Audit Manager
Minimum Qualifications:
· Minimum of 7-10 years of auditing, accounting, or financial services experience
· Professional certification(s) including, but not limited to: CPA, CIA, CISA, CISSP, CFSA, CBA, CCSA, CFE is required
· Bachelor's Degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics, or Business Administration is required, and a Master’s Degree in the same or related discipline is preferred.
· Past supervisory experience in planning and leading technical/audit staff
Key Responsibilities:
· Learn and maintain a current understanding of the Bank's structure, lines of business, products, systems, and related processes including their interdependencies or relationships to one another, as well as their related risks and controls.
· Build lasting relationships with Management (stakeholders), and evolve business partnerships to become a trusted advisor while maintaining the requisite independence and objectivity of the internal audit function.
· Represent the Internal Audit Department in the Bank's working groups to keep abreast of current activities and initiatives, being cognizant of key developments within various client areas, and informing and educating peers and staff.
· Market the audit process and promote the ability and willingness of the audit staff to provide consultative support to Management of audited areas.
· Execution of risk based audit plan under the direction of the Audit Director.
· Manage and direct audit activities over their respective function audit operations to ensure the risk based internal audit plan is completed timely.
· Supervise and coach the work of the audit staff assigned in order to produce:
o An effective examination and evaluation of the adequacy and effectiveness of the organization's internal control system and its overall quality of performance
o A thorough review of the reliability and integrity of financial information, compliance with policies and regulations, the safeguarding of assets, the economical and efficient use of resources, and established operational goals and objectives, and
o Value-added services that are critical to the efficient and effective management of the Bank including the identification of operational efficiencies in associated with people, process, and technology.
· Work with audit seniors and staff to ensure audits and staff assignments are appropriate to complete the risk-based audit plan in a timely and efficient manner.
· Develop a system of cost and control over audit assignments to ensure they are completed efficiently, within the scope of the risk-based audit plan.
· Monitor staffing levels for timely completion of the risk-based audit plan. Communicate additional staffing needs to the Audit Director.
· Oversee all audit engagements delegated by the Audit Director and approve the overall purpose, scope, risk assessment, and approach for audits ensuring practical coverage is achieved considering risk and regulatory requirements.
· Oversee all audit engagements and ensure that approved audit objectives are met.
· Interact with Senior Management, the Audit Director and audit staff, throughout the audit process; such as conducting preliminary interviews, presenting Audit comments, and conducting Audit exit conferences, as needed.
· Review and approve work papers prepared by audit staff. Work with audit staff to make necessary revisions in order to meet audit objectives. Provide timely, accurate, and relevant review notes to audit staff for purposes of ensuring audit effectiveness and staff development.
· Inform the Audit Director of progress on audits and assigned projects. Discuss audits requiring additional resources or scope constriction with the Audit Director as soon as is practical.
· Prepare draft audit reports for Audit Director review and approval, making adjustments as requested by the Audit Director.
· Responsible for adhering to and ensuring business unit complies with pertinent laws, regulations, First Niagara's Compliance Policy as well as external compliance requirements.
· Recruit and recommend Auditors with the appropriate technical proficiency and educational background to the Audit Director as required to maintain Internal Audit Department staffing, training and development plans for staff. Provide on the job training for Audit Supervisors.
· Oversee staff in the planning, execution, reporting, and follow-up phases of audit assignments.
· Evaluate the performance of and provide timely feedback to staff after the completion of each assignment.
· Complete formal performance appraisals on an annual basis of assigned staff.