Director, Internal Audit – Audit Professional Practices & Quality Assurance

Company Description

Visa is a world leader in digital payments, facilitating more than 215 billion payments transactions between consumers, merchants, financial institutions and government entities across more than 200 countries and territories each year. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, convenient, reliable and secure payments network, enabling individuals, businesses and economies to thrive.

When you join Visa, you join a culture of purpose and belonging – where your growth is priority, your identity is embraced, and the work you do matters. We believe that economies that include everyone everywhere, uplift everyone everywhere. Your work will have a direct impact on billions of people around the world – helping unlock financial access to enable the future of money movement.

Join Visa: A Network Working for Everyone.

Job Description

Under the direction of and reporting to the VP - Internal Audit, the Director will be a key contributor to the Audit  Professional Practices & Quality Assurance (APQ) function within Internal Audit.  The APQ team is responsible for managing the IA function’s methodology, tools & technology, Quality Assurance and Improvement Program (QAIP), budget, headcount, training, board reporting, engagement with external auditors, co-sourced service providers and regulators and other operational aspects of Internal Audit. The Director will primarily be responsible for leading the department’s quality assurance program to ensure audit activities adhere to internal policies and procedures, and the Institute of Internal Audit (IIA) Standards. The position is also responsible for developing reporting and communication platforms to provide QA review results and recommendations that drive continuous improvement. Assisting the Internal Audit VP, the candidate will be responsible for proactively benchmarking our IA activities against leading practices and driving enhancements within IA.

The position requires strong knowledge of auditing practices and IIA Quality Assurance and Improvement Program requirements, including demonstrated proficiency in managing, developing and / or overseeing quality assurance activities. Additionally, this position requires high degree of flexibility in a dynamic environment to assist in other IA operations that may include audit methodology and operations support, Audit Committee meeting materials preparation, handling regulatory requests, and special projects as assigned.  

The individual must have excellent leadership and interpersonal skills with the ability to effectively interact, influence and effect changes across Internal Audit at varying levels of management. This position requires strong written communication and project management skills.        

Essential Functions:

• Assist the Chief Audit Executive and Internal Audit VP in maintaining, assessing and refining the overall Internal Audit Quality Assurance and Improvement program focused on optimizing the effectiveness of audit activities by performing quality reviews and driving improvements. 

• Assist with External Quality and Assessment Reviews including participation in the selection of independent review firm, preparation, and implementation of recommendations.   

• Manage internal quality assurance reviews through a risk-based selection approach of audit files and other audit-related documentation. Exercise judgment to ensure review targets are met and adjust targets as appropriate to align with department goals / needs.  

• Maintain and refresh the quality assurance review schedule that is coordinated with the audit execution cycle including regulatory examination dates, ensuring clear communication across teams and audit leadership.   

• Maintain and refresh quality assurance checklists that support the audit execution methodology to ensure adequate assessment against internal policies and procedures. 

• Perform quality assurance reviews of audit reports and corresponding issues memo, and audit engagement files to assess adherence with internal policies and procedures contained within the Internal Audit Manual. Provide constructive feedback to reinforce audit execution practices and procedures, and develop specific training needs based on review results.

• Perform formal periodic self-assessment review of internal audit activities and communicate thematic trends including recommendations for improvement, using succinct and impactful presentations.  

• Assist with policy and methodology-related initiatives through partnership and collaboration across the Internal Audit department.  

• Assist in managing and reporting key performance indicators. Proactive at identifying and developing additional performance measures and using technology (e.g., Tableau) to enable