AUDIT DIRECTOR 3- 75235

Executive Service

This position is designed as Hybrid.

For more information, visit the link below:

https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/finance/FA_IA%20Director%203.pdf

Who we are and what we do:

Our Mission: Leading through great business and exceptional customer service.

How you make a difference in this role:

This role is well-suited for a leader who can balance technical audit expertise with executive presence, manage a professional audit team, and serve as a trusted advisor in a complex and highly visible environment.

Job Overview:

This mission-critical role is ideal for a seasoned audit leader and strategic thinker who brings sound judgment, intellectual curiosity, and credibility at the executive level. The Internal Audit Director is trusted to operate with independence, discretion, and professionalism while navigating complex programs, regulatory requirements, and high-impact risk areas.
By leading the internal audit function, overseeing complex audit work, and partnering closely with executive leadership, the Audit Director ensures accountability, transparency, and continuous improvement across the Department of Finance and Administration. This role helps:

1. Strengthen assurance by delivering independent, objective audits that assess compliance, controls, and operational effectiveness
2. Surface risk early by identifying emerging issues across programs, systems, fiscal activity, and external partners
3. Drive improvement by translating audit findings into practical, actionable recommendations that enhance performance
4. Support leadership decision-making by providing clear, well-supported insights on risk, controls, and governance
5. Maintain integrity and trust by upholding professional standards and ensuring consistent interpretation of state and federal requirements
6. Create organizational confidence by coordinating seamlessly with external auditors and oversight entities while protecting the department's independence.

Key Responsibilities:

Audit Leadership & Strategic Planning

1. Plan, organize, and direct all internal audit activities across the department.
2. Develop and maintain a risk-based audit plan that balances annual priorities with flexibility to address emerging risks, executive requests, and unplanned deadlines.
3. Monitor audit progress against established timelines and deliverables, providing regular status updates to executive leadership.
4. Oversee a portfolio of internal audits, compliance audits, advisory engagements, risk assessments, and investigations.
5. Team Leadership & Workforce Management
6. Supervise and mentor the department's internal audit team and assign work to audit staff based on risk, complexity, and professional development needs.

Our Mission:

1. Leading through great business and exceptional customer service.
2. Provide clear direction, performance feedback, and coaching to ensure high-quality audit work and continuous skill development.
3. Foster a culture of accountability, integrity, independence, professionalism, and continuous improvement within the audit function.
4. Quality Assurance & Professional Standards
5. Establish, maintain, and continuously improve the Quality Assurance and Improvement Program for the internal audit function.
6. Ensure audit activities comply with applicable professional standards, laws, regulations, and internal audit policies and procedures.
7. Lead interpretation and application of state and federal laws, rules, and audit standards, resolving complex or disputed issues as needed.

Audit Execution & Reporting

1. Review and evaluate audit results, including detailed workpapers and reports documenting scope, methodology, and findings.
2. Identify control weaknesses, compliance gaps, and operational risks, and develop practical, actionable recommendations.
3. Exercise sound judgment in determining audit conclusions, risk ratings, and recommended corrective actions.
4. Executive Engagement & Stakeholder Communication
5. Communicate effectively with audit staff, supervisors, executive leadership, legislators, and external partners.
6. Build and maintain strong working relationships with division leadership, senior management, governmental officials, and legal counsel.
7. Present audit results and recommendations clearly and credibly to executive audiences, including complex or sensitive findings.
8. Issue Resolution & Advisory Support
9. Partner closely with executive leadership to address and resolve significant issues identified through audits.
10. Provide objective advisory support on risk management, internal controls, and governance matters.
11. Navigate complex and potentially controversial audit findings with professionalism, discretion, and independence.
12. External Coordination & Oversight
13. Direct coordination of audit activities with the Comptroller of the Treasury and other state and federal audit entities.
14. Serve as the primary audit liaison for external auditors, ensuring alignment, information sharing, and avoidance of duplication.
15. Support transparency and accountability through effective collaboration with oversight bodies.

Minimum Qualifications:

Education: Bachelor's degree is required. A degree in business, accounting, or a related field is preferred.

• Certification: Relevant credentials, such as Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) or Certified Public Accountant (CPA) with audit experience, are required. Consideration will be given to candidates with additional certifications, including Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) or Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE).
• Experience: 8 years of full-time professional audit experience, with increasingly responsible professional audit work. Experience in government or the public sector is a plus.

Pursuant to the State of Tennessees Workplace Discrimination and Harassment policy, the State is firmly committed to the principle of fair and equal employment opportunities for its citizens and strives to protect the rights and opportunities of all people to seek, obtain, and hold employment without being subjected to illegal discrimination and harassment in the workplace. It is the States policy to provide an environment free of discrimination and harassment of an individual because of that persons race, color, national origin, age (40 and over), sex, pregnancy, religion, creed, disability, veterans status or any other category protected by state and/or federal civil rights laws.