CHIEF INTERNAL AUDITOR

Position Overview

The Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) is seeking an experienced, detail-oriented, and strategic professional to serve as Chief Internal Auditor. This position will develop, direct, and implement a comprehensive agency-wide internal audit program to ensure compliance with the Fiscal Control and Internal Audit Act and strengthen risk management and governance processes. Responsibilities include establishing audit policies and standards, preparing and executing the Annual Audit Plan, evaluating risk exposures, and providing expert guidance to agency leadership on audit findings and recommendations. The Chief Internal Auditor serves as the official spokesperson on audit matters for IDES, representing the agency before the Governor’s Office, legislature, and other external entities, and directs a team of professional audit staff to deliver high-quality audit services. The ideal candidate for this position will have extensive knowledge of internal audit principles and professional standards, strong leadership and supervisory skills, and experience managing complex audits and risk assessments in a large organization. The ability to communicate effectively with executive leadership and external stakeholders, interpret statutes and regulations, and implement best practices in audit methodology is essential. 

Essential Functions

• Subject to management approval of the Director of the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) serves as Chief Internal Auditor for the agency
• Serves as official Agency spokesperson on behalf of the Director and the agency to all internal and external entities including, the Governor’s Office, the legislature, and the Office of Management and Budget
• Determines the scope of audits to be conducted in response to operational changes or new knowledge
• Serves as full line supervisor
• Maintains accurate, objective, clear, concise, constructive and timely communications with management; confers with executive management on policy issues, new/revised program activities and functions
• Applies professional audit standards to assure standards of Internal Audits are consistent with current standards of the profession; maintains contact with Illinois State Auditor General and other professional associations to exchange information
• Assesses the training needs of staff to accomplish the Agency goals and to ensure compliance with Certified Professional Development (CPD) requirements
• Performs other duties as assigned or required which are reasonably within the scope of duties enumerated above

Minimum Qualifications

• Requires a bachelor’s degree

• Requires certification as a Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) or Certified Public Accountant (CPA) with at least four (4) years of progressively responsible professional auditing experience; OR
• Requires at least five (5) years of progressively responsible professional auditing experience

Preferred Qualifications

• Six (6) years of professional experience directing or managing an internal audit function, including audit planning, risk assessment and reporting at an organizational or enterprise level 
• Five (5) years of professional experience conducting audits in a public-sector, governmental or regulatory environment 
• Five (5) years of professional experience leading or managing complex audit projects or multi-year audit plans, involving multiple stakeholders and organizational units 
• Five (5) years of professional experience designing, implementing, and monitoring corrective action plans in response to audit findings, compliance issues, or performance gaps 
• Five (5) years of professional experience supervising professional audit staff, including providing training, mentoring and evaluating staff performance

Conditions of Employment

• Certain provisions of the revolving door restrictions contained in 5 ILCS 430/5-45 apply to this position. As a result, the employee should be aware that if offered non-State employment during state employment or within one year immediately after ending State employment, the employee shall, prior to accepting any such non-State employment offer, notify the Office of the Executive Inspector General for the Agencies of the Illinois Governor (OEIG) or may be subject to a fine
• Requires an Illinois State Police background check and self-disclosure of any criminal history
• Overtime is a condition of employment, and you may be requested or required/mandated to work overtime including scheduled, unscheduled, or last-minute overtime. This requires the ability to work evenings and weekends
• Requires ability to travel in the performance of duties, with overnight stays as appropriate
• This position is considered sedentary work as defined by the U.S. Department of Labor (20 CFR 404.1567(a)). Sedentary work involves lifting no more than 10 pounds at a time and requires occasional lifting, carrying, walking, and standing
• Requires ability to attend seminars, conferences, and trainings to stay current on methods, tools, ideologies, or other industry related topics relevant to the job duties
• This position has been found to meet the requirements in section 4A-101 of the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act requiring the occupant/employee to file a Statement of Economic Interest. The Illinois Governmental Ethics Act (5 ILCS 420/4A et seq.) requires certain state officials and employees to file annual Statements of Economic Interest with the Office of the Secretary of State that will be made available for examination and copying by the public. All employees required to file a Statement of Economic Interest are also required to file the Supplemental Statement of Economic Interest with the Executive Ethics Commission. (See Executive Order 15-09) Fines and penalties apply to untimely filings
• The conditions of employment listed here are incorporated and related to any of the job duties as listed in the job description

About the Agency

The Illinois Department of Employment Security’s (IDES) mission is to serve Illinois workers and employers to the best of our ability and to use our knowledge of the Illinois workforce to inform sound policy decision making. IDES encourages economic growth and stability in Illinois by providing vital Employment Services to Illinois residents and employers, analyzing and disseminating actionable Labor Market Information, and administering Unemployment Insurance programs.