Position directory
Positions we recruit: Internal Audit, SOX and Risk
Start a Search Financial Headhunters Salary Guide
Financial Headhunters: Hiring strategy for Internal Audit, SOX and Risk
This is what we do all day: recruit accounting, finance, banking and insurance professionals.
- Controller
- CFO
- VP Finance
- FP&A Director
- Accounting Manager
- Director of Accounting
- Assistant Controller
- Tax Director
- Treasury Manager
- Internal Audit Director
- Senior Accountant
- Financial Analyst
- Head of Financial Reporting
- Commercial Lender
- Chief Credit Officer
- Business Systems Finance Lead
How long did your last search take?
How much did the empty seat cost while you waited?
Every week a finance seat stays empty costs you in overtime, late closes and work that waits. We go straight to people already doing the job.
01
Team Structure and Levels
Align hiring with your current audit maturity. Executives drive strategy and board reporting. Managers oversee audit schedules and junior execution. Auditors perform testing. Select staff based on your mix of financial reporting risk and operational scope.
Use senior auditors for complex testing and process walkthroughs. Use managers to interface with external firms and audit committees. Determine if you need specialized IT audit staff or generalist financial auditors based on your ERP environment.
- 01Chief Audit Executive or VP sets the audit plan for the committee
- 02Directors manage department operations and budget
- 03Managers oversee testing, walkthroughs and issue tracking
- 04Staff level auditors execute detailed controls testing
02
Interview Questions and Evidence
Target specific audit experience. Ask how they scope an audit. Ask how they communicate findings to non-financial stakeholders. Look for logical steps in their methodology.
Test their ability to translate controls into audit reports. Use these questions during your interviews.
Before you view any resumes we conduct a scope conversation to identify your specific audit environment. We ask if you need a builder who creates programs from scratch or a maintainer who follows existing scripts. This distinction creates a major hiring tradeoff because a candidate strong at building often grows impatient with rigid routine testing while one comfortable with set checklists may lack the intuition to spot new risks. We also collect specific evidence of their past work such as examples of control narratives or remediation trackers they personally authored. This confirms they own the process from start to finish rather than just assisting on parts of an audit.
- 01Walk me through your process for performing a SOX process walkthrough. Listen for: documentation standards, control identification, and evidence requests.
- 02How do you handle a disagreement with a business process owner about a control deficiency? Follow-up: What was the resolution? Listen for: evidence-based negotiation and professional skepticism.
- 03Describe your experience with IIA Standards in planning an audit. Listen for: risk-based approaches and alignment with entity objectives.
- 04What is your approach to reviewing ITGCs and SOC reports? Follow-up: How do you map these to financial controls? Listen for: understanding of ERP access and system dependencies.
03
Avoiding Common Hiring Mistakes
Hiring a candidate who only knows one industry often slows down their ability to adapt to your unique risk profile. Audit tasks require flexibility across different cycles.
Do not ignore the need for clear writing skills. Auditors must produce reports that management actually reads. A candidate who lacks these skills creates bottlenecks for the whole department.
- 01Focusing too much on years of experience rather than the specific type of audit engagements handled
- 02Overlooking the ability to explain complex control failures to non-technical stakeholders
- 03Hiring for specific software knowledge instead of core audit methodology
- 04Underestimating the importance of internal communication with process owners
04
Credential Breakdown
Certifications indicate an exam was completed. They do not confirm success in your specific audit environment. Check registration status directly with the issuing body. We offer a candidate replacement on standard search agreements. The applicable period and specific terms are set out in the signed client recruiting agreement.
Certifications indicate an understanding of established frameworks and standards. Licenses often require specific educational backgrounds and state board adherence.
- 01CIAIssued by the IIA. Exam-based. Focuses on internal audit methodology. Current status check via IIA portal.
- 02CPAIssued by state boards. Exam and experience-based. Focuses on accounting standards. Current status check via state regulatory websites.
- 03CISAIssued by ISACA. Exam-based. Focuses on IT audit and controls. Current status check via ISACA member database.
- 04These designations indicate foundational knowledge of audit logic but do not replace your own assessment of technical fit.
05
Scoping Your Audit Function
Define your headcount needs by the risk profile of your entity. Small teams require generalists who can handle both SOX and operational audit. Large teams benefit from specialized IT audit roles.
Choose between permanent, contract or fractional staff based on your cycle volume. Seasonal compliance tasks often fit best with contractors who handle discrete test batches.
- 01Identify if your audit load is steady year-round or peaks during financial reporting windows
- 02Determine if the role requires independent judgment or follows existing, rigid audit programs
- 03Define if the audit manager must report directly to the audit committee or the CFO
- 04Evaluate the complexity of your ERP and whether you need dedicated ITGC expertise
13 positions in this family
- Director of Internal AuditThis director finds operational holes in systems and revenue recognition to fix risks that impact company cash flow results.
- Internal Audit ManagerThey convert static checklists into active risk mitigation steps and decide when process fixes replace current accounting documentation requirements.
- Senior Internal AuditorThis person maps actual money movement to identify control gaps rather than relying on generic checklists for process audits.
- IT Audit ManagerThey map technical configurations to risk frameworks and verify that security permissions align with necessary internal control reporting requirements.
- SOX Compliance ManagerThis manager translates regulatory requirements into specific financial reporting workflows that your accounting team performs on a daily basis.
- Chief Audit ExecutiveStrategic leader overseeing organizational risk, SOX compliance, and independent audit functions.
- VP Internal AuditLead internal audit strategy and risk mitigation for complex organizational environments.
- Internal AuditorInternal Auditor managing risk assessments and SOX compliance testing.
- Senior IT AuditorA Senior IT Auditor who tests IT general controls, evaluates SOC reports, and reviews ERP access security to minimize operational risks.
- Internal Controls ManagerLead internal controls, maintain SOX compliance and direct process testing for organizational risk mitigation.
- Enterprise Risk ManagerLead enterprise risk identification, mitigation strategies, and cross-functional control oversight for risk exposure.
- Financial Compliance ManagerThis role manages financial compliance frameworks, oversees SOX testing, and mitigates enterprise risk.
- Internal Audit SupervisorAn Internal Audit Supervisor leads audit engagements, manages SOX compliance workflows, and reports risk findings to management.
No title matched. Send us the title you need.
Questions people ask
Should I hire a CPA or a CIA for a SOX role?
If the focus is financial controls and reporting, a CPA is often preferred. If the focus is internal audit methodology and operational risk, the CIA designation is more relevant.
Can I use contractors for audit testing?
No upfront fee. You pay only if you hire. Contractors provide high-volume testing for peak cycles. Verify documentation standards before onboarding.
How do I decide between an IT Audit Manager and a Financial Audit Manager?
If your primary risk lies in ERP access and system-level controls, hire an IT auditor. If you need someone to manage the overall audit plan and process controls, a financial auditor is the priority.
Are external audit backgrounds valuable?
They are highly valuable for understanding documentation standards, testing rigor, and working under strict deadlines. They typically transition well to internal audit roles.
What is the replacement period for internal audit hires?
We provide a replacement or a fee adjustment if the candidate departs within the defined period.