POSITION OVERVIEW

The Senior Advisor, Internal Audit supports the execution of internal audit and advisory activities required to provide BDC Management and the Board of Directors with an independent and objective assessment of risks and assurance of adequacy and effectiveness of internal controls and processes.

Key responsibilities include planning, coordinating, executing, and reporting the results of the Internal Control over Financial Reporting and Disclosure Controls and Procedures certification program in accordance with National Instrument 52-109. The incumbent contributes to defining the annual scope, coordinating stakeholders, updating process narratives and risk and control matrices, assessing the design and operating effectiveness of controls, monitoring deficiencies, and preparing reports for Management.

The incumbent also contributes to audit engagements across various business units to assess governance, risk management, and control processes in alignment with BDC’s audit methodology. This entails developing an in-depth understanding of business processes, performing data analysis, evaluating controls and monitoring activities, and stakeholders’ engagement.

The audit team has a direct impact in helping BDC fulfill its organizational objectives by maintaining an effective control environment, ensuring practices are appropriate to mitigate potential risks and that all employees are upholding the highest ethical standards. Internal Audit’s scope of activities broadly considers all functions and activities across all lines of defense.

CHALLENGES TO BE MET

• Support the execution of the Internal Control over Financial Reporting Certification program, including General IT Controls (GITC), Entity-Level Controls (ELC) , and Disclosure Controls (DC). More specifically:
  • Participate in planning the annual ICFR certification program, including supporting scope determination, risk assessment, identification of key processes and controls, scheduling, and coordination with process owners, control functions, and external auditors.
  • Execute and oversee program assessment work, including documenting and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of process-level controls, General IT Controls, Entity-Level Controls, and Disclosure Controls and Procedures.
  • Ensure the quality, consistency, and traceability of program documentation, including the linkage among risks, controls, testing procedures, evidence, results, and conclusions.
  • Assess identified control deficiencies in collaboration with stakeholders to determine root cause, impact, severity, and compensating controls, and monitor remediation plans through resolution.
  • Prepare and communicate program results to Management and relevant governance bodies, including work progress, exceptions, deficiencies, residual risks, and conclusions supporting the certification process.
  • Contribute to the program’s continuous improvement by enhancing the methodology, templates, testing procedures, monitoring mechanisms, and automation solutions to maintain their relevance, effectiveness, and alignment with the organization’s evolving risk profile.
• Support the execution of internal audit engagements in accordance with BDC’s risk-based approach to enhance and protect organizational operations. Execute assurance, advisory, and insight engagements to assess and improve governance, risk management, and controls.
• Assess the design and operating effectiveness of controls and business processes.
• Effectively document all phases of the audit engagement, including processes, risks, controls, and deficiencies. Contribute to identifying meaningful recommendations that enable Management to appropriately mitigate identified risks.

• Develop an understanding of IT risks and use acquired knowledge to identify key risks and controls.

• Perform recommendation follow-ups to validate that process improvements have been implemented to address identified deficiencies.

• Participate in quality assessment of the Internal Audit function and methodology continuous improvement initiatives.
• Maintain corporate audit independence and objectivity in all assignments while developing and maintaining effective, value-added partnerships (with colleagues, stakeholders, and audit clients).
• Assist with defining, developing, and documenting continuous monitoring processes to identify existing and emerging risks to operating effectiveness.

• Support the development and execution of data analytics testing for audits.
• Keep current with emerging audit techniques and technologies, including the use of artificial intelligence agents to facilitate audit execution.

• Support skills development and activity improvement initiatives impacting the broader audit team, including providing coaching and mentoring to junior staff.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, business administration, or a related field.
• 5 to 7 years of experience planning, executing, and reporting the results of an Internal Control over Financial Reporting certification program in accordance with National Instrument 52-109 or an equivalent regulatory framework. This experience must include assessing the design and operating effectiveness of financial controls, IT General Controls, Entity-Level Controls, and Disclosure Controls and Procedures.
• Experience in the financial services sector in internal audit, risk management, or compliance is an asset.

• Proven skills and experience related to adaptability, detail-oriented, internal control, interpersonal relationship management, organization and planning, results-oriented.
• Strong interpersonal skills, capacity to build and retain relationships and ability to work with and as part of a team.
• Excellent communication skills, in both official languages, and ability to produce clear, concise and effective written reports.
• Strong analytical, auditing and problem-solving abilities to evaluate areas of risks and to develop appropriate solutions.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail yet, capable of quickly grasping the big picture, addressing concerns and problems, and proposing practical and novel solutions adapted to the environment of the Bank.
• Excellent knowledge of risk management frameworks, including governance within the three line of defense model.
• A professional designation (CIA, CPA, CFA, CISA, etc.), an asset.