The Lead Auditor position is responsible for conducting moderate to complex audits, investigations, and consulting projects that cover academic, research, and healthcare operations, including hospital activities. This role reviews processes across research, medical, dental, and hospital environments to identify inefficiencies, control gaps, and compliance risks. The position ensures that audit findings and recommendations are practical and sustainable and confirms all exceptions to management so that reportable issues are addressed. The Lead Auditor participates in discussions with business units to collect risk-related information, provides guidance to team members, and supports the connection of risk assessments to strategic objectives. Additionally, this role may lead or mentor other team members to promote ongoing development within the audit team.

• Exhibit an advanced knowledge of internal auditing standards (IIA & GAO), risk assessment methodologies, and fraud prevention, detection, and investigation techniques.
• Demonstrate a proficient level understanding of healthcare and hospital regulations, including billing, coding, and reimbursement practices, to identify inefficiencies, control gaps, and compliance risks.
• Support the integrity of Institutional operations by recommending improvements that promote ethical conduct, financial stewardship, and operational effectiveness across multidisciplinary settings.
• Possess strong working knowledge of research-related compliance frameworks, including federal and state regulations (e.g., NIH, NSF, OMB Uniform Guidance), institutional review board (IRB) protocols, and grant administration requirements.
• Highly skilled in preparing and executing risk-based audit programs, performing substantive testing, evaluating internal controls, and developing evidence-based conclusions and recommendations.
• Lead and mentors audit teams, fostering a collaborative and respectful environment while driving process improvements and ensuring timely delivery of high-quality audit work.
• Demonstrate exceptional critical thinking, analytical, and problem-solving abilities, with the capacity to manage complex assignments requiring originality and ingenuity.
• Exhibit strong project management and documentation skills, including the ability to produce process walkthroughs, flowcharts, and test documentation while managing multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Maintain professionalism and sound judgment under pressure, with the ability to communicate effectively across all levels of the organization.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, Visio) and adaptable to evolving technologies.
• Experience in data analytics and audit software tools, including emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and robotic process automation.
• Familiar with key Institutional systems such as enterprise financial and budget systems (e.g., PeopleSoft and Hyperion) and electronic medical records systems such as EPIC.
• Possess excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to present complex findings clearly and persuasively.

EDUCATION:

• Support the annual internal audit plan by executing moderate to complex internal audits of the Institution's functions, processes, and control activities to ensure reliability and integrity of information, compliance with policies and procedures, and achievement of operational goals and objectives.
• Assess compliance with federal and state regulations, institutional policies, and sponsor requirements, particularly in areas such as research administration, grant management, and clinical trials.
• Apply knowledge of healthcare research regulations and compliance frameworks including those governing clinical trials, grant-funded studies, and academic research protocols to assess adherence to institutional policies and federal/state requirements (e.g., NIH, FDA, OHRP, CMS, OMB Uniform Guidance, IRB, IACUC) to identify inefficiencies, control weaknesses, and areas of compliance risk.
• Understand and evaluate institutional business processes through interviews, process walkthroughs, and documentation of process narratives and/or flowcharts.
• Documents work papers in accordance with the standards of the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) and Government Auditing Standards (GAO).
• Analyze evidence, identify gaps and areas for improvement, and evaluate their significance and potential business impact to improve process effectiveness.
• Communicate assigned tasks to engagement teams clearly and concisely, ensuring high-quality deliverables. Review project team workpapers, provide feedback, ensure closure of review notes, and escalate potential findings for additional review.
• Monitor and review job progress and workpapers to ensure accurate and timely completion of audit projects.
• Prioritize audit work for self and project team; escalate issues to Internal Audit management as needed.
• Provide audit/project-specific feedback from the project team to Internal Audit management.
• Facilitate communication of audit results and recommendations through written reports and presentations to management.
• Provide verbal and written recommendations to management on process and internal control improvements.
• Prepare audit reports and ensure audit findings are confirmed by management and that recommendations are practical and sustainable.
• Validate all management action plans with process owners and local management to ensure reportable issues are appropriately resolved.
• Build and maintain professional relationships with audit stakeholders.
• Attend learning programs, training, and networking sessions while preparing/executing a defined career path.
• Stay current with industry trends, regulatory changes, and best practices in healthcare, research, and hospital operations to maintain relevance and effectiveness.
• Perform all other duties as assigned.