Director, Internal Audit

As a leader in advancing New York’s energy transition, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) has remained a credible, objective and trusted partner in our State’s energy planning as well as deploying new and innovative technologies to expand New York’s economy. NYSERDA has worked for the past 50 years to protect the environment and help New Yorkers increase energy efficiency, lower energy costs and reduce reliance on fossil fuels. NYSERDA engages with stakeholders including residents, business owners, developers, community leaders, local government officials, universities, utilities, investors, entrepreneurs, and more, to develop, invest, and foster conditions that:

• Attract the private sector capital investment needed to expand New York’s clean energy economy.
• Overcome barriers to using clean energy at a large-scale in New York.
• Enable New York’s communities and residents to benefit equitably in the clean energy transition.

Job Overview

NYSERDA is seeking a Director, Internal Audit who will manage independent and objective assurance and advisory services designed to add value and improve the Authority’s operations and the effectiveness of its risk management, control, and governance processes. This position plans, organizes, conducts, and supervises rotating audits and advisory engagements defined in audit plans approved by the Board Audit and Finance Committee, to independently review and test compliance with internal policies and procedures and thus ultimately help the Authority calibrate and improve risk management and compliance. This position reports administratively to the President and CEO, and functionally to the Board of Directors through the Audit and Finance Committee.

Primary Responsibilities

• Maintain and update NYSERDA’s internal audit approach, plans, policies, and practices in accordance with the Institute of Internal Auditors' International Professional Practices Framework.
• Exhibit professional objectivity and appropriate independence from NYSERDA operations in all functional capacities.
• Assess internal auditing resource needs and recommend optimal staffing levels, balancing relative operational risk and budget considerations. As requested, plan, procure, and oversee supplemental resources for special engagements.
• Recruit, train, evaluate, coach, and inform other internal auditors, leading the internal audit team with effective oversight and clear directions to foster compliance with auditing standards and productive audit processes and outcomes.
• Develop, implement, and coordinate robust internal audit programs that are appropriately matched to relative risk, and assist management in testing the application and effectiveness of internal controls.
• Develop, implement, and maintain a quality assurance and improvement program that covers all aspects of the internal audit function, and includes assessments of the function’s conformance with the Global Internal Audit Standards
• Develop and execute the annual risk-based internal audit plan approved by the Board, making balanced assessments of all available and relevant facts and circumstances.
• Collaborate with colleagues to identify opportunities for improvements. Document and communicate audit recommendations to provide reasonable assurance that internal controls are adequate, and risks are managed.
• Follow up on engagement findings to determine that recommended corrective action has been taken and is effective.
• Coordinate regular controls evaluation and testing activities to encourage timely remediation of risks.
• Ensure robust change management techniques are in place to keep controls effective and well-balances as processes and technology advance.
• Prepare and organize internal audit work papers and ensure audit records are retained as per policies.
• Provide guidance and support to the Internal Controls Officer to ensure compliance with the NYS Control Act, including assistance designing effective, efficient risk assessment and controls testing processes.
• In concert with NYSERDA’s Ethics Officer and Internal Controls Officer, encourage and promote an ethics-based culture.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Auditing, Finance, Business Administration, or a similar field, with at least 10 years of progressively responsible management experience involving auditing responsibilities, program evaluations, accounting, budgeting, financial analysis, quantitative analysis, or similar experience including a minimum of 6 years in a supervisory role.
• Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), Certified Internal Controls Auditor (CICA), or Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA).
• Extensive up-to-date knowledge of professional audit standards, the New York State Internal Control Act, the Standards for Internal Control in New York State Government, and the fundamentals of COSO.
• Familiarity/experience with evaluation of internal controls, compliance reviews, financial statement auditing, contract auditing, and auditing information systems and technology.
• Demonstrated success performing and overseeing business analyses, risk assessments, and controls testing.
• Ability to work cross-functionally to understand complex processes, proactively assess relative risk, calibrate controls, and present alternatives and recommendations for improvement.
• Perform all managerial and supervisory responsibilities with respect, fairness, consistency, and inclusion across the workforce.
• Strong project management, business process evaluation, quantitative analysis, and problem-solving skills with an ability to drive to big picture goals while maintaining a strong attention to detail.
• High level of communication and interpersonal skills including active listening and experience developing and delivering Board-level presentations.
• Ability to balance disciplined rigor with realistic practical application.
• Strong work ethic, resolute integrity, and sound business judgement.
• Comfortable utilizing Microsoft Office to produce work products.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree with 8 years of relevant experience, including a minimum of 6 years in a supervisory role
• Certified Public Accountant or will have met the qualifications to be such (may substitute for auditor certifications noted above).
• Extensive knowledge of public sector operations as well as commercial experience.
• Applicable work experience at functionally comparable organization responsible for high-profile, high-volume, competitive grant award decisions and sophisticated financial transactions.

Please submit two files, one for your cover letter and another for a resume.

NYSERDA is exclusively working with a recruitment partner who will be responsible for the initial screening of the resumes for this position.

Please note that during the application process, you may be prompted to opt-in to Artificial Intelligence (“AI”) scoring. This is an automatic request in the ADP system but is not a feature that is used by NYSERDA in its recruiting and hiring process. Your response will have no impact on your application to NYSERDA.

[INDASF]