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About the Opportunity
As a key member of Nationwide’s Office of Internal Audit Leadership Team, the Director, Internal Audit will lead efforts that strengthen audit quality, performance, and continuous improvement. Reporting to the AVP, Internal Audit – Professional Practices, this role will help advance innovative, risk-focused practices that support Nationwide’s strategic priorities.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the Internal Audit Quality Assurance and Improvement Program, including testing, reporting, training, issue validation, lookback reviews, and external quality assessments.
- Drive audit performance and continuous improvement by applying data analytics, generative AI, business/process intelligence, audit technology, and leading practices.
- Provide risk insights to support audit planning and the annual risk assessment process, including engagement with business and enterprise leaders.
- Lead complex quality assurance engagements from planning through reporting, ensuring sound risk assessment, effective controls evaluation, and high-quality recommendations.
- Partner with the Chief Audit Executive, Internal Audit leadership, Enterprise Risk Management, Compliance, Controllership, and other stakeholders as a trusted advisor.
- Lead strategic initiatives and help the Office respond to evolving professional standards, regulatory expectations, and business risks.
- Develop communication materials for senior leaders and support the growth and capability of Internal Audit associates.
- Manage and coach a team of approximately 2–4 associates while fostering collaboration, innovation, agility, and high performance.
What You’ll Bring
The ideal candidate will have significant experience in internal audit, risk management, or a related field; strong knowledge of audit practices, risk assessment, and quality programs; and the ability to lead complex initiatives across an enterprise. Experience in insurance or financial services and certifications such as CIA, CPA, CISA, CFE, or PMP are preferred.
Success in this role requires strategic thinking, sound judgment, strong communication and relationship-building skills, and the ability to manage multiple priorities while developing people and delivering meaningful business insights.
This position will be hired on a SuccessFlex basis.
The hired associate must reside within 35 miles of the following location(s):
1 Nationwide Plaza
Work schedule: 2 days in office, 3 days remote.
This role does not qualify for employer sponsored work authorization. Nationwide does not participate in the STEM OPT extension program.
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Job Description Summary
To enable Nationwide to serve customers with the extraordinary care they deserve, we use sophisticated analytics to get insights from big data to provide meaningful audit results that improves business effectiveness and efficiency. No two audits are ever the same and the variety of work assignments gives us visibility and exposure throughout the enterprise. If you have the desire to learn continuously, think critically and can see the big picture, we want to know more about you!As a Director, you'll lead professional practice activities for the Office of Internal Audit (IA), including strategy development and execution, ownership of the Audit Practice platform technology, building organizational talent, change and technology innovation, people leadership and accountability, Board and Audit Committee reporting development and delivery (if needed) and enterprise-wide committee participation. You'll be indirectly responsible for the Internal Audit budget and our continuous improvements. You’ll work closely with the Chief Audit Executive, the Internal Audit (IA) leadership team, Enterprise Risk Management, Office of Compliance, Controllership and other enterprise leaders to provide risk management insights and thought leadership help achieve Nationwide's strategic priorities, internal audit practices and compliance with regulatory standards.
Job Description
Key Responsibilities:
Assist in development of short and long-term strategic direction and audit methodology for Internal Audit.
Owns IA’s technology to support the audit practice which includes managing external software vendor, internal Nationwide Technology relationships, IA leaders and hybrid leadership of IA AuditBoard administrators.
Develops, plans and execute office-wide training curriculum for data and analytics, technical auditing skills and emotional intelligence. Leads all aspects of delivery of orientation and onboarding processes for new hires, internal transfers and guest auditors. Develops recruitment strategy and operational execution in collaboration with leadership and Human Resources to include internal/external sourcing.
Creates agenda, oversees and facilitates the monthly leadership team and direct reports meetings which sets the strategy and management of the department.
Prepares Board and Audit Committee materials by including internal audit engagement results, emerging risks and trends, issues and key internal audit activities.
Serves as a primary point of contact for internal and external partners and leaders, various departments of insurance, Office of General Counsel, etc. for information/data requests and reviews.
Identifies, establishes and engages in internal and external committees to support organizational change, technology implementations and recommendations to Finance Council on capital allocation. Challenges the status quo, champions continuous improvement of the Company’s operations and partners with members of management to improve efficiency and profitability.
Helps facilitate Internal Audit resource and demand management efforts, including staffing availability, coordination and scheduling of resources, staff augmentation and detailed project scheduling.
Owns the automating operational areas using robotic process automation, workflows, data visualization and process improvement to lower expenses. Works closely with Data and Analytics teams and the enterprise data office to build out continuous auditing driven by technology.
Drives technology strategy, including capability assessment, operating platform selection, implementation and coordination of ongoing maintenance with Finance and Nationwide Technology business partners. Serves as the business application owner for the primary software used by Internal Audit to conduct internal audits.
Establishes, implements and maintains Internal Audit policies, procedures, practices and governance according to standards established by the Institute of Internal Auditors: Global Internal Audit Standards, expectations set forth by Nationwide’s Audit Committee(s), current and/or emerging regulatory standards/guidelines set forth by departments of insurance, Securities and Exchange Commission or other authoritative bodies, peer and industry standard methodologies.
Owns department employee engagement through coaching/feedback and planning inclusive team activities.
May perform other responsibilities as assigned.
Reporting Relationships: Reports to AVP, Internal Audit – Corp Services and Strategy & Operations. Manages a team of 5-6 associates
Typical Skills and Experiences:
Education: Bachelor’s degree in business, technical, or related field preferred. Advanced degree preferred.
License/Certification/Designation: Relevant certifications (e.g., CPA, CIA, CISA, CFE, PMP) desired.
Experience: Typically, more than 10 years of demonstrated experience in audit, risk management or a related field. Experience in the insurance and financial services industry. Management experience preferred.
Knowledge, Abilities and Skills: Proven knowledge in auditing principles and practices. Must have a thorough understanding of customer business environment. Experience in project management concepts and techniques. Must have well-developed verbal and written communication skills for contacts with all levels of staff, management external sources, negotiation, presentations, project management and personnel management. Must have an administrative ability in budgeting, personnel management, company policy, and planning. Must have the ability to make decisions on day-to-day operations that require evaluating and recommending solutions to problems.
Other criteria, including leadership skills, competencies and experiences may take precedence.
Staffing exceptions to the above must be approved by the hiring manager’s leader and Human Resource Business Partner.
Values: Regularly and consistently demonstrates Nationwide Values.
Job Conditions:
Overtime Eligibility: Exempt (Not Eligible)
Working Conditions:Normal office environment. Some travel may be required.
ADA: The above statements cover what are generally believed to be principal and essential functions of this job. Specific circumstances may allow or require some people assigned to the job to perform a somewhat different combination of duties.
Credit/Background Check: Due to the fiduciary accountabilities within this job, a valid credit and/or background check will be required as part of the selection process.
Benefits
We have an array of benefits to fit your needs, including: medical/dental/vision, life insurance, short and long term disability coverage, paid time off with newly hired associates receiving a minimum of 18 days paid time off each full calendar year pro-rated quarterly based on hire date, nine paid holidays, 8 hours of Lifetime paid time off, 8 hours of Unity Day paid time off, 401(k) with company match, company-paid pension plan, business casual attire, and more. To learn more about the benefits we offer, click here.
Nationwide is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive culture where everyone feels challenged, appreciated, respected and engaged. Nationwide prohibits discrimination and harassment and affords equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants without regard to any characteristic (or classification) protected by applicable law.
NOTE TO EMPLOYMENT AGENCIES:
We value the partnerships we have built with our preferred vendors. Nationwide does not accept unsolicited resumes from employment agencies. All resumes submitted by employment agencies directly to any Nationwide employee or hiring manager in any form without a signed Nationwide Client Services Agreement on file and search engagement for that position will be deemed unsolicited in nature. No fee will be paid in the event the candidate is subsequently hired as a result of the referral or through other means.
Nationwide pays on a geographic-specific salary structure and placement within the actual starting salary range for this position will be determined by a number of factors including the skills, education, training, credentials and experience of the candidate; the scope, complexity and location of the role as well as the cost of labor in the market; and other conditions of employment. If a Sales job, Sales Incentives, based on performance goals are possible in addition to this range. Note on Compensation for Part-Time Roles: Please be aware that the salary ranges listed below reflect full-time compensation. Actual compensation may be prorated based on the number of hours worked relative to a full-time schedule.The national salary range for Director, Internal Policy & Practice : $138,000.00-$243,000.00The expected starting salary range for Director, Internal Policy & Practice : $138,000.00 - $206,000.00Learn more about this Employer on their Career Site
