Description

Reporting to the President and the Audit and Finance Committee of the Board of Regents, and administratively to the Vice-President (Finance & Administration), the Director, Internal Audit will lead the Office of Internal Audit and support the achievement of institutional goals in strengthening governance, and promoting accountability and safeguarding institutional assets by evaluating and enhancing the university’s risk management framework and internal controls. In a time of transformational change, this role plays a key leadership function in fostering a culture of integrity, accountability, and continuous improvement across academic and administrative units. The Director will provide independent, objective assurance and advisory services designed to add value while improving the University’s operations. Through independent evaluation and trusted advisory support, the Director contributes directly to operational excellence, institutional resilience, and public trust in the University. In leading the internal audit function, the Director will apply an equity-informed and culturally aware lens, recognizing the diverse academic, administrative, and community contexts within which the University operates.

 Key responsibilities include:

• Assess and strengthen governance and institutional risk management frameworks
• Provide data-driven, consultative insights and advice to support informed decision-making, particularly on risk exposure, control effectiveness, and governance maturity.
• Advise on emerging risks and trends affecting the higher education sector.
• Promote stewardship, accountability, and operational excellence across the institution.
• Develop and execute a risk-based annual audit plan in consultation with the President, executive team, and the Audit and Finance Committee of the Board of Regents.
• Ensure audit priorities align with the University’s Risk Management framework and strategic objectives.
• Support the identification, assessment, and monitoring of strategic and operational risks.
• Plan and conduct assurance engagements evaluating governance, risk management, and internal controls.
• Assess compliance with legislation, regulations, University policies, and contractual obligations.
• Evaluate the reliability and integrity of financial, operational, and information systems.
• Provide value-added consulting related to process improvement, policy development, system implementations, and change initiatives
• Partner with academic and administrative units to improve efficiency, strengthen controls, and adopt best practices.

Requirements

The ideal candidate will possess:

• University degree in accounting, finance, business administration, public administration, or a related discipline;
• Professional designation required (CPA, CIA, or CISA);
• CRMA, CFE, or other risk-related credentials considered an asset;
• Graduate degree (MBA, MPA, or equivalent) considered an asset;
• Extensive leadership experience in internal audit, external audit, or risk management preferably in an academic environment or the broader public sector;
• Demonstrated success leading audit programs, developing risk-based plans, and managing teams;
• Experience working with Boards or Audit Committees and reporting to senior governance bodies;
• Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage collaboratively, diplomatically and build trust across diverse academic, administrative and unionized groups;
• Strong knowledge of governance, risk, and control frameworks (e.g., COSO, ISO 31000);
• Excellent analytical, critical-thinking, and problem-solving skills;
• Exceptional communication and presentation skills, with the ability to explain complex issues clearly;
• High degree of professional integrity, independence, and sound judgment; An equivalent combination of experience and training may be considered.