Vice President, Internal Audit

Kemper is seeking a talented VP, Internal Audit to join our Internal Audit team, and supporting our Property & Casualty group.

Internal Audit plays a key role in helping Kemper achieve its strategic intent, including by nurturing and developing future leaders.

Our vision is for Internal Audit to provide continuous assurance to senior management and the board on the effectiveness of governance, risk management, and controls through a culture that embraces innovation, analytics, automation, and credible challenge.

Internal Audit roles offer significant exposure to multiple areas of our business and all levels of senior management and provide opportunities identify issues and help make measurable improvements to the Company

As a VP, Internal Audit you will be a key member of the Internal Audit leadership team, contributing to the design and execution of the department’s strategy.

You will also be accountable for cultivating relationships with senior line of business management and understanding that line of business’ key priorities, products, processes, systems, risks, and control environment and overseeing assurance and advisory engagements for that line of business.

You will use your knowledge of the business and industry to assess risks and prioritize audit activities and play a key role in internal audit’s strategic initiatives and developing our talent.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: 

• Cultivates and maintains working relationships with senior management across the line of business, to understand their priorities, expectations, and the key strategies, objectives, and risks, serving as a credible partner to the business
• Promotes effective risk-based annual planning, including gathering of information and completing risk assessments to determine the appropriate nature and extent of work
• Builds a risk-based audit plan comprised of traditional audits, targeted reviews, project-based reviews, and advisory projects
• Leads team members in the provision of timely, high quality, and impactful assurance and advisory services to the business
• Ensures projects are conducted in compliance with standards and approved practices
• Communicates risk management, governance and control issues, opportunities for improvement, and impactful recommendations to decision-makers including C-suite and line of business leadership
• Effectively communicates with, and educates, process owners and senior management on the importance of controls, an effective control environment, process excellence, and the role of Internal Audit
• Monitors risk and audit best practices and industry, business, and regulatory changes through ongoing involvement in professional associations, industry training and other activities
• Maintain a strong internal and external network, including among peer and industry groups, and with external advisors
• Helps guide internal audit functional strategies, priorities, and key initiatives by providing leadership, insights, and subject matter expertise
• Helps lead other enterprise initiatives as appropriate
• Leads the team with integrity and creates an environment where employees feel included, valued, and supported to do work that energizes them
• Provides ongoing coaching and feedback, recognizes and develops employees, and completes management tasks timely
• Maintains and builds skills and competence as identified in an individual development plan and, as appropriate, through participation in relevant industry and professional associations

MINIMUM JOB REQUIREMENTS: 

• Bachelor’s degree, preferably in accounting, finance, information systems, data analysis or business administration
• 15 plus years of work experience, preferably in internal audit, public accounting, or risk management within insurance and/or the financial services industry
• 8 plus years of prior management/leadership experience with demonstrated ability to influence, motivate, and develop others
• Has one of the following certifications: CPA, CIA, CISA, CICA, CFE, CISSP, CAMS, PMP

REQUIRED JOB SKILLS: 

• Demonstrates a strong sense of curiosity and willingness to get a deep understanding of the business and its processes, technologies, and risks to provide value and insights and help achieve our strategic intent
• Strategic, progressive thinker with a keen eye for improving business process and risk management
• Demonstrate sound knowledge and understanding of the business, industry practices, internal audit principles, and regulatory requirements and risk management principles in the conduct of audit engagements and special projects
• Exhibits a high degree of passion, energy, and commitment
• Effectively navigates a matrixed organization and complexities to support the business with high quality assurance and advisory services
• Solid leadership skills and experience, including the ability to motivate and coach team members, influence others and work with all levels of management and professional staff
• Strong organizational, project management, time management, relationship building, negotiation, and problem-solving skills
• Strong knowledge of internal audit best practices, financial / insurance services processes and operations, and regulatory requirements
• Proficient in applying internal auditing standards, procedures and techniques, risk management practices, procedures, and industry best practices
• Proficient in use of data analysis and automation techniques to drive efficiency and effectiveness
• Experience developing people and building the talent pipeline in a growing and changing environment
• Ability to influence positive changes to the risk and control environment
• Strong communication, including written and oral presentation, skills
• Able to travel up to 20%
• Ability to work effectively in a remote environment when necessary

PREFERRED SKILLS: 

• Familiarity with TeamMate, Tableau, Visio, Alteryx, ACL, Workday, Guidewire, Workiva, Power BI, and productivity tools such as Microsoft Office
• Due diligence, mergers, acquisitions, and/or integration experience
• Advanced degree such as masters in accounting, masters in information systems, or Master of Business Administration