Internal Audit Senior - Financial Services

Senior Associate – Risk Advisory

Elliott Davis pairs forward-thinking tax, assurance and consulting services with industry-leading workplace culture. Our nine offices — located in the fastest growing cities in the US — are built on a foundation of inclusivity, collaboration, and collective growth. We work daily to provide exceptional service to our people, customers, and our communities. Audit and assurance services are provided by Elliott Davis, LLC (doing business in NC and D.C. as Elliott Davis, PLLC), a licensed CPA firm.

Position Overview

We are seeking a Senior Associate – Risk Advisory to join our Financial Services Group (FSG). Our team serves a diverse portfolio of financial institutions and provides independent, risk-based assurance and advisory services across a wide range of banking operations. In this role, you will take on increased responsibility in leading internal audit engagements, supervising staff, and ensuring the timely delivery of high-quality advisory services to financial institutions.

The Senior Associate role is designed for professionals who have developed a foundation in audit or banking operations and are ready to contribute to engagement execution, client management, and team development. You will play a key role in maintaining engagement quality standards while mentoring junior staff and supporting efficient project delivery.

Responsibilities

As a Senior Associate, you will lead portions of engagements and provide oversight to associates while continuing to perform hands-on audit work. Responsibilities include but are not necessarily limited to:

• Execute and lead internal audit engagements across key banking functions, including:
• Loan operations and credit administration
• Deposit operations
• ACH and electronic payments
• Wire transfers
• Branch operations
• Accounting and financial reporting
• Human resources and payroll
• Enterprise Risk Management (ERM)
• Model Risk Management (MRM)
• Investment and treasury operations
• Plan and coordinate audit testing activities, including walkthroughs, control testing, and substantive procedures.
• Evaluate the design and operating effectiveness of internal controls and identify risks, control deficiencies, and process improvement opportunities.
• Review associate work papers, ensuring accuracy, completeness, and adherence to firm audit methodology and quality standards.
• Ensure engagements are completed on schedule and within scope by actively monitoring project timelines, deliverables, and resource needs.
• Provide day-to-day guidance, coaching, and mentoring to Associates, including training on audit procedures, documentation standards, and banking concepts.
• Assist in the development of associates by providing constructive feedback and supporting skill progression.
• Prepare and review audit reports, including observations, root cause analysis, and actionable recommendations.
• Support communication with clients, including leading portions of meetings, discussing audit findings, and responding to inquiries.
• Assist managers and senior leadership in engagement planning, risk assessments, and scoping activities.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of audit processes, methodologies, and internal tools.
• Support multiple concurrent engagements while maintaining high-quality work and attention to detail.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, business administration, or a related field; or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• 3+ years of experience in internal audit, external audit, banking operations, risk management, or related fields.
• Strong understanding of:
• Internal control frameworks (e.g., COSO)
• Audit methodologies and risk assessment techniques
• Banking operations and regulatory expectations

• Demonstrated ability to review work, identify issues, and ensure quality deliverables.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with high attention to detail.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills, including ability to convey complex concepts clearly.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Proven ability to work both independently and…