Internal Audit Manager

Under the direction of the Head of Internal Audit, supervise the internal audits of operational, credit and financial areas of the Bank, its banking centers, subsidiaries and holding company in order to ensure compliance with Bank policies and procedures, as well as industry guidelines and best practices.

Responsibilities:

• Responsible for identifying and evaluating relative risks of the various operational, credit and financial areas of the bank by performing risk assessment analyses to determine the frequency of audits and develop the Process Audits Annual Audit Plan.
• Planning, scoping and managing the execution of all operational, credit and financial audits at Amerant Bank, its banking centers, subsidiaries and holding company.
• Directing the outsourced audit functions, supervising their work to ensure adequate coverage and the quality of audit results.
• Responsible for assigning final ratings for each completed audit and submitting them to the Head of Audit for review and approval.
• Mitigating exposure to losses by identifying and evaluating risk and providing audit results and recommendations that improve the efficiency and effectiveness of internal control processes.
• Understanding the audit environment, regulatory requirements and industry practices in order to direct the development of audit programs that include testing for policies, procedures and internal controls that mitigate risk. Keep abreast with industry guidelines, best practices, regulatory expectations and other changes, in order to update the audit processes as required.
• Identifying, assessing, and reporting to the Head of Internal Audit any current or prospective risks related to the Bank's operational, credit and financial areas, as a result of changes in the environment or non-compliance with internal policies and procedures or industry best practices.
• Responsible for planning and scheduling internal audits to meet the annual audit plan by implementing a risk-based audit approach while considering staffing availability and audit priorities.
• Leading the performance of audit procedures, developing criteria to review and analyze relevant information, evaluating evidence, identifying and defining findings and recommending corrective actions, and ensure their implementation by testing for their completion in each consecutive audit.
• Verifying audit work, including report draft, fieldwork tests, accuracy and completeness of work papers, audit findings, conclusions, recommendations. Leading initial audit meetings and final exit meetings with audited managers.
• Ensuring the quality of the workpapers in accordance with the Professional Standards for the Practice of Internal Auditing.
• Communicating effectively and professionally with area Managers during audits to ensure effective, professional, and productive communication resulting in perceived value-added to the organization.
• Serving as liaison for audits with examiners from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), and the Federal Reserve Bank during examination of the Bank and the Agency; prepare and provide information as requested.
• Responsible for creating or updating audit programs for the Operations, Credit and IT areas, ensuring proper coverage.
• Reviewing the Management Action Plans submitted by the audited managers to determine if the responses adequately address the recommendations. Approve or decline the Management Action Plans received.
• Support the continuous improvement of Internal Audit processes and techniques to gain operational efficiencies.
• Identifying, evaluating, monitoring and making any recommendation deemed necessary to the respective Committee in order to assess, reduce, eliminate or control any current or prospective risks to earnings or capital arising from violations of, or nonconformance with, laws, rules regulations, prescribed practices, internal policies and procedures or ethical standards.
• Monitor, track and validate issues and or review the validations identified in prior audits for proper closure.

Minimum Work Experience Requirements:

At least 10 years of internal audit experience, with a minimum of 8 years in financial services. Minimum 5 years managing staff and third-party vendor relationships, interacting effectively with all levels of management.

Minimum Education and/or Certifications Requirements:

Bachelors' Degree required. Related post-graduate degree or certification preferred, such as CPA, CIA, or CFE.

Technical and/or Other Essential Knowledge:

Advanced banking knowledge, organizational and project management skills, training and analytical skills, independent thinker, ability to multitask. Ability to analyze problems and recommend solutions. Ability to manage, coach and guide staff. Ability to communicate clearly and professionally. In-depth knowledge of specific areas of supervision: Bank Operations, Credit Operations and Financial Operations. Previous experience with MS Office Skills, including MS Word Advanced, MS Excel Advanced, MS Powerpoint Advanced, MS Project Advanced and MS Visio Advanced required.

Experience with Optro (formerly known as AuditBoard) preferred