Internal Audit Manager

Why we're hiring:

Are you ready to apply your audit, risk and compliance expertise to WPP’s unique and changing environment? We are seeking an experienced Audit Manager to support our Americas Audit team, who can apply broad operational knowledge and sound business judgment to execute operational audits across our diverse businesses. This is a high visibility opportunity where you will gain valuable exposure to many areas within our business and be able to make important improvements that make a real difference to our business.

We are seeking those with broad experience in Operations, Financial, Commercial, and Compliance auditing. In this position, you will dig deep into the details of your audits to develop meaningful findings. You must be able to understand complex business processes and identify the full range of risks related to processes, regulatory compliance, organization, policy, and technology. You should be comfortable interacting with a range of roles. You need a sound technical and commercial understanding and the ability to learn new concepts quickly.

Location - Based in New York 

Travel - Available to travel - up to 30%

Main Activities

Reporting to the Joint Heads of Internal Audit, Americas, the main responsibilities of the position are:

• Develop/plan and execute internal audits to assess the risk and control environments, whether in group functions, operating companies, or major business change programs
• Assess and document key risks for audit areas
• Create audit programs and testing steps based on the risks identified
• Prepare and communicate observations and recommendations based on audit results
• Understand and document the root cause of observations
• Develop relationships with senior local finance and operational staff
• Work on special investigations as needed
• Monitor remediation of audit findings

What you'll need:

We want someone who can not only identify risks, but also translate those risks into business issues. You will provide consultative support to business partners to identify opportunities for control improvements. You must help prioritize findings and recommendations in tune with our corporate strategy. You should be able to facilitate multiple stakeholders to agree on appropriate solutions and verify that risks are mitigated appropriately. We value personality, insight, intellectual flexibility, teamwork and sound business judgment.

You must be an excellent writer who can succinctly communicate complicated issues in business terms. You must also be a strong project manager who can manage variable resources and conduct your own audits from beginning to end, often managing multiple projects at once.

You will be a person who anticipates problems and pro-actively seeks out solutions, whether working independently or as part of a team. You will have the ability to develop and sustain relationships with both internal and external customers, have a “hands on” attitude to work; and the flexibility to work as hard as the job demands.

 Professional skills

You must demonstrate:

• Strong risk management experience, including; performing risk assessments and audits, designing controls, and prioritizing risk.
• Strong analytical skills. Proven history of analyzing data, having attention to detail, and assessing situations to identify meaningful observations.

 Personal skills

• Self-starter, possess flexibility to work in a fast-changing environment and ambiguous situations and get things done
• Proven history of having built relationships and worked effectively across cross-functional teams and business functions
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills. You will prepare reports and make presentations to senior level management. You will interact with various levels of employees to collect and communicate information.
• Ability to work independently, but also be a team player;
• Critical thinker;
• Ability to manage multiple projects; and
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines.

 Preferred qualifications / knowledge

• Bachelor degree in Accounting/Finance/Business or related field
• Advanced degree (e.g. MBA) or relevant certifications (CPA equivalent, CISA etc)
• Experience with process improvement - Kaizan, and Six Sigma – would be beneficial
• Familiarity with COSO frameworks
• Knowledge of Sarbanes Oxley
• Big Four accounting firm experience is a plus

 Relevant work experience

• 5+ years of experience in operational auditing, risk management, compliance, or financial analysis, showing progression in areas for responsibility
• Previous experience in an international environment;
• Advanced computer skills on MS Office and exposure to data analytics tools.

Who you are:

You're open: We are inclusive and collaborative; we encourage the free exchange of ideas; we respect and celebrate diverse views. We are accepting: of new ideas, new partnerships, new ways of working.

You're optimistic: We believe in the power of creativity, technology and talent to create brighter futures or our people, our clients and our communities. We approach all that we do with conviction: to try the new and to seek the unexpected.

You're extraordinary: we are stronger together: through collaboration we achieve the amazing. We are creative leaders and pioneers of our industry; we provide extraordinary every day.

 What we'll give you:

Passionate, inspired people – We promote a culture of people that do extraordinary work.

Scale and opportunity – We offer the opportunity to create, influence and complete projects at a scale that is unparalleled in the industry.

Challenging and stimulating work – Unique work and the opportunity to join a group of creative problem solvers. Are you up for the challenge?

WPP is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without regard to race, color, religion or belief, sex, age, national origin, citizenship status, marital status, military/veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, physical or mental disability. We believe in creating a dynamic work environment that values diversity and inclusion and strives to recruit a diverse slate of candidates to help us achieve that goal.

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