Senior Manager, Audit and Business Continuity

Job Summary

The Senior Manager of Audit and Business Continuity serves as the primary point of contact for all internal and external audit activities, including audits conducted by the California State University Office of the Chancellor, California State Auditor, external auditors, and other regulatory agencies. This role is responsible for ensuring university-wide coordination and responsiveness during audit engagements and supports the university’s commitment to accountability, transparency, and continuous improvement.

The Audit Liaison plays a critical role in assisting the CFO and the Associate Vice President of Strategic Business Services in aligning audit processes with administrative priorities and ensuring compliance with CSU policies, federal and state regulations, and institutional standards. This position also supports the development and implementation of university management’s corrective actions in response to audit findings. These audit reviews help the University identify, prevent, and mitigate fraud, waste, abuse, mismanagement, and conflicts of interest, which are essential to improving the effectiveness and efficiency of university operations. This position is also responsible for developing, implementing, and maintaining San José State University’s business continuity and continuity of operations planning (COOP) program.

Key Responsibilities

• Coordinate all phases of audit engagements, including audit notifications, planning meetings, fieldwork, and exit conferences
• Serve as the primary liaison between auditors and university departments to facilitate timely responses and accurate documentation
• Review, organize, and submit documentation to auditors, ensuring completeness, consistency, and adherence to CSU and university policy
• Maintain centralized audit records and tracking systems for all active and historical audits and related responses
• Assist university leadership in preparing formal responses to audit findings, including corrective action plans and timelines
• Monitor and follow up on implementation of audit recommendations, providing periodic status reports to campus executives and the Chancellor’s Office
• Educate and advise university departments on audit processes, compliance expectations, and internal control best practices
• Collaborate with internal Strategic Business Services departments and other units such as Risk Management, Financial Services and Budget Management, Academic Affairs, Athletics, Research and Student Affairs to ensure alignment with audit requirements
• Promote a culture of compliance, integrity, and continuous improvement consistent with the university’s mission and values
• Lead the development, maintenance, and continuous improvement of SJSU’s Business Continuity and Continuity of Operations Plans (COOP)
• Coordinate with academic and administrative units to conduct business impact analyses and risk assessments
• Facilitate the creation and regular review of departmental business continuity plans, ensuring alignment with CSU systemwide guidelines and campus emergency operations
• Provide training, workshops, and technical assistance to campus departments on business continuity principles, tools, and planning best practices
• Conduct exercises and simulations to test the effectiveness of continuity plans and identify opportunities for improvement
• Collaborate with Emergency Management, Risk Management, IT, Facilities, and other stakeholders to ensure business continuity plans are integrated with emergency response, disaster recovery, and information security plans
• Serve as a subject matter expert and advisor to campus leadership on continuity planning, compliance requirements, and risk mitigation strategies
• Maintain centralized documentation and databases for continuity planning, exercises, and departmental compliance tracking
• Establish and track key performance indicators (KPIs) related to business continuity planning
• Prepare quarterly and annual status reports for senior leadership and campus risk committees
• Analyze trends in plan quality, compliance, and exercise outcomes to identify gaps and recommend improvements
• Use data visualization tools and dashboards to communicate program performance and risk exposure
• Ensure compliance with CSU systemwide audit requirements and report progress toward recommendations

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Ability to communicate with campus departments in a professional and respectful manner
• Ability to write clear and concise reports intended for executive management
• Thorough understanding of applicable auditing standards
• Familiarity with laws a