Senior Internal Audit, Operations

About Upstart

Upstart is a leading AI lending marketplace partnering with banks and credit unions to expand access to affordable credit. By leveraging Upstart's AI marketplace, Upstart-powered banks and credit unions can have higher approval rates and lower loss rates across races, ages, and genders, while simultaneously delivering the exceptional digital-first lending experience their customers demand. More than two-thirds of Upstart loans are approved instantly and are fully automated.

Upstart is a digital-first company, which means that most Upstarters live and work anywhere in the United States. However, we also have offices in San Mateo, California; Columbus, Ohio; and Austin, Texas.

Most Upstarters join us because they connect with our mission of enabling access to effortless credit based on true risk. If you are energized by the impact you can make at Upstart, we’d love to hear from you!

The Team

Upstart’s Internal Audit team supports Upstart and its growth by bringing risk and controls expertise to identify, assess, monitor and report on risks that may affect the overall achievement of objectives.  

As the Internal Audit Senior  at Upstart, you will be responsible for supporting the team in the execution of both Operational and Financial Internal audits and the SOX Compliance Business Process Controls testing program. In this role you will bring a systematic and disciplined approach to the effectiveness of our audit, control, risk management and governance processes. For success in this role, you'll bring a thorough knowledge of audit and accounting processes, as well as keen business judgment. We're looking for an energized and motivated team player with a proven capability to develop strong working relationships with cross-functional partners throughout Upstart.

 

Position Location - This role is available in the following locations: Remote

Time Zone Requirements - This team operates on the East/West Coast time zones.

Travel Requirements - As a digital first company, the majority of your work can be accomplished remotely. The majority of our employees can live and work anywhere in the U.S but are encouraged to to still spend high quality time in-person collaborating via regular onsites. The in-person sessions’ cadence varies depending on the team and role; most teams meet once or twice per quarter for 2-4 consecutive days at a time.

 

How you’ll make an impact:

• Assisting in the execution of the annual internal audit plan's operational/financial related audits, ensuring audit engagements are completed on time and on budget with high quality deliverables. 
• Preparing process documentation (narratives, flowcharts, risk & control matrices) and identification of key controls pertaining to Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) Compliance.
• Participating in the execution of the SOX compliance program for the business process controls, partnering with control owners to ensure efficient and well-controlled processes are in place and documented; conducting and participating in process walkthroughs; testing the design and operational effectiveness for key controls, providing guidance on remediation when needed and tracking to ensure plans are implemented timely to fix control gaps.
• Supervising internal controls testing performed by co-source partners and working with the external auditors.
• Monitoring the implementation of outstanding audit recommendations and validating their implementation.
• Presenting internal audit and internal control findings along with identifying and recommending value-added improvements to processes and controls. 
• Assisting the larger team, as required, with performing audit projects, internal controls testing and other special projects.
• Effectively managing multiple projects and reviews while executing tasks within allocated budgeted time and Audit Committee meeting deadlines. 
• Building strong but independent working relationships in the organization.
• Regularly reporting on program status, issues and recommendations.
• Monitoring process and policy changes throughout the organization.

 

What we’re looking for: 

• Minimum qualifications:
  • Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, business administration or other business-related field from an accredited college or university; advanced degree a plus.
  • Minimum of 5 years internal audit and SOX compliance; preferably in the Fintech industry and with previous public accounting experience.
  • Experience working in a platform environment with homegrown systems.
  • Experience in auditing operational and