Lead Internal Auditor

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.

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 work papers 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…