LEAD AUDITOR with Utility

LEAD AUDITOR

Houston, TX

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

Under the supervision and guidance of the Manager, the Lead Auditor will be responsible for the following:

•             Independently leading assigned audit and advisory engagements from planning through reporting, including development of objectives, scope, risk assessments, and audit programs

•             Oversee and perform risk-based testing to evaluate design and operating effectiveness of controls.

•             Serve as primary point of contact for audit clients and foster an open, collaborative relationship while maintaining independence

•             Review engagement workpapers to ensure accuracy, completeness, and compliance with methodology and professional standards

•             Identify issues, perform root-cause analysis, and collaborate with management to develop value-added recommendations

•             Draft clear, concise audit observations and reports that articulate risks, impacts, and corrective actions

•             Communicate engagement status, risks, and issues to Audit Management in a timely manner

•             Leverage data analytics and automated tools to enhance audit coverage and efficiency

•             Assist Audit Management in enterprise risk assessments and annual audit plan development by identifying emerging risks within assigned areas

•             Provide coaching and informal mentoring to Auditors and Senior Auditors

•             Stay current on regulatory, industry, and emerging risks including cybersecurity and ESG

•             Participate in investigations, advisory engagements, and special projects as assigned

Basic Qualifications:

Education: 

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or business-related field is required. 
• MBA, CPA, CIA or other relevant professional certification preferred or plan to pursue.

Experience:

• 5–7 years of progressive experience in audit, accounting, finance, compliance, risk, or operational disciplines.
• Demonstrated experience leading audit engagements or acting as engagement in-charge.
• Public accounting and/or utility industry experience preferred.
• Experience with SAP, IDEA, Tableau, TeamMate or similar tools is a plus

Additional Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Self-motivated and the ability to work with minimal supervision
• Ability to learn quickly and apply new concepts.
• Ability to complete analytical reviews, develop customer inquiries and evaluate customer responses
• Strong ability to develop issue identification
• Ability to work on multiple projects at the same time meeting deadlines
• Strong interpersonal and team-oriented skills
• Ability to prioritize tasks and change focus as new information becomes available
• Ability to show willingness to learn leveraging insights and data to support the internal audit plan through the identification of critical business areas and continually assessing risks and gap
• Effective oral and written use of the English language
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite (Access, Excel, Word, Visio, and PowerPoint) 

Competencies:

1. Business and Financial Acumen – Understand the impact actions and decision have on the bottom line of the enterprise.

• Understand drivers of profitability.
• Use resources efficiently.
• Demonstrate an understanding of how day-to-day activities impact CNP bottom line.
• Proactively look for and implement ways to reduce or contain costs where appropriate.
• Knowledgeable of technology enhancements and the efficiencies it brings to company operations

1. Coaching and Development – Develop others’ capabilities to empower them to reach their potential.

• Seek opportunities to get input from others for continuous improvement.
• Provide honest and courageous feedback to others.
• Seek out and be open to feedback from others.
• Inspires, motivates and guides others toward achievement of growth and development goals

1. Collaboration – Eliminate boundaries and drive common goals.

• Shares information proactively with others in order to achieve shared goals.
• Collaborates openly with others as a team player to accomplish company/organization objectives.
• Demonstrates understanding of the impact of own actions on other team members and/or other departments.
• Demonstrates behavior that allows others to contribute to their full potential.

1. Connecting, Listening, and Sharing – Maintain open, active, two-way communication

• Proactively share and seek out ideas with others.
• Demonstrate openness and accessibility to others.
• Share thoughts and feelings in a direct, genuine, and respectful way.
• Demonstrate you have listened to and understand others’ points of view.
• Actively seek diverse perspectives.

1. Customer Focus Through Service – Understand and exceed the expectations of internal and external customers

• Deliver customer-focused strategies that build and sustain customer commitment and loyalty.
• Exceed internal and/or external customer''''s expectations.
• Accept responsibility for the quality of service delivered.
• Demonstrate commitment to continuous improvement of services.
• Readily readjust priorities to pressing and changing customer demands.

1. Enterprise Mindset – Act in way that are best for the company as a whole

• Clearly understand the impact and implications of decisions to the company.
• Place organizational success above individual and team gain.
• Focus on efforts that add significant value and align according to priorities. 
• Understand the big picture and the impact when executing plans and making decision.

1. Results Orientation – Reject the status-quo, find opportunities to improve and drive outstand business results

• Drive for results consistent with the organization''''s vision, mission, and strategies.
• Demonstrate curiosity by challenging assumptions and questioning processes.
• Assess individual performance against a set of measurable criteria.
• Hold self and others accountable for verifying results and living the values.
• Demonstrate willingness to examine successes and failures in order to apply what was learned to improve individual performance.
• Perform the duties and responsibilities of his or her position efficiently and effectively.
• Manages one''''s own time, energy and abilities and leverages the use of technology for maximum performance.

1. Steadiness—Demonstrate strength, poise, and an appropriate presence.

• Project credibility in adversarial situations.
• Make decisions confidently and wisely, after considering alternative courses of action.  
• Handle conflict effectively.
• Remain focused and positive during periods of transition or uncertainty.
• Act to preserve relationships, even under difficult or heated circumstances.
• Publicly model behavior that supports the vision and values.

Working Conditions:

Physical Requirements

• Able to operate a personal computer, either desktop or laptop.
• Must have the ability to operate a copy machine, fax machine, calculator, telephone, and other office equipment. 
• Must be able to bend and stoop.
• Able to sit and view a personal computer display for long periods of time
• Able to travel long distances domestically in a motor vehicle or airplane
• Able to travel domestically 5-10% of work time (typically 1 week trips)