Senior Auditor Research

Senior Auditor - Research

Georgia State University is seeking an experienced senior internal audit professional responsible for planning, performing, and reporting on complex financial, operational, and compliance audits within a university setting. Reporting to the Associate Director, the senior auditor independently develops audit objectives, designs and executes detailed audit procedures and prepares high-quality work papers and reports that require minimal revision. This position applies advanced knowledge of auditing standards and higher education operations to evaluate governance, risk management, and internal controls, ensuring the institution’s activities comply with applicable policies, laws, and regulations.

The senior auditor serves as a project lead for assigned audits, coordinating tasks, monitoring timelines, and guiding and reviewing the work of staff auditors to ensure quality and timely completion. The senior auditor also acts as a primary point of contact with university administrators, faculty, and staff, communicating objectives, discussing issues, presenting recommendations, and supporting management in strengthening processes and controls.

• Comprehensive Benefits – Competitive package that includes health, dental, vision, retirement plans, tuition assistance, and more.
• Collaborative Environment – Knowledge‑sharing team that works closely with diverse partners across the university.
• Growth & Development – Professional development, training, and mentorship opportunities to advance your career.
• Impactful Work – Contribute to a rapidly growing office within a dynamic academic setting, where your expertise supports innovation, risk management, and continuous improvement.

• Serve as the lead auditor and, when working as a team, the auditor‑in‑charge, independently planning, managing, and executing all phases of audit engagements and special projects—including research and sponsored programs audits—with very limited supervision. Produce high‑quality work that requires little to no revision. Analyze complex risks and controls across decentralized environments, including grant administration, effort reporting, cost allowability, data stewardship, and compliance monitoring, and anticipate stakeholder questions.
  
  Keep the Associate Director well‑informed through concise progress updates and actionable insights.
• Lead discussions with audit clients during planning, entrance, and exit meetings, using advanced communication skills to refine audit objectives and scope, present audit issues, and defend conclusions and recommendations confidently, diplomatically, and persuasively. Engage research leadership, principal investigators, research administration, and compliance offices, maintaining proactive and balanced communication while demonstrating respect for academic and operational realities. Build credibility and trust through sound judgment, preparation, and clarity.
• Demonstrate strong business and higher education acumen, independently performing data analysis and interpretation to assess trends and connect audit issues to institutional, financial, and compliance impact. Develop and execute audit procedures to evaluate compliance with sponsor requirements, research regulations, institutional policies, and internal controls across the research lifecycle. Assist and guide staff auditors in applying appropriate testing techniques in both administrative and research‑focused audits.
• Create and deliver executive‑level presentations on audit plans, progress, and results, clearly linking detailed findings from research and compliance audits to broader institutional risks, funding exposure, reputational considerations, and operational effectiveness. Highlight root causes and practical solutions, handle questions with professionalism and composure, and reinforce the value of internal audit as a strategic partner.
• Demonstrate strong project management skills by managing entire audit timelines and budgets, developing detailed audit plans, tracking milestones, and effectively reporting progress to audit…