Principal IT Auditor (Hybrid) - Ace Hardware Corporation

About This Role

The primary purpose of the Principal IT Auditor is to assist Ace management to evaluate and improve the effectiveness of our organization’s IT risk management, control, and governance processes. The focus of this role will be to independently perform timely, quality IT audits for all corporate (domestic and international) departments, manufacturing facilities, distribution centers, subsidiaries, and service lines of business.

What You’ll Do

• Independentlycompletes assigned IT audit engagements (on time and within assigned budgeted hours) following a standard audit methodology.  Principal IT Auditors are responsible for development and completion of the entire audit project from scope creation through to issuance of the final audit report and issue follow-up activities.

• Completes walkthroughs, testing, and workpaper documentation with minimal oversight or involvement from their direct manager.

• Management review comments related to testing workpapers, audit reports, and other audit documentation are minimal and rarely result in the addition of extra testing areas or audit steps.

• Performs and completes audit projects at or under the originally budgeted hours.

• Meets calendar week deadlines indicated in the project timeline as agreed to by their direct manager.

• Demonstrate the ability to compose and confidently deliver effective oral and written communications (e.g., project milestone updates, audit reports, etc.) aimed at all levels within the Ace organization (e.g., free of technical jargon). 

• Keep their direct manager adequately and timely informed throughout the audit project and have the discernment to know when the manager should be brought in versus when the IT Principal should resolve issues themselves.

• Use effective communication skills to positively influence auditee behavior

• Optimize use of all automated tools available within the organization. 

• Develop working knowledge of other types of audit, IT, and data analytical tools to assist the department in improving the overall effectiveness of the group. 

• Principal IT Auditors need to be flexible and gain adequate (preferably expert) knowledge to make effective use of Ace’s various data warehouses – including SAP, Power BI, Webfocus, Infopac, Planview, ADW, WMOS, various data dashboards, etc. 

• Support Audit Services management in developing and executing a data analytics methodology throughout all audit projects. 

• Utilize various in-house computer applications (e.g., Microsoft Office, SAP, Power BI, etc.) to facilitate successful completion of assigned audit engagements. 

• Work closely with the Audit Services Business team in planning, supporting, and executing data analytics including identification of data sources, data extraction, data validation, targeted sample selection, root cause analysis, and documentation of results.

• Regularly seek internal and external training in order to improve upon existing data analytical skills with the goal of providing this service to the rest of the audit department.

• Develop working knowledge and understanding of GAAP as well as key auditing standards. 

• Demonstrate ability to identify risks surrounding IT general controls: Change Management, user access security, logical security, back-up and recovery, password configuration, business continuity planning, application controls, system development methodologies, etc.  

• Document learnings to ensure technical knowledge is being consistently developed, maintained, and applied to relevant projects.

• Search for meaningful training opportunities to grow their skillset and to share new concepts with other members of the Audit Services team.

• Demonstrate the ability to work independently in a deadline-focused, fast-paced environment, while providing timely project status updates to Manager.

• Demonstrate the ability to develop and enhance positive relationships with our audit clients by gaining a better understanding of overall IT risks, issues, and concerns - both holistically across the company and within their particular line of business. 

• Participate in non-audit related company activities to obtain this deeper understanding of IT risk and to enrich our current relationships and influence within the organization.

• Demonstrate team-oriented project management and leadership skills and consistently make suggestions to improve the overall audit process

• Supervising performance of assigned Summer intern audit projects (if available).

• Supervising performance of audits performed by co-source partners.

• Performing other oversight functions (e.g., EY workpaper review, consulting budget monitoring, etc.).

• Maintaining excellent working relationships with audit team members and auditees during and after audit projects.

• Actively pursuing opportunities to coach or mentor other team members and solicit periodic feedback from the Audit Services management team.

• Frequently seek out additional responsibilities and opportunities to grow within their role.

Who You Are

As Ace’s Principal IT Auditor, you demonstrate the ability to evaluate, identify, and suggest ways to minimize potential risk within the IT systems that house all information assets.  You love to verify the reliability and integrity of these systems and analyze related data to ensure our assets are secure.  In addition, you love to collaborate effectively with peers, business partners, and your direct reports by sharing valuable IT knowledge and continually building positive relationships.

Required Skills

• Bachelor’s Degree with focus in Accounting, Finance, Business, Computer Science, Information Technology, or Information Systems is required.

• 7+ years' experience in Internal IT Audit is required.

• 7+ years’ experience in Accounting, Finance, Business, or IT/Information Systems is preferred.

• Previous experience identifying, documenting, and evaluating IT specific general system controls with industry knowledge (e.g., distribution, manufacturing, or retail) is required.

• Experience reviewing, conducting, and identifying risks surrounding additional IT general controls (ITGC):  Change Management, user access security, logical security, back-up and recovery, password configuration, business continuity planning, application controls, system development methodologies, etc., is highly preferred.

• Previous experience developing, documenting, and identifying controls within an ERP system (e.g., SAP) is required.

• Experience working with SAP, mainframe, and distributed platforms as well as knowledge of Windows, UNIX, and Relational Database Management Systems is highly preferred.

• Previous experience independently developing full, risk-based IT Audit Reports (encompassing root cause analysis related to issue development) is required.

• Ability to minimize technical jargon in Audit Reports and when speaking with all levels of Management is highly preferred.

• Excellent written and oral communication and presentation skills are required.

• Excellent project management skills are required.

• Experience with basic technological applications (i.e., Microsoft Office) is required.

• Experience effectively utilizing data analytics is required.

• Ability to establish effective internal & external working relationships is required.

• Ability to work independently in a deadline-focused, fast-paced environment, while providing timely project status updates to Manager is required.

• Ability to effectively perform leadership functions by directly managing the Summer Intern and/or indirectly managing Senior Auditor or Co-source audit partner projects is required.

• Ability to effectively manage and/or perform other oversight activities (e.g., completion of non-audit, administrative, and budgetary review functions) isrequired.

• Additional certification (e.g., CPA, CIA, CFE, CISA, etc.) and/or advanced degree (e.g., MBA) are preferred. 

#LI-KH1

Compensation Details:

$98400 - $123000 per year

Why should you join our team?

We live our values - W.E.L.I.G.H.T (Winning, Excellence, Love, Integrity, Gratitude, Humility, and Teamwork). Gratitude. Humility. Love. You don’t often see values like these in most corporate statements, but Ace is different. These things are important to us. They represent our commitment to the company, our employees, to Ace retailers and to the Ace brand.

In addition to providing our employees a great culture, Ace also offers competitive benefits* that address life’s necessities and perks, many of which expand and improve year after year, including:

• Incentive opportunities, based on role/grade level (rapid company growth over the past 5 years resulted in incentives being paid out at an average of 126% of your target opportunity!)
• Generous 401(k) retirement savings plan with company contributions, averaging 9.6% per year of eligible earnings over the past 5 years
• Comprehensive health coverage (medical, dental, vision and disability – up to 26 weeks short-term disability and long-term disability) & life insurance benefits for you and your dependents
• 21 days of vacation immediately available (prorated in the first year) and up to 6 paid holidaysdepending on the month of hire
• Company Car, phone and fuel card are provided for field-based positions
• Your career at Ace is more than just a job. It’s a chance to be part of something meaningful. We help locally-owned businesses thrive and make an impact in their communities – and we support our employees in doing the same by offering an annual Ace Cares Week, 20 hours off work per year to volunteer at an organization of your choice, opportunities to help Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and the Ace Helpful Fund through the Ace Foundation
• Ace invests in every employee we hire, with a key focus on development and coaching. We offer on-site classes, facilitator-led courses, and a generous tuition assistance program, plus a performance management approach that goes beyond the typical annual review
• We know the work environment matters. That’s why Ace holds frequent campus events like Employee Appreciation Week, vendor demos, cookouts, and merchandise sales
• We bring them to you! Services such as mobile spas, auto maintenance, car wash and detailing, dry cleaning, dentists, eye doctors, flu shots, recycling and more!
• Employee discounts on Ace merchandise (including top brands like Weber, Traeger, Yeti, Craftsman, DeWalt and more), travel, fitness, computers and thousands more
• Birth/Adoption bonding paid time off
• Adoption cost reimbursement
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) – access to free visits to therapists and lawyers, guidance on financial matters, elder and childcare, and assistance with tickets to entertainment events
• Identity theft protection

* Benefits are provided in compliance with applicable policies.

We want to hear from you!
When most people think of career opportunities with Ace Hardware, they often think of the helpful cashiers and sales associates at their local store. However, have you also considered the people behind the scenes who select, promote, ship and process the invoices for more than 75,000 products? Maybe you haven't, but we'd like you to. Because together we help our customers take care of their homes. Come find out why a career with the Ace Hardware Corporation is one of America's best kept secrets.

Equal Opportunity Employer
Ace Hardware Corporation and its subsidiaries are committed to a policy of promoting equal employment opportunities. The company recognizes the importance of diversity and leveraging the skills and talents of all people to the mutual advantage of each individual and the organization. The company is committed to the prevention of employment discrimination related to race, religion, color, sex (including sexual harassment), gender identity, national origin, age, marital status, disability and military or veteran status, sexual orientation or any other action covered by federal or applicable state/local laws.

Disclaimer

The pay range for this position starts as listed in the job posting, but could be higher based on education and experience. Please note, compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each opening. We take into consideration the minimum requirements outlined in the job description, such as an individual’s education, training and experience, the position’s work location, required travel (if any), and external market conditions when determining the final salary for potential new hires.

Be aware that salary estimates published via alternate online job boards may not be a true representation of the actual pay range offered for this position. Please refer to the Ace position description for the accurate starting pay range information and feel free to discuss this with a Talent Acquisition professional if you are chosen to move forward with an interview.

This written “Position Description” is not intended to cover all aspects of the position listed. It is meant to cover the basic/general essential job functions of a particular position. Ace Hardware Corporation reserves the right to change job duties, including essential job functions, according to business necessity.