an in-depth understanding of business areas, processes, and supporting functions.
• Conduct quarterly risk and fraud assessments based on input from management, external auditors, and external factors to support the development of quarterly audit plans.
• Pursue professional development opportunities, including internal and external training and participation in professional associations.

Skills

Data analytics

AI/ML auditing

Regulatory knowledge

Financial markets knowledge

Communication skills

Problem-solving

Organizational skills

Interpersonal skills

Self-motivated

Accountability

Education

CPA/CA/CIA or similar

Job description

Over the last 20 years, Ares’ success has been driven by our people and our culture. Today, our team is guided by our core values – Collaborative, Responsible, Entrepreneurial, Self-Aware, Trustworthy – and our purpose to be a catalyst for shared prosperity and a better future. Through our recruitment, career development and employee-focused programming, we are committed to fostering a welcoming and inclusive work environment where high-performance talent of diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives can build careers within this exciting and growing industry.

Job Description

As the third line of defense, Internal Audit’s mission is to independently assess the firm’s overall control environment, including the firm’s governance processes and controls, and risk management and compliance frameworks.

• Communicates and reports on the effectiveness of the firm’s governance, risk management and controls that mitigate current and evolving risk.
• Raise awareness of control risk.
• Monitors management’s implementation of control measures.

Primary Functions And Essential Responsibilities

• Support the AI audit coverage strategy, including risk assessments and recommendations to strengthen risk mitigation.
• Provide practical guidance for assessing AI risks across audit projects.
• Engage stakeholders to ensure AI risks are appropriately identified, assessed, and documented.
• Stay current on AI technologies, ethical considerations, and regulatory requirements to inform audit coverage.
• Partner with Technology, Risk, Privacy, Legal, and other stakeholders to support AI audit planning and execution.
• Identify audit process improvements to increase productivity, efficiency, and contribution to economic profit without compromising effectiveness.
• Leverage and advocate for the use of technology across the audit function, with a particular emphasis on data analytics.
• Partner with business and technology stakeholders to develop use cases and integrate automation into control testing.
• Identify and evaluate risks and assess the adequacy, effectiveness, and compliance of internal controls.
• Assess control effectiveness and deliver high-quality audit findings and recommendations.
• Demonstrate strong judgement and sound decision-making.
• Identify and communicate existing and emerging business risks and significant issues in a timely and proactive manner.
• Exhibit strong organizational and follow-up skills.
• Execute responsibilities accurately, efficiently, and proactively.
• Maintain all organizational and professional ethical standards.
• Maintain independence and objectivity in all audit activities.
• Maintain an in-depth understanding of business areas, processes, and supporting functions.
• Conduct quarterly risk and fraud assessments based on input from management, external auditors, and external factors to support the development of quarterly audit plans.
• Pursue professional development opportunities, including internal and external training and participation in professional associations.

Qualifications

General Requirements:

• Strong experience with data analytics and comfortable with manipulating large data sets.
• Experience in developing/validating/auditing of AI/ML Models
• Subject matter expertise in auditing and enterprise risk management concepts (e.g., risk assessment/prioritization, process & internal controls, root cause analysis)
• Understanding of local and globally significant regulatory requirements pertaining to AI
• Understanding of the operation of financial markets, financial instruments and strategies.
• 5 years of internal audit experience in the Financial Services Industry with an emphasis in the Investment Management industry.
• Strong managerial skills, written and verbal communication skills, analytical, problem-solving, organizational, and interpersonal skills
• Enthusiastic/ self-motivated/ strong interest in learning/ effective under pressure and willing to take personal responsibility/accountability.
• Related certifications (CPA, CA, CIA or similar) preferred.

Reporting Relationships

Head of Internal Audit

Compensation

The anticipated base salary range for this position is listed below. Total compensation may also include a discretionary performance-based bonus. Note, the range takes into account a broad spectrum of qualifications, including, but not limited to, years of relevant work experience, education, and other relevant qualifications specific to the role.

$125,000 - $155,000

The firm also offers robust Benefits offerings. Ares U.S. Core Benefits include Comprehensive Medical/Rx, Dental and Vision plans; 401(k) program with company match; Flexible Savings Accounts (FSA); Healthcare Savings Accounts (HSA) with company contribution; Basic and Voluntary Life Insurance; Long-Term Disability (LTD) and Short-Term Disability (STD) insurance; Employee Assistance Program (EAP), and Commuter Benefits plan for parking and transit.

Ares offers a number of additional benefits including access to a world-class medical advisory team, a mental health app that includes coaching, therapy and psychiatry, a mindfulness and wellbeing app, financial wellness benefit that includes access to a financial advisor, new parent leave, reproductive and adoption assistance, emergency backup care, matching gift program, education sponsorship program, and much more.

There is no set deadline to apply for this job opportunity. Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until the search is no longer active.