Special Information

• This position is an on-site position which requires the incumbent to complete their work primarily at an NAU site, campus, or facility with or without accommodation. Opportunities for remote work are rare.
• Driving a vehicle on behalf of the university is anticipated to be a regular part of this position. Arizona Administrative Code Fleet Safety Policy requires all employees who drive on university business become authorized by submitting Driver’s license information for driving record monitoring, and completion of training appropriate to the level of driving performed. The law applies to all faculty, staff, and students who drive personal or university-owned motorized vehicles for any business purpose. More information on the NAU Authorized Driver Policy can be found on the NAU website.
• NAU is currently engaged in transitioning to a new employment category called University Staff, which aligns the current Classified Staff, Service Professional, and Administrator classifications into a single, unified employment group.  As a result, while this position is currently classified as Service Professional, effective July 1, 2026, this position will be automatically transitioned to the University Staff category.  

About the Department/College

The purpose of Northern Arizona University Internal Audit is to strengthen NAU’s ability to create, protect, and sustain value by providing the Arizona Board of Regents (board) and NAU management with independent, risk-based, and objective assurance, advice, insight, and foresight. Internal Audit’s work helps NAU accomplish its objectives by bringing a systematic, disciplined approach to evaluate and improve the effectiveness of business, risk management, control, and governance processes.

About the Position

An Internal Auditor, Senior completes all types of internal audit projects from planning to reporting, sometimes developing such from only a governance, risk, or control related concept. The Senior reports directly to the NAU Internal Audit Director / Chief Audit Executive (CAE) and presents internal audit project plans and results to all levels of management.

The Senior requires minimal supervision to define project scope, plan/program details, complete fieldwork and develop a draft report that effectively communicates project results. The Senior is distinguished from a Staff or Intermediate Internal Auditor in that this role requires an understanding of internal audit project development from concept to conclusion without supervision, although more complex, new audits typically require more direct CAE supervision.

Responsibilities Include

20% - Project Planning

• Plan and organize audit, special project, or investigation assignments (projects) and develop appropriate steps to complete the assignments in an efficient manner, sometimes from a general concept more than a more established risk or audit objective.
• Complete appropriate planning research per department policy and supervisory direction to understand applicable professional standards and regulatory requirements to identify key risks and related controls to be addressed.  
• Complete a project risk assessment by working with client management to identify appropriate audit area objectives, risk, and controls.
• Gather information from various sources within the audit area and areas impacted across the University.
• Prepare or update planning documents and work programs ensuring program steps address identified risks and assignment objectives.
• Elicit requirements for complex projects independently.
• Develop and apply comprehensive knowledge of complex business processes and all relevant stakeholders, recognizing that projects may span and/or impact multiple business units.

25% - Project Execution and Documentation

• Complete and ensure that all project program steps are addressed and clearly documented to support related conclusions, including applicable review of staff work (Senior may delegate documentation responsibilities and other project tasks to Staff or Intermediate Internal Auditors).
• Acquire, organize, assemble, analyze, interpret, and evaluate information relevant to the established work program steps.
• Designs and utilizes metrics to measure business process efficiencies and effectiveness.
• Use complex analytical tools to analyze data and processes.
• Work with subject matter experts and others to examine as-is business processes and systems to gain information to analyze controls.
• Document existing and new business processes, associated resources, and dependencies.
• Effectively utilizes department specific automation (including automated working papers and data mining tools).
• Effectively use lead schedules and sample documentation to document effort to support conclusions.
• Specifically identify applicable control and process weaknesses to aid clients in process improvement and document related improvement opportunities and supporting criteria.
• Identify and completely document problem and/or improvement opportunity situations or conditions and, if necessary, extend testing to determine the cause and impact.
• Exercise objectivity, due professional care, and professional skepticism in identifying such situations by adequately pursuing sufficient objective evidence to establish reasonable instance of fact.

20% - Improvement Opportunity and Solution Identification and Development

• Work with client management to validate improvement opportunities and develop solutions while the audit is in progress.
• Demonstrate good judgment by considering the cost-benefit, implications, and merit of all alternatives.
• Document solutions in a draft report in accordance with department guidelines and templates, including accountable management personnel and projected implementation dates.

20% - Client Solutions, Communications, Reporting and Client Interaction

• Keep the Chief Audit Executive (CAE) timely informed of any issues or unusual circumstances arising during the project, including identifying unnecessary client delays and/or downtime when alternative assignments have not been provided.
• Prepare reports in accordance with departmental formatting and style guidelines that clearly communicate key positive outcomes, identified improvement opportunities, and solutions implemented or planned for implementation.
• Identify and document implementation timelines for each agreed-upon solution. When solutions cannot be determined, clearly articulate the nature of the issue, outline pending actions required to establish a resolution, or document the rationale for accepting the associated risk as the most cost-effective or otherwise beneficial course of action.
• Develop client relationships through positive communications, demonstrating credibility and trust, and effectively dealing with difficult clients.
• Maintain positive, open line of communication with clients during each assignment that ensures client is aware of audit status throughout the project.
• Identify appropriate communication timing and mechanisms (e.g., chat, e-mail, telephone, etc.) with client management for each project during project planning and follow through accordingly during the course of the project.
• Follow-through on communicated deliverables, respect client time and resources (e.g., work with their schedule within reason, return files in the same or better order then they were received, etc.), and honor their requests for anonymity within Department policy.
• Recognize difficult clients, learn how to work with them and know when to work through the Client and/or CAE to ensure work continues to be completed.
• Must be prepared to work extensively in the field during audits to establish on-site presence, foster client engagement, and gain a thorough understanding of client operations to identify potential fraud risks.
• Coordinate with clients to secure appropriate workspace and support effective collaboration while conducting fieldwork.

10% - Professionalism & Teamwork

• Analyzes organizational policies, procedures, practices and existing laws, rules, and regulations to determine applicable compliance and the adequacy of underlying internal controls.
• Works closely with all levels of management and staff.
• Supervises one or more internal audit staff or interns.
• Demonstrate behaviors that align with and support the NAU mission, vision, and values, as well as the Internal Audit team’s goals and collaborative culture, by making sound, well-reasoned decisions that reflect clear and logical thinking.
• Complies with the Global Internal Audit Standards as promulgated by The Institute of Internal Auditors, including its Code of Professional Ethics.
• Responds to all inquiries and requests of Internal Audit Department management; Embraces Department improvement initiatives.
• Takes responsibility for maintaining documentation of individual continuing education activities to ensure maintenance of required certifications and demonstrate commitment to personal professional development.
• Sit on key NAU committees as directed by the CAE or as proposed in relation to project and / or department needs.
• Completes department specific duties as assigned.

5% - Other 

• Other duties as assigned.
• Provide support for departmental administrative updates, including:
  • Policy and procedure changes
  • Changes in how automation is applied to administrative and project tasks.
  • Take notes during project meetings when not serving as the primary interviewer or presenter, support recruitment activities, assist interns, and perform related duties as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or related field.
• 3 years of internal audit or related experience.
• Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), Certified Public Accountant (CPA), MBA or other similar audit or project management credential.

*A combination of related education, experience, and training may be used as an equivalent to the above Minimum Qualifications.

Preferred Qualifications

• Higher education internal audit experience.
• CIA or CPA designation.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

Knowledge

• Advanced knowledge of internal audit standards, tools, procedures, processes, policies, and concepts.
• Knowledge of financial reporting in higher education and university budgeting practices.
• Knowledge of advanced business and financial operations, internal accounting and management controls, and professional standards and regulations (i.e., IIA Professional Practices Framework, GAAP, GAAS, etc.).
• Advanced knowledge of computerized accounting system and application control concepts (Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Systems, computerized controls, and impact on processes, etc.).

Skills

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Problem solving, organizational, and analytical capabilities.
• Advanced skill in analysis and modeling of data.
• Customer service.

Abilities

• Effectively works with all levels of management.
• Prepares detailed reports on a timely basis.
• Analyzes complex situations and anticipates issues.
• Balances competing priorities.
• Communicates effectively.

Compensation

• Salary range begins at $67,714. Annual salary commensurate with candidate's qualifications and related experience.

Pre-Employment Check

Northern Arizona University requires satisfactory results for the following: a criminal background investigation, an employment history verification and a degree verification (in some cases) prior to employment. You may also be required to complete a fingerprint background check. Also, as an employer in the state of Arizona, NAU is required to participate in the federal E-Verify program that assists employers with verifying new employees' right to work in the United States.

This position has been identified as a safety/security sensitive position. Therefore, per AZ Revised Statute, Northern Arizona University requires satisfactory results for the following: a criminal background investigation, employment history investigation, degree verification (in some cases) and fingerprinting. If you are applying for a job that requires a CDL, you will be required to register with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse and adhere to the clearinghouse requirements.

Notice of Availability of the Annual Fire and Security Report

Each year Northern Arizona University releases an Annual Security Report. The report is a result of a federal law known as the Clery Act. The report includes Clery reportable crime statistics for the three most recent completed calendar years and discloses procedures, practices and programs NAU uses to keep students and employees safe including how to report crimes or other emergencies occurring on campus. In addition, the Fire Safety Report is combined with the Annual Security Report for the NAU Flagstaff Mountain Campus as this campus has on-campus student housing. This report discloses fire safety policies and procedures related to on-campus student housing and statistics for fires that occurred in those facilities. If you would like a free paper copy of the report, please contact the NAUPD Records Department at (928) 523-8884 or by visiting the department at 525 E. Pine Knoll Drive in Flagstaff.

Immigration Support/Sponsorship

Northern Arizona University will not provide any U.S. immigration support or sponsorship for this position.

Submit your Application

To apply for this position, please click on the "Apply" button on this page. You must submit your application by midnight of the application deadline.

If you are an individual with a disability and need reasonable accommodation to participate in the hiring process, please contact the Disability Resources Office at 928-523-8773, DR@nau.edu, or PO Box 5633, Flagstaff AZ 86011.