Assistant Director-Internal Audit

Overview

This role is for an Assistant Director to join the Internal Audit team. The position leads and drives the development and execution of the enterprise audit plan using a risk-based approach, while supporting departmental and enterprise strategies through the execution of risk management and assurance services across a global organization.

Responsibilities

• Audit oversight, leadership, and execution
  • Evaluate key risks impacting overall strategies and objectives, including examination of key processes and application controls.
  • Delegate and oversee work performed by other team members.
• Risk assessment and audit planning
  • Identify key risks, controls, and testing strategies to assess the current environment.
  • Recommend audits, including scope, timing, and budget, based on risk assessment.
  • Engage management in assessing approaches for mitigating new and/or complex risks in a dynamic business/technology environment.
  • Support development of audit acumen in other audit team members.
• Data and analytics
  • Leverage data and analytics to provide additional insight and improve efficiency in audit analysis.
• Concurrent delivery and prioritization
  • Lead and drive concurrent projects with high complexity.
  • Plan and prioritize tasks across competing activities.
• Communication
  • Use effective written and oral communication to reflect relevant facts from audit execution.
  • Present audit results and professional opinions objectively and without bias to stakeholders, including executive management.
  • Coach other auditors on appropriate communication methods and approaches.
• Knowledge of business and control frameworks
  • Apply common control frameworks (COSO, NIST, etc.) or other criteria to assess control effectiveness.
  • Build and maintain working knowledge of corporate policies and procedures.
  • Interact with staff and management at all levels to gather required information and solicit insights related to key risks and controls.
  • Develop in-depth knowledge of products, services, and strategies to effectively target audit work.
• Strategy, planning, and enterprise alignment
  • Help develop strategy and execute strategic efforts within the organization’s global environment, including efforts focused on effectiveness and efficiency at the departmental, business segment, and organizational levels.
  • Drive audit planning and risk assessment efforts to align audit work with enterprise strategic priorities and meet audit coverage needs.
  • Communicate insights from ongoing audit work and networking with business unit leaders to inform the audit plan.
  • Work with audit leadership to help define initial audit scope.
• Collaboration and stakeholder management
  • Develop and maintain strong relationships within Internal Audit and across the broader organization, especially with business unit leadership (e.g., VP levels).
  • Maintain candid relationships with external stakeholders (external audit, regulator).
  • Present to subsidiary boards and management committees.
• Challenge, escalation, and influence
  • Challenge audit scope/focus to align with business objectives and professional standards.
  • Use professional judgment to prioritize objectives most impactful to organizational strategy.
  • Escalate significant issues and risk exposures appropriately.
• Problem-solving and improvement
  • Evaluate and negotiate appropriate solutions to complex problems identified through assurance activities.
  • Support a culture of continuous improvement by identifying and addressing departmental improvement opportunities.
• People leadership and quality management
  • Recruit, lead, motivate, empower, and develop staff.
  • Provide candid feedback and/or coaching to develop team members and enhance departmental impact.
  • Coordinate use of audit resources to deliver meaningful value.
  • Work with Professional Practices to meet staff development needs.
  • Ensure consistency and quality of work product by following department process, methodologies, and reporting standards.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree and 10+ years of progressive experience in Internal Audit, including 3+ years of people management experience (informal or formal).
• Strong understanding of audit, risk, and control concepts, with the ability to assess, document, and communicate work performed.
• Depth and breadth of knowledge of business operations to support credibility, relationship management, and audit impact.
• Ability to develop understanding in other critical subject areas, including technical business matters and technology concepts.
• Leadership, influence, and effective challenge skills across all levels of management, including executive leadership, when communicating audit results and addressing stakeholder questions/concerns.
• Proven experience developing and executing strategic projects.
• Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), or equivalent certification preferred.
• Experience leading project delivery and execution.
• Proficiency in internal auditing principles and best practices, including working knowledge of accepted control frameworks, with specific knowledge of COSO.
• Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills with domestic and globally oriented teams.
• Travel may be required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), or equivalent certification.

Compensation & Benefits

• Targeted base salary range: $127000 - $171000 / year
• Bonus program: Non-sales positions have the opportunity to participate in a bonus program.
• Additional notes on compensation: Actual compensation will be based upon geographic location, work experience, education, licensure requirements and/or skill level and will be finalized at the time of offer.
• Time Off Program: Flexible Time Off (FTO) for salaried (exempt) employees; no accrued bank of time off and no set number of days.
• Pension Eligible: Yes

Work Environment

• In-office, hybrid (blending at least three office days in a typical workweek), and remote work arrangements.
• Remote work is available only if residing more than 30 miles from Des Moines, IA, Raleigh, NC or Charlotte, NC.
• The selected work arrangement will be discussed with the leader based on several factors.

Work Authorization / Sponsorship

At this time, applicants that need any type of immigration sponsorship (additional work authorization or permanent work authorization) are not being considered now or in the future to work in the United States. This includes, but is not limited to: F1-OPT, F1-CPT, H-1B, TN, L-1, J-1, etc.

Additional Information

• Investment Code of Ethics: For positions within Principal Asset Management, an Investment Code of Ethics related to personal and business conduct and personal trading activities for you and members of your household is required; similar requirements may apply to other positions.
• Posting window: Applications will be accepted for 3 full days following the Original Posting Date (9/1/2026). After that, the posting may remain open or be removed based on applications received.
• Equal Opportunity: Equal opportunity employer; employment consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.
• AI in recruiting: Artificial intelligence tools may be used to assist with initial application review, fraud prevention, and candidate matching/comparisons; final hiring decisions are made by humans.

Location

Remote work is only available if residing more than 30 miles from Des Moines, IA, Raleigh, NC or Charlotte, NC. Otherwise, the role offers in-office or hybrid options.