Senior Auditor

About the Internal Audit Group at American Express 

Our Internal Audit Group is a worldwide function with 400+ team members and offices across nine countries within American Express. Our mission is to protect and enhance organizational value by providing independent, objective, risk-based assurance, advisory services and to influence the way the company manages risk.

We are committed to growing our audit staff significantly as we continue to expand and enhance the Internal Audit Group. Our assurance and risk professionals have diverse backgrounds including internal controls, consumer compliance, technology, operational risk, financial accounting, data analytics, and banking operations. Our audit teams align to key risk areas and business units to ensure IAG can provide comprehensive and risk-based audit coverage. In addition, IAG has a Professional Practices group responsible for managing audit operations, quality, and standards; regulatory relations; reporting; training and professional development; and key internal capabilities and technologies.

About the Role 

Our Internal Audit Group (IAG) is seeking an eager Staff Auditor to be part of the IAG’s Resource Centre of Excellence in India. In this role, the ideal candidate will be responsible for assisting on multiple audit portfolios across IAG. This is an exceptional opportunity for you to showcase and further expand your audit skills, and knowledge!

Key Responsibilities 

• Assist Senior Managers / Managers in the execution of assigned audit tasks in line with American Express' Internal Audit procedures, internal policies and standards, and regulatory expectations throughout the audit lifecycle with guidance; maintain audit proficiency through ongoing professional development, including data analytics literacy skills, technology, and banking best practices 

• Review prior audit results and relevant business monitoring materials to support Audit Planning activities such as the planning checklist; attend walkthroughs, taking diligent notes, asking questions as appropriate 

• Execute straightforward audit tests (e.g., process, governance, oversight testing) and clearly document test results in accordance with internal policies and procedures to evaluate the control design and effectiveness with guidance; draft work papers with supervision, demonstrating the ability to use automated work papers and other department and company tools

• Identify and escalate issues as appropriate throughout testing and audit execution; draft audit issue documentation

• Develop a foundational understanding of American Express' business model, products, services, and organizational units

• Assist in documenting and evaluating audit observations and findings; support routine client status meetings, audit request, and other administrative tasks

• Learn how corrective actions / MAPs are impactful and sustainable; execute validation of MAPs

• Serve as an IAG Champion (e.g., Management Action Plan Champion, Business Monitoring Champion) 

• Communicate task status, roadblocks, challenges, and potential solutions to B35s and leadership as appropriate

• Participate as a key team member on audit projects, independently owning audit tasks such as documenting processes under review, developing workpapers, and executing audit tests in accordance with policies and procedures

• Demonstrate ability to work proactively and take initiative on next steps

• Review prior audit results and relevant business monitoring materials to support Audit Planning activities; executes and actively participates in walkthroughs by asking thoughtful questions, leveraging effective challenge and critical thinking

• Provide guidance to staff auditors and review and provide feedback on work as appropriate

• Understand how to draft test steps, audit findings, and the audit report and drafts as needed with guidance

Minimum Qualifications

• 5+ years of relevant audit experience within the financial Services Industry  
• BA, BS, or equivalent degree in accounting or finance related field 
• Knowledge and experience in the application of control theory and professional auditing practices including the audit lifecycle
• Understanding of regulatory, accounting, and financial industry best practices relevant to the business, including technology and data implications
• Ability to break-down a complex problem into components, solve them using data analysis, process knowledge and risk/control knowledge, and communicate results and control recommendations with transparency and integrity
• Strong written and verbal communication skills that deliver quality, actionable and beneficial feedback to management on potential control issues and solutions to close gaps.
• Effectively works independently, within a team and across teams in a fast-paced environment to drive business results, utilizing related project management skills, employing creative thinking, and the ability to work on competing priorities

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with technology control testing including interface inputs, reports, application security, business continuity and third parties
• Experience with using data analytic tools, data visualization, key risk indicators (KRIs), key performance indicators (KPIs), and scorecards / dashboards
• Background in information systems, data analytics or information technology 

• Professional Certification (CIA, CPA, CISA or equivalent) 

• Experience from big accounting firms or global internal audit functions