Director of Risk & Internal Audits

Tarrant Regional Water District
Job Description

Salary: $132,579.20 – $198,889.60 annually

 

Location: Fort Worth, TX

 

Position Summary:

The Director of Risk & Internal Audits is responsible for managing and supervising the activities of the Internal Audit and Risk Management departments. They manage staff engaged in developing, implementing, and administering the district’s internal audit program, including financial, IT, operational and regulatory audit areas, as well as safety, insurance, and risk programs. The position reports functionally to the Finance Committee, acting as the liaison between the district and the Finance Committee to ensure a strong control environment exists across the district and its component unit, Central City Flood Control.

 

In addition, this role will work alongside the Leadership team to collaborate on matters of strategic and operational planning, organizational change, business decision-making, and the overall leadership of TRWD. They develop TRWD’s Strategic Plan in conjunction with TRWD management and the Board of Directors.

 

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

The duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to this position.

 

Internal Audit

· Represents the Internal Audit Department and the district in a leadership role, demonstrating core values, supporting district policies and procedures and encouraging a common culture throughout the organization

· Responsible for the strategic direction and quality of the audit function, including continuous improvement of audit procedures, communication of audit recommendations, monitoring the status of audit recommendations and findings, and management of the department’s budget

· Assists in performing risk assessments of the district’s operations to develop a comprehensive internal audit program and calendar with the district’s third-party Internal Auditing Firm for the Director of Finance review and Finance Committee approval

· Coordinates and performs financial, operational and compliance audits in accordance with the internal audit program and coordinate the scope of procedures performed by the external firm executing

· Coordinates the agenda for meetings of the Finance Committee as it pertains to Internal Audit and assists the Director of Finance in the Committee’s duties and responsibilities

· Performs Compliance Audits and reports the results to the Director of Finance and the Finance Committee

· Presents the results of internal audit work to the Finance Committee and tracks the status of findings / resolution for the Committee

· Interacts with management and other district personnel to perform audit work and reports audit findings and recommendations to management in a manner that helps management understand the risk and control issues

· Ensures written audit reports are clear, concise and have been fully vetted with management

· Develops recommendations for improving internal controls and operating efficiency.

· Prepares a time budget to facilitate achievement of audit calendar

· Provides supervision and guidance to internal audit staff

· Serves as a resource to the external auditors in the completion of the annual financial statement audit

· Facilitates co-sourcing with third parties for various audits

· Participates in managing the Company’s whistleblower hotline to ensure that reported activity is responded to in accordance with established policy

· Serves as a resource for internal control and regulatory matters impacting all areas of the Company

· Assists in budget development by providing justification and argument for proposals and initiatives

 

Risk & Safety

· Oversees the implementation of the district’s risk management programs (i.e., general property and liability insurance) and the district’s environmental, occupational, and health/safety programs. Ensures compliance with ADA, and other related federal, state, and local laws and regulations

· Oversees enterprise risk management tools, practices, and policies to analyze and report long-range enterprise risks to directors, chiefs, and board members

· Oversees staff performing insurance needs assessments and recommending coverage levels. Negotiates terms of coverage and purchase of insurance plans in consultation with supervisor

· Oversees the district’s Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP) as well as the ergonomics program. Works with management staff to investigate workplace injuries, illnesses, accidents, and incidents. Determines causal factors and remedial measures. Advises supervisor and relevant departments of ramifications and liabilities related to district facilities, equipment, and procedures. Takes corrective actions to resolve compliance issues. Supervises and/or coordinates ongoing safety inspections, related training and collaborates with Emergency Management on emergency plans to ensure they are in compliance with any legal or contractual requirements. Evaluates program effectiveness. Recommends modifications as appropriate

· At the direction of General Counsel, prepares for litigated claims. Assembles documents, signs interrogatories, arranges for witness statements, gathers evidence, and conducts independent investigations, as appropriate. Recommends, in consultation with General Counsel, policy holders, supervisory staff, disposition and/or claim settlement amounts for the Board’s review and approval

· Oversees TRWD’s risk management policies and strategies to ensure they are in compliance with applicable regulations, rating agency standards, and strategic imperatives of the organization

· Collaborate with TRWD Emergency Management to identify gaps in coverage and potential control and process audits

 

Other

· Establish and implement division mission, goals, and strategies in alignment with the Strategic Plan

· Direct and coordinate activities of division

· Develop and manage the division budget

· Perform personnel functions such as selection, training, development and evaluation

· Identify training budget needs

· Performance review alignment

· Job description review

· Personnel budget assessment

· Maintain familiarity with strategic district levels of service

· Continuous improvement monitoring and innovation efforts

· Perform other duties as required

 

Required Experience:

· Ten (10) years of verifiable professional experience auditing complex financial records spanning a variety of businesses and industries that must include four (4) years of supervising and/or managing audits

· Master’s degree in finance, accounting, or a closely related field that provides appropriate analytic training may be substituted for one (1) year of the required ten (10) years of auditing experience. This may not be applied to any of the required four (4) years of experience supervising and managing audits

 

Desired Experience:

· Governmental and/or Water district knowledge and experience is highly preferred.

· Strong ability to maintain the necessary levels of independence and professional skepticism

· Experience and ability to effectively communicate and interact with the Board of Directors and senior management

· Strong analytical, communication (oral and written) and computer skills

· Capability of working effectively and efficiently under limited supervision

· Supervisory or management experience

· Solid and proven ability to think strategically

 

Required Education/Certification/License:

· Bachelor’s degree with major coursework in finance, accounting, business administration, public policy, public administration, or a field closely related that provides appropriate analytic and management training, including at least twenty-four (24) semester hours of accounting and/or auditing courses

· Valid Texas driver’s license

 

 

Desired Education/Certification/License:

· Audit certification such as CPA or CIA is highly preferred (or actively working towards either)

 

Success Factors/Job Competencies:

· Exercise discretion and independent judgment with respect to matters of significance

 

Physical Demands and Work Environment:

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

· Physical demands: While performing duties of job, employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; use hand to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; balance; stoop; talk and hear. Employees must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

· Work environment: While performing the duties of this job, the employee typically resides within an office or cubicle and may have occasional fieldwork that will expose the employee to weather conditions prevalent at the time.

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