Lead Internal Auditor

Role

About the Role

A strong internal audit function does more than identify what went wrong. It helps an organization understand where risks exist, strengthen the controls that protect it, and make better decisions moving forward.

 

At Southland Credit Union, we're looking for a Lead Internal Auditor who brings sound judgment, professional curiosity, and the ability to look beyond individual findings to understand the bigger picture. In this role, you'll help oversee our Internal Audit Program, independently evaluate the effectiveness of internal controls, and provide objective, risk-focused insight that helps protect the organization and the Members who trust us.

 

Reporting to the VP of Enterprise Risk Management, you'll take ownership of key audit activities while serving as the primary liaison to our co-sourced audit partners. You'll work across departments, collaborate with leadership, and help ensure that identified risks and control deficiencies receive the attention, follow-through, and resolution they require.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

Strengthening the Internal Audit Program

An effective audit program starts with understanding where risks exist and where greater oversight may be needed. As the Lead Internal Auditor, you'll help develop and maintain Southland's risk-based audit universe and annual audit plan, considering organizational objectives, regulatory expectations, prior audit results, and changes in our business activities.

 

You'll participate in enterprise risk assessments, evaluate emerging risks, and recommend adjustments to audit coverage as our products, services, operations, and regulatory requirements evolve. Your ability to connect individual audit findings with broader organizational risks will help ensure our audit activities remain relevant and focused on the areas that matter most.

 

You'll also maintain audit workpapers and program documentation in accordance with professional standards, helping support a consistent and well-documented approach to internal auditing.

 

Bringing an Independent Perspective to the Work

At the heart of this role is the ability to independently assess how well our processes, controls, and risk management practices are working.

 

You'll plan and perform operational, financial, and compliance audits from initial fieldwork through final reporting. This includes conducting testing, analyzing information, interviewing associates, and evaluating whether established policies, procedures, laws, and regulations are being followed.

 

As you work through each engagement, you'll identify control deficiencies, uncover root causes, recognize emerging risks, and look for opportunities to strengthen processes. You'll translate your findings into clear, well-supported reports that communicate the risks, observations, and practical recommendations to management and relevant stakeholders.

 

You'll also coordinate with Information Security and specialized audit professionals when engagements involve information technology, cybersecurity, or other areas requiring additional expertise.

 

Your independence and objectivity are essential. You'll need to build productive working relationships throughout the organization while maintaining professional skepticism and the ability to raise concerns when something needs further attention.

 

Coordinating Audit Partners and Driving Follow-Through

Some audit engagements require specialized expertise, and you'll play an important role in coordinating the external consulting firms that support those efforts.

 

As Southland's primary liaison to co-sourced audit partners, you'll help establish engagement expectations, coordinate scopes of work and objectives, monitor progress, and review deliverables to ensure they meet organizational expectations. You'll serve as the connection between consultants, management, and governance committees, keeping communication and accountability at the center of each engagement.

 

Just as important is what happens after an audit is complete. Identifying a control deficiency is only part of the work; ensuring it is properly addressed is what helps strengthen the organization.

 

You'll maintain the audit issue tracking program, monitor corrective action plans, and perform remediation validation testing to confirm that identified issues have been effectively resolved and controls are operating as intended. When findings become overdue, recurring, or significant, you'll be expected to bring them forward through the appropriate management and governance channels.

 

You'll also support regulatory examination readiness by coordinating audit-related information requests, monitoring examination findings, and independently reporting on corrective action progress within the scope of Internal Audit.

 

Providing Insight That Supports Better Decisions

Your work will extend beyond individual audit engagements. You'll help leadership and governance bodies understand the organization's risk environment, the status of audit activities, and areas that may require additional attention.

 

You'll prepare and present periodic reporting to management, the Supervisory Committee, and the Enterprise Risk Management Committee (ERMC), covering audit findings, remediation progress, emerging risks, and significant control issues.

 

You'll also provide advisory support on internal controls, risk management, and compliance matters while maintaining the independence required of the Internal Audit function.

 

Success in this role means more than completing the annual audit plan. It means providing objective insight, identifying issues before they become larger problems, ensuring findings receive appropriate follow-through, and helping strengthen the controls and practices that protect Southland and its Members.

Knowledge and Skills

What Helps You Succeed

Experience

• A minimum of five years of experience in internal audit, external audit, risk management, compliance, regulatory oversight, or related financial services functions.

• Experience conducting operational, financial, compliance, and risk-based audits.

• Experience evaluating internal controls and risk management frameworks.

• Experience managing audit findings, remediation tracking, and validation activities.

• Experience coordinating with external auditors, consultants, or co-sourced audit providers.

• Experience within a credit union, banking, or other regulated financial institution preferred.

• Exposure to regulatory examination processes preferred.

Education & Certifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Risk Management, Information Systems, or a related field required.

• One or more of the following professional certifications preferred:

  • Certified Internal Auditor (CIA)

  • Certified Public Accountant (CPA)

  • Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)

You'll Be at Your Best in This Role If You...

• Have a strong understanding of internal auditing standards, risk management principles, governance frameworks, internal controls, and regulatory requirements applicable to financial institutions.

• Understand risk-based audit planning, audit execution, issue management, remediation validation, and regulatory examination processes.

• Can independently plan, execute, and manage multiple audit engagements while balancing competing priorities.

• Have strong analytical, investigative, problem-solving, and critical-thinking skills, with the ability to identify root causes, recognize trends, and develop practical recommendations.

• Can interpret applicable laws, regulations, policies, and guidance and understand how they affect the organization's risk and control environment.

• Communicate findings and recommendations clearly through well-written reports, presentations, and conversations with stakeholders at all levels.

• Build effective relationships with management, external auditors, consultants, regulators, and governance committees while maintaining independence, objectivity, and professional skepticism.

• Exercise sound professional judgment and discretion when working with sensitive and confidential information.

• Are comfortable using Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel and Word, and have experience with audit management, issue tracking, governance, risk, and compliance (GRC), or data analytics tools.

• Stay current on regulatory changes, auditing standards, and industry best practices and value continuous professional development.

Why Southland?

At Southland Credit Union, our purpose is People Helping People. That commitment extends beyond the financial services we provide. It also means protecting the trust our Members place in us and ensuring we operate responsibly, thoughtfully, and with integrity.

 

Our Enterprise Risk Management team plays an important role in supporting that commitment. Through effective oversight, risk management, and internal controls, the team helps protect the organization, support sound decision-making, and maintain the confidence of our Members and stakeholders.

 

As Lead Internal Auditor, you'll have the opportunity to work across the organization, engage with leadership and governance committees, and provide an independent perspective on matters that are important to Southland's long-term stability and success.

You'll be part of a collaborative, accountable environment where professional judgment, thoughtful recommendations, and a commitment to doing what's right matter.

 

If you're an experienced audit professional looking for an opportunity to take ownership of meaningful audit activities, influence how risks are identified and addressed, and contribute to an organization built on trust and accountability, we'd love to hear from you.

 

 

Equal Opportunity & Pay Transparency

Southland Credit Union is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In accordance with California law, the pay range for this position is included in the job posting. Actual compensation will be based on qualifications, experience, skills, and business needs.

Salary Minimum

USD $79,000.00/Yr.

Salary Maximum

USD $99,000.00/Yr.