Internal Audit Senior Associate

Job Title

Internal Audit Senior Associate

Job Description Summary

This is a Senior role within the Internal Audit Department, reporting to the Director of Internal Audit. This role is responsible for assisting with engagements that support the strategy, vision, and brand of the Internal Audit function. This includes executing audits and advisory reviews to assess, report on, and recommend value-added and practical improvements to address Cushman & Wakefield’s financial, operational, and compliance objectives. The Senior will provide management with assurance as to the adequacy and effectiveness of internal financial and operational controls within the company. The expectation is that a successful candidate will build a strong network across the organization and rotate into a position of increasing responsibility outside of Internal Audit within 2-3 years of starting.

Job Description

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS & RESPONSIBILITIES:

Support the Department in ensuring the execution of a comprehensive annual audit plan

Ownership for execution of planning, fieldwork, and reporting for audit and advisory engagements

Develop risk-based audit programs and testing procedures relevant to compliance with Global/Regional/Local regulations and business objectives

Assess operating risks and efficiency of internal controls, including performing a gap analysis to identify control weaknesses with a degree of professional skepticism

Assess operating risks, efficiency of internal controls, and effectiveness of business processes, including performing a gap analysis to identify control weaknesses with a degree of professional skepticism

Conduct interviews with audit clients and communicate issues in a timely manner, co-developing action plans as necessary to address root causes

Ensure audit conclusions are supported, well-documented, and based on a firm understanding of the business processes, circumstances, and risks

Develop clear, concise, and complete audit workpapers to ensure they meet IIA standards

Draft audit report to conclude on the areas audited and issues identified and ensure management remediation plans are developed to address the root cause and associated risks

Assist with audit report socialization and recommendations to Senior Leadership in a clear, concise, and professional manner

Effectively track and follow-up on audit findings from report issuance to remediation to evaluate the adequacy of corrective actions

Seek to fully understand relevant risks to the firm and proactively research and showcase firm understanding of relevant laws, regulations, and best practices

Maintain strong working relationships with all levels of employees, including Operations and Senior Leadership

Develop and promote process enhancements within Internal Audit to cultivate best-in-class audit processes and maintain the highest quality standards

Develop and promote process enhancements, automation opportunities, and technology-enabled solutions within Internal Audit to cultivate best-in-class audit processes and maintain the highest quality standards

Conduct data analytics using various appropriate tools to properly support audit findings and advisory engagements

Conduct data analytics utilizing visualization, automation, and AI-enabled tools to support audit findings, identify trends and anomalies, and enhance advisory engagements

Utilize critical thinking and analytical techniques to evaluate datasets, identify trends, anomalies, operational inefficiencies, and root causes

Leverage emerging technologies and AI-enabled tools to improve audit efficiency, research, analysis, and overall audit execution

Serve as a trusted advisor to the business and brand ambassador for C&W’s Internal Audit Department

REQUIREMENTS (Knowledge, Education and/or Experience):

Minimum of 2-3+ years of external/internal auditing with a public accounting firm and/or internal auditing or accounting role with a publicly traded or privately held firm.

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Information Systems, and/or business-related degree with CPA, CIA, and/or other well-known AICPA and/or IIA credentials preferred

Demonstrates knowledge of IIA Professional Practices and Standards

Demonstrates basic knowledge of technology-enabled business processes and related risks

Demonstrates knowledge and practical use of data analytics, visualization, and AI-enabled in audit work

Strong organizational skills and the ability to handle competing priorities, while meeting all deadlines

Demonstrates critical thinking, problem-solving, and sound professional judgment

Demonstrates ability to collaborate and build relationships with Senior Leadership and colleagues

Demonstrates intellectual curiosity and willingness to learn emerging technologies, analytics techniques, and AI-enabled tools

Ability to analyze data, identify trends and anomalies, and apply insights to operational and audit-related activities

Strong written and oral communication skills

Ability to work independently with minimal supervision

Working knowledge of the commercial real estate industry preferred but not required

Up to 40% travel

ABILITY TO:

Manage priorities across various teams and deliverables, executing to deadlines

Apply knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles

Build strong relationships with stakeholders

Problem-solve root causes collaboratively. Demonstrate critical thinking and problem solving that result in process improvements

Demonstrate analytical, accounting and audit skills

Develop process flow charts and process narratives utilizing Microsoft Visio and Word/Excel

Conduct data analytics and analyze datasets utilizing Microsoft Excel, SQL, Python, AI-enabled tools, or other analytics technologies to identify trends, anomalies, operational risks, and potential process inefficiencies

Analyze datasets to identify trends, anomalies, operational risks, and potential process inefficiencies

Leverage emerging technologies and AI-enabled tools to support research, analysis, and audit execution

MUST HAVE STRENGTHS IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS:

Strong organizational skills with the ability to prioritize, follow-through, and manage multiple tasks, responsibilities, and deadlines

Self-starter with flexibility, desire, and eagerness to take ownership of related tasks and responsibilities in order to keep the project on schedule

Strong interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills

Strong analytical and data analysis skills utilizing Microsoft Excel, visualization tools, SQL, Python, AI-enabled tools, and other analytics technologies

Intellectual curiosity and willingness to leverage emerging technologies and AI-enabled tools to improve research, analysis, and audit execution

Strong analytical mindset with the ability to identify trends, anomalies, operational risks, and process inefficiencies

Growth mindset to learn new skills, network across the organization, and take on increasing leadership responsibilities within Internal Audit with the goal of rotating into a position of increasing responsibility outside of Internal Audit within 2-3 years of starting

WORKING CONDITIONS and/or PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

Located in Chicago, IL

Ability to travel 10 – 40% as needed

Hybrid work model when not traveling – 3 days per week

Cushman & Wakefield also provides eligible employees with an opportunity to enroll in a variety of benefit programs, generally including health, vision, and dental insurance, flexible spending accounts, health savings accounts, retirement savings plans, life, and disability insurance programs, and paid and unpaid time away from work. In addition to a comprehensive benefits package, Cushman and Wakefield provide eligible employees with competitive pay, which may vary depending on eligibility factors such as geographic location, date of hire, total hours worked, job