Vice President - Internal Audit

ACUARP; Smithfield (RI); On-site; USD 170,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

ACUARP seeks a strategic Vice President of Internal Audit to lead risk-based assurance across our financial services operations in Rhode Island. You will oversee audit planning, execution, and reporting while coordinating with the Supervisory Committee and senior executives to strengthen controls and governance.

The role focuses on transitioning from a fully outsourced to a hybrid co-sourced audit model, developing internal capability, and leveraging external experts where appropriate.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in accounting or finance or related field required or preferred.
• Professional certifications such as CIA/CPA/CISA or similar credentials strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Directs the daily operations of the internal audit team, supervising staff and ensuring performance reviews.
• Leads the transition from a fully outsourced model to a hybrid co-sourced model with roadmap and knowledge transfer.
• Manages internal audit activities with independence and objective reporting to Supervisory Committee and Senior Counsel/Chief Risk Officer.
• Serves as the internal audit contact for the Supervisory Committee, providing regular reporting on results and remediation.
• Develops, maintains, and executes a risk-based annual audit plan aligned with organizational priorities and regulatory expectations.
• Oversees audit execution including planning, scoping, fieldwork, documentation, and reporting of findings.
• Supports ongoing risk assessments to ensure audit coverage remains responsive to changing risks.
• Ensures escalation and validation of findings and remediation with clear leadership reporting.
• Coordinates day-to-day with co-sourced and external audit partners and knowledge transfer initiatives.

Skills

Audit leadership

Risk management

Regulatory knowledge

Board interaction

Communication

Vendor oversight

Data analytics

Education

Bachelor's degree in accounting/finance/business

CIA/CPA/CISA or similar credentials

Tools

Microsoft Office

Audit management tools

Data analytics tools

Job description

The Vice President, Internal Audit provides independent, objective assurance and advisory services designed to evaluate and improve internal controls, risk management practices, governance processes, and operational effectiveness across audited areas of the Credit Union. This role reports functionally to the Supervisory Committee and administratively to the SVP, General Counsel & Chief Risk Officer, serving as the internal audit point of contact for the Supervisory Committee on audit matters. The position is responsible for developing, recommending, maintaining, and executing an approved risk-based internal audit plan aligned with organizational risk priorities, regulatory expectations, and business objectives. The Vice President, Internal Audit manages audit execution, issue tracking and validation, co-sourced and other external audit partner coordination, and ongoing reporting of audit results, trends, and emerging risks. This role is also responsible for leading the transition of the internal audit model from a fully outsourced approach to a hybrid co-sourced model that builds internal capability while continuing to leverage specialized external expertise where appropriate. This leader is expected to demonstrate independence, executive presence, sound judgment, and the ability to strengthen audit processes and team capabilities as the function evolves.

JOB DESCRIPTION

• Directs the daily operations of the internal audit team by providing ongoing supervision, coaching, guidance, and training. Oversees performance management of the staff, including but not limited to conducting reviews, recommending corrective action, and other employment actions. Actively participates in the employee engagement process to ensure a motivated staff. Participates in the interviewing process for and recommends the hiring of audit staff.
• Leads the transition of internal audit auditing model from a fully outsourced model to a hybrid co-sourced model, including implementation of a transition roadmap, internal capability development, knowledge transfer, and appropriate use of external specialist resources.
• Manages and leads internal audit activities while maintaining appropriate independence and objectivity through functional reporting to the Supervisory Committee and administrative reporting to the SVP, General Counsel & Chief Risk Officer.
• Serves as the internal audit point of contact for the Supervisory Committee, preparing regular reporting on audit results, issue remediation, trends, emerging risks, co-sourcing model progress, vendor performance, internal capability development, and the status of the approved audit plan.
• Develops, recommends, maintains, and executes a risk-based annual audit plan, including audit programming in the areas of operations, compliance and technology, aligned with the audit universe, organizational risk priorities, regulatory priorities, and business objectives.
• Oversees audit execution, including planning, scoping, fieldwork, documentation, reporting, and validation of management corrective actions.
• Supports and maintains the audit universe and performs annual and ongoing risk assessments to help ensure audit coverage remains responsive to changing business, regulatory, operational, technology, and control risks.
• Ensures effective tracking, escalation, and validation of audit findings and remediation activities, including clear reporting to the Supervisory Committee and senior leadership.
• Co-ordinates and manages day-to-day relationships with co-sourced and external audit partners, including scope, priorities, performance expectations, knowledge transfer, and internal capability development.
• Promotes strong governance, internal controls, risk awareness, and compliance with applicable internal audit standards, regulatory expectations, policies, and procedures.
• Prepares and presents clear audit, risk, control, and operational updates and recommendations to executive leadership, management, external partners, and governance bodies.
• Performs all other duties as assigned by the Supervisory Committee or SVP, General Counsel & Chief Risk Officer.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Education

A bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, business administration, risk management, or a related field is required. Professional certification such as Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA), or similar audit, risk, compliance, or financial services credential strongly preferred.

Experience/Skills/Knowledge:

• Minimum of 7-10 years of progressive experience in internal audit, risk management, regulatory oversight, external audit, or a related field, preferably within a credit union, bank, or financial institution required.
• Prior audit leadership experience, including responsibility for audit planning, audit execution, issue management, reporting, and team or vendor oversight required.
• Experience interacting with boards, supervisory committees, audit committees, executive leadership, regulators, or external audit partners required.
• Demonstrated ability to build internal audit capabilities, including audit methodology, audit universe maintenance, workpaper standards, staff development, vendor governance, and quality assurance practices.
• Must have strong knowledge of internal audit standards, risk management practices, internal controls, governance processes, and the financial services regulatory environment.
• Must have the ability to develop, recommend, and execute a risk-based audit plan, support and maintain an audit universe, perform risk assessments, and align audit coverage with organizational risk priorities.
• Must have demonstrated ability to evaluate audit findings, identify root causes, assess remediation effectiveness, and communicate practical recommendations to management and governance bodies.
• Must have strong service orientation in alignment with the Credit Union's mission and core values.
• Must have strong executive presence, independence, objectivity, sound judgment, and ability to influence collaboratively across all levels of the organization.
• Excellent analytical, organizational, project management, problem-solving, verbal communication, written communication, and presentation skills required.
• Must have the ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, exercise discretion, and handle highly confidential information with professionalism.
• Must have a demonstrated ability to lead, coach, and develop audit professionals and promote continuous improvement within the internal audit function.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and standard office technology required; familiarity with audit management, data analytics, governance, risk, and compliance tools preferred.