WHAT DOES AN INTERNAL AUDIT DIRECTOR DO?

Published: Oct 13, 2025 - The Internal Audit Director provides leadership, oversight, and mentorship to a team of auditors, ensuring the timely completion of audit projects aligned with the annual audit plan. This role involves strategic planning, advising business units on risk and compliance, recommending enhancements to internal controls, and identifying opportunities to improve governance processes. The director also promotes the use of computer-assisted audit techniques (CAATs), resolves conflicts with empathy and professionalism, and drives efficiency through innovative approaches that add organizational value.

A Review of Professional Skills and Functions for Internal Audit Director

1. Internal Audit Director Essential Functions

  • Auditing Leadership: Organize, direct, and control the Internal Audit department and the work of all internal audit staff.
  • Risk Assessment: Conduct an internal risk assessment and develop an annual risk-based internal audit plan.
  • Plan Execution: Execute on the annual plan to achieve the internal audit objectives and scope.
  • Department Evaluation: Evaluate each department of the organization periodically.
  • Compliance Monitoring: Determine if they are performing in compliance with management's policies, procedures, goals and objectives.
  • Internal Controls Review: Evaluate the organization's system of internal control to ensure that it is functioning as planned and that it is updated to meet changes in operating conditions.
  • Project Review: Review existing as well as new projects, services and procedures.
  • Regulatory Compliance: Ensure compliance with regulatory authorities and proper internal controls.
  • Policy Development: Suggest policy and procedure changes or review.
  • Consultant Management: Manage the relationship of any/all external consulting resources that are engaged.
  • Audit Support: Assist in the performance of any/all internal control and auditing activities.
  • Plan Adjustment: Review and adjust the annual audit plan to meet company needs and changing conditions.

2. Internal Audit Director Roles and Responsibilities

  • Financial Review: Review the reliability and integrity of financial information and the means used to identify, measure, classify and report such information.
  • Asset Protection: Verify the existence of company assets and ensure that proper safeguards are maintained to protect them from losses of all kinds.
  • Audit Coordination: Coordinate the internal audit effort with those of the company's independent public accountants and act as liaison with regulatory examiners.
  • Fraud Investigation: Investigate internal forgeries, embezzlements, fraud and any type of losses.
  • Evidence Management: Procure all evidence, file applicable reports with insurance and applicable regulatory agencies, and work with investigating law enforcement agencies.
  • Corrective Action Review: Review and record the plan and actions taken by management to correct conditions reported by audit findings.
  • Audit Documentation: Maintain audit files by documenting the audit procedures used and each of the audit reports completed.
  • Investigation Reporting: Prepare reports and communicate the status of any/all internal investigations to the CEO and Board of Directors.
  • Executive Advisory: Advise Board and executive management on environmental factors, industry directions and external benchmarking best practices.
  • Audit Reporting: Report the results of all internal audits to the President/CEO and COO.
  • Project Leadership: Participate in and lead special projects as directed by executive management or the Board.
  • Regulatory Awareness: Stay abreast of new regulations and accounting standards affecting the insurance industry and their potential effect on the company.
  • Professional Development: Stay up to date with leading thoughts, practices, and developments within the internal audit profession.

3. Internal Audit Director Duties and Roles

  • Professional Standards: Promote and ensure adherence to the Institute of Internal Auditors Professional Practices framework.
  • Industry Engagement: Actively participate in professional organizations relevant to the internal audit field.
  • Team Leadership: Provide daily direction to the Internal Audit team.
  • Values Communication: Communicate Mission, Values and other organization operating principles to direct and indirect reports.
  • Performance Excellence: Establish and maintain the overall work cadence and ensure performance and outcomes strive for excellence in delivery and customer experience.
  • Employee Engagement: Ensure that the entire assigned Internal Audit team is engaged and that leadership practices for the department encourage development, recognition and retention.
  • Talent Management: Establish and hold the team accountable to and adhere to hiring criteria, onboarding and training requirements for incoming staff.
  • Performance Oversight: Oversee the performance management and development process for the assigned Internal Audit team members.
  • Coaching Development: Perform performance management duties, development planning and coaching for direct reports.
  • Team Support: Act as a resource for assigned Internal Audit team members to answer questions and solve complex problems.
  • Resource Management: Manage assigned Internal Audit budget, technology and other resources, workload and customer requests for Internal Audit services.
  • Policy Compliance: Ensure adherence to all Company policies and procedures and Compliance responsibilities.
  • Data Integrity: Ensure data quality, adherence to Internal Audit security guidelines, profitability and other risk-related metrics for self and members of the team.

4. Internal Audit Director Responsibilities and Key Tasks

  • Governance Strategy: Set governance, strategy, and project management expectations across the Finance vertical project portfolio.
  • Stakeholder Relations: Build strong relationships with key business partners across Facebook, including Finance, Accounting Operations, Enterprise Engineering, Facilities, and Global Security.
  • Business Understanding: Thoroughly understand their business and identify appropriate risk mitigations and opportunities to add value.
  • SOX Compliance: Manage the company’s SOX compliance program.
  • Audit Expertise: Act as a subject matter expert and key liaison with internal stakeholders and external auditors.
  • Risk Assessment: Drive vertical risk assessment and dynamic audit planning and participate in enterprise risk assessment and audit planning processes.
  • Team Management: Manage and develop a team of audit professionals.
  • Audit Execution: Execute audits and projects, providing direction and ongoing coaching and development.
  • Executive Reporting: Report to the Vice President of Internal Audit, Executive Leadership, and the Audit and Risk Oversight Committee on risks, portfolio of audits, and outcomes.
  • Thought Leadership: Bring thought leadership, leading practice frameworks, and audit process improvements, and contribute to the continuous improvement of the department.
  • Cross-Functional Collaboration: Collaborate with other Internal Audit leaders to execute IA’s strategy and coordinate cross-vertical audit projects and initiatives.
  • Partner Management: Effectively manage relationships with the internal audit co-sourcing partners.
  • Communication Leadership: Create credibility to be viewed and respected as the communication leader for internal audit and the broader Finance organization.

5. Internal Audit Director Key Accountabilities

  • Audit Coordination: Coordinate audit activities to ensure that work conforms to professional standards.
  • Audit Planning: Plan and conduct necessary audits.
  • Staff Supervision: Supervise the audit staff.
  • Control Consultation: Provide consultations to other departments regarding internal controls.
  • Risk Assessment: Develop an annual risk assessment.
  • Investigative Support: Provide support to investigative staff.
  • Executive Communication: Communicate and brief executive management.
  • Budget Development: Help to develop the annual budget.
  • Peer Review Preparation: Prepare for external peer review.

6. Senior Internal Audit Director Duties

  • Risk Identification: Identify risk exposures that may impact achievement of the Company’s objectives.
  • Audit Planning: Develop a risk-based audit plan addressing key business practices, financial processes and controls, operational areas, and information technology and related security activities, and submit it to senior management for discussion, input, and feedback, and subsequently to the Audit Committee for review and approval.
  • Plan Adjustment: Adjust the audit plan in response to changes in the business environment and discuss such proposed changes with senior management and the Audit Committee.
  • Audit Execution: Execute the annual audit plan and track audit findings through to remediation.
  • Governance Assessment: Assess the adequacy and effectiveness of governance and risk management processes.
  • Control Evaluation: Evaluate design and operating effectiveness of processes and controls pertaining to reliability and integrity of financial and operational reporting, and reliability and security of information systems and data.
  • Regulatory Compliance: Comply with laws, regulations, policies, procedures, and contracts.
  • Operational Efficiency: Evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of business operations, projects, and programs.
  • Third-Party Audits: Develop and direct the conduct of audits of several key third parties (e.g., vendors, collaborations, etc.).

7. Senior Internal Audit Director Job Summary

  • Risk Coordination: Coordinate risk assessment and audit or monitoring coverages with key second-line assurance functions, such as Corporate Compliance, SOX PMO, and GxP.
  • ERM Participation: Participate and provide advice and input into the company’s ERM program and annual risk assessment and reporting process.
  • Investigation Support: Assist and respond to requests by Compliance in investigations of suspected non-compliance, improprieties, or fraud.
  • Charter Review: Review, at least biannually, the Charter of the Function with the Audit Committee.
  • Function Evaluation: Determine whether any changes to the Function’s mission, responsibilities, or authority are necessary.
  • Budget Planning: Develop an annual budget and resource plan to complete the audit plan and fulfill the Function’s responsibilities.
  • Performance Communication: Periodically communicate performance against the audit plan to senior management and the Audit Committee.
  • Results Reporting: Communicate results of engagements and other activities, including any significant risk exposures and control issues, fraud risks, governance issues, and other matters requiring attention to senior management and the Audit Committee.
  • Follow-Up Monitoring: Conduct appropriate follow-up on corrective action plans and periodically report to senior management and the Audit Committee on plans not effectively implemented.
  • Quality Assurance: Maintain a Quality Assurance and Improvement Program (QAIP) that covers all aspects of the Function’s activities.

8. Internal Audit Director Essential Functions

  • Team Leadership: Provide oversight, management, and mentorship to a staff of approximately ten.
  • Project Monitoring: Monitor the status and completion of all audit projects on the annual audit plan.
  • Strategic Planning: Participate in audit and strategic planning and development of the audit function.
  • Business Acumen: Demonstrate savvy business acumen and an in-depth understanding of risk management.
  • Conflict Resolution: Display conflict resolution and negotiation skills through appropriate persuasion and genuine empathy.
  • Problem Solving: Assist business units in problem identification and solutions.
  • Control Enhancement: Recommend enhancements to internal controls.
  • Regulatory Compliance: Facilitate compliance with all applicable internal policies and procedures, insurance and vendor agreements, state and federal regulations, and safety and soundness considerations.
  • Process Improvement: Offer solutions to improve the effectiveness of risk management, control, and governance processes.
  • Innovation Implementation: Identify and implement new ways of approaching engagements to add value, create efficiencies, and enhance overall effectiveness through balanced use of available resources.
  • Technology Utilization: Identify opportunities to implement computer-assisted audit techniques (CAATs) to achieve audit objectives.

9. Internal Audit Director Functions

  • Business Solutions: Provide powerful business solutions to the biggest and most dynamic companies in the U.K.
  • Social Impact: Make a positive impact on the environment, participate in a range of diversity and inclusion initiatives, and receive support, coaching, and training.
  • Risk Preparedness: Uniquely gather capabilities that address challenges and risks to prepare clients for future obstacles.
  • Methodology Leadership: Lead practice methodologies, incorporating digital transformation and innovation in all activities.
  • Strategic Delivery: Play a key role in delivering strategy and growing the practice in the U.K.
  • Leadership Development: Develop leadership capability and take on responsibilities for leading teams, refining propositions, building and maintaining client relationships, managing operations, staying current with regulatory changes, and identifying opportunities to grow business and expand service offerings.
  • Audit Management: Plan, manage, and execute financial and operational audits, SOX projects, fraud reviews, and special projects.
  • Strategy Support: Support the development and ongoing refinement of the Internal Audit strategy and departmental infrastructure.
  • Team Leadership: Provide leadership, training, and professional development to create a high-performing team.

10. Internal Audit Director Details and Accountabilities

  • Audit Leadership: Lead multiple financial audit projects simultaneously, including audit plans, follow-ups, and pre-implementation reviews.
  • Strategic Vision: Develop a strategic vision to enhance and clarify the framework for how the Internal Audit division covers financial reporting risk.
  • Team Direction: Set a vision and provide direction for the team and division.
  • Audit Partnership: Liaison and partner with the SOX testing team and the External Auditor.
  • Stakeholder Representation: Represent the division with Senior Management, the External Auditor, the Regulator, and other key partners.
  • Executive Communication: Understand the information needs of executive management and keep them informed.
  • Career Development: Play a leading role in the development and career pathing for the current team and other internal audit professionals.
  • Stakeholder Engagement: Engage with and educate EMEA stakeholders and Finance leadership on the role of Internal Audit and the benefits of an effective control environment.
  • Control Oversight: Provide oversight and guidance for assessing the appropriateness of controls over risks in EMEA Financial, Operational, and Reputational.
  • Strategic Alignment: Evolve and enhance the strategy and direction of the EMEA IA team and its alignment with the overall global IA strategy.
  • Project Oversight: Oversee all IA projects performed by the EMEA IA team, including the involvement of tech audit and data science team members.
  • Team Growth: Lead and grow the EMEA IA team, including development of talent, management of team workload, and deployment of resources.
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