Senior Operational​/Financial Auditor

Senior Operational/Financial Auditor

Non-Union Position
Internal Audit;
Portland, Oregon (US-OR)

Hybrid schedule available for Oregon & Washington residents.
Regular FT, Exempt
Posting # 5458

At NW Natural, we offer more than rewarding career opportunities and a vibrant, inclusive work culture. We invite you to join us in providing safe and reliable utility services and renewable energy to better the lives of the communities we serve. Our vision is to be the leader in service excellence, innovation and environmental stewardship for our customers, while building on our strengths as a trusted energy provider and environmental leader for our industry.

In addition to environmental stewardship, we're also deeply committed to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at NW Natural. Our DEI Council started 21 years ago, and today we continue to foster a culture where all employees can experience a sense of belonging, shared purpose and possibility.

This position requires a candidate who is experienced at formulating, leading and delivering operational business process audits focused on assessing the company's business processes. This position will be responsible for partnering with subject matter experts across the company to gain an understanding of key business processes, proposing internal audit scope and audit objectives, drafting and executing audit testing procedures, and delivering executive-level audit reports outlining planned actions to address identified gaps and/or improvement areas.

In addition, this position will be responsible for flexibly supporting required deliverables in the areas of external audit assistance and SOX testing as needed during peak busy season as a key member of the internal audit team.

Operational audit responsibilities include:

• Collaborate across the internal audit team and with internal business partners to gain an understanding of the business process, department, program or project to be audited
• Perform an assessment to identify the key risks and areas of highest value when formulating the proposed scope and objectives of the business, department, program or project to be audited
• Conduct external research, where applicable, to aid in the development of the proposed audit scope, objectives, and test work programs
• Develop a detailed test work program outlining the auditing procedures to be applied in order to achieve the audit scope and objectives
• Execute audit testing procedures which include performing interviews of auditees and subject matter experts, documenting detailed process walkthroughs, developing process flows, reviewing data, and performing analysis of data
• Create audit workpaper documentation by thoroughly documenting your audit work with a great attention to detail and quality in a manner that provides strong audit evidence behind your conclusions and facilitates an efficient peer review
• Discuss and validate potential audit findings (gaps, improvement needs) real-time with key stakeholders in a professional, productive and people-smart manner
• Draft clear and concise audit reports which provide auditees, including executives and the board's audit committee, with sound conclusions as to the results of the audit, including any actions to be taken as a result of your findings
• Project manage your progress and scope of the audits you execute while achieving deadlines and within individual audit budgets
• Communicate with key stakeholders throughout the audit on the status of the audit, preliminary findings, help needs, etc. while ensuring a transparent approach and "no surprises" result

Additional responsibilities include:

• Support the team and external auditors by owning and performing various deliverables in support of the year-end financial statement audit
• Perform SOX business control testing during peak season and review completed SOX tests performed by others
• Contribute to the team environment by performing other deliverables/responsibilities as assigned to support the department and execution of the overall audit plan

• Bachelors' Degree in Business Administration or Accounting
• Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) with public accounting experience preferred
• Minimum 5 years auditing experience auditing a variety of non-routine operational business processes and performing SOX testing
• Experience proposing audit scopes and developing test work programs for complex, non-standard areas that have never been previously reviewed
• Self-starter who is independently motivated and can self-manage with limited oversight
• Proven ability to manage through ambiguity and solve problems
• Excellent organizational, project management and time management skills including ability to multi-task and manage deadlines
• Proven ability to document one's work in accordance with the Institute of Internal Audit (IIA) global standards, including a well refined attention to detail
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to…