Description
Position at IDEA Public Schools

About IDEA Public Schools :  

 

At IDEA Public Schools, we believe in college for ALL and we are committed to ensuring that   all   our students graduate from college. IDEA Public Schools has grown from a small school to the fastest-growing network of tuition-free Pre-K-12 public charter schools in the United States sending 100% of our students to college. 50% of our students graduate from college in 6 years - that's 8 times the national rate for students in our communities!  

 
IDEA was founded in 2000 as a single school with 150 students in the Rio Grande Valley. When interest exceeded building capacity, to meet the demands, IDEA's co-founders committed to serving more students in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas and beyond. We now serve  over 65,000  students across Texas and Louisiana. Be on the lookout for IDEA schools opening near you-with continued growth in our current regions an d new launches in  Tampa Bay , FL  (2021) ,  and  Jacksonville, FL (2022) !  

 

When you choose to work at IDEA, you are part of our IDEA Team and Family. You will work alongside team members who set and reach ambitious goals every day, are excited to continue to grow with IDEA, and work relentlessly to make college for all a reality.  

 

To learn more about IDEA, check out this   video .  

Role Mission:  

 

IDEA's Director of Internal Audit leads the internal audit function and  provides  an independent and objective assurance and consulting activity that is guided by a philosophy of adding value to improve the operations of IDEA Public Schools. Internal Audits will assist IDEA in accomplishing its objectives by bringing a systematic and disciplined approach to evaluate and improve the effectiveness of the organization's governance, risk management and internal control.  The Director of Internal Audit serves as a key partner to the Chief Executive Officer, Board of Directors , Audit Committee  and Executive Team to deliver assurance that IDEA's operations are held to the standards set by governance requirements of the Board of Directors and regulatory bodies state and federal. S/he will govern themselves by adherence to the Institute of Internal Auditor's mandatory guidance as  required  by the International Standards for the Professional  Practice  of Internal Auditing (standards) and  Board policy. S/he will periodically report to the CEO and the Audit Committee on internal audit activity's purpose, authority, and responsibility as well as performance relative to its audit plan. Reporting will also include significant risk exposures and control issues, including fraud risks, governance issues, and other matters needed or requested by the Audit Committee. The Director of Internal Audit will report functionally to the Audit Committee and administratively to the  VP of Board Relations & Governance .  

 

Accountabilities 
Prepare and maintain the comprehensive list of auditable areas and perform the annual risk assessment process for the recommendation of engagements to the annual audit plan in accordance with professional standards by May 31st to ensure a timely adoption of the internal audit plan by fiscal year start date.  

• Strategically manage the  list of auditable areas and continuously evaluate whether there are areas of risk that have not been identified.   
• Evaluate controls and assess the risk of all auditable areas to determine the most pressing needs for internal audit engagements.  

• Prepare the annual risk assessment report reflecting internal audit's assessment of risks and detailed information about the auditable areas for presentation to the Audit Committee.   
• Prepare the annual internal audit plan, based on available resources and the risk assessment report for evaluation and approval by the Audit Committee.   

 
Lead and execute on 100% of the annual internal audit plan as approved by the Audit Committee by fiscal year end while maintaining the highest levels of integrity, independence, and objectivity.  

• Organize and  strategically  schedule  the timing of  all audit engagements mandated by the annual audit plan as approved by the Audit Committee.  

• Maintain open lines of communication with management and keep them updated on the commencement and progression of internal audit engagements.   
• Lead and execute all internal audit engagements , assigning,  coaching  and managing staff to assignments, as appropriate.  
• Evaluate the adequacy  and effectively manage   Internal Auditors  and other   internal a nd external  resources  to ensure the completeness and timely completion of the annual audit plan.  
• Maintain the highest levels of independence and remain free from interference to permit maintenance of a necessary independent and objective mental attitude.   
• Ensure compliance with the International Standards for the Professional Practice of Internal Auditing (Standards).  

• Evaluate the effectiveness of the internal audit activity's performance and  adherence to IDEA Public Schools policies and  procedures .     
• Identify and evaluate relevant and appropriate continued education opportunities  aimed  to strengthen the Internal Audit Department and maintain high professional proficiency   in order to  effectively complete the annual internal audit plan .  

 
Lead the completion of the Fiscal Year-End external audit engagement including Interim work by September 30th, to ensure timely submission to the Texas Education Agency and bond rating agencies. 

• Coordinate the requests made by external auditors and communicate information needed to the appropriate staff.  

• Lead and manage the lines of communication between staff and management and the external auditors.   
• Review all audit documentation for accuracy and completeness prior to submitting information to external auditors and recommend adjustments, as necessary.   
• Oversee and review the business office's completion of year end audited financial statements with accompanied footnotes.   
• Coordinate communications between external auditors and the Audit Committee and Board of Directors.   

 
Serve as the liaison between management and the Audit Committee on the coordination of internal and external audit engagements. 

• Effectively report on the status of internal audits and external audits including presentation of final reports and management corrective action plans.   
• Communicate to the Audit Committee the commencement of any external audit engagements and coordinate with management to report the status of their completion including final reports and agreed corrective action plans.   
• Outline and communicate the results of the annual risk assessment process to the Audit Committee.   
• Report the commencement of investigations or special engagements and maintain the Audit Committee informed of the progression of these engagements.  

 
  Oversee the Internal and External Quality Assurance and Improvement Programs. 

• Manage and approve the internal quality control plan to ensure that all audit engagements and functions of the internal audit department are in accordance with standards.  
• Manage and train Internal Auditors to complete all internal audit engagements in accordance with quality control measures  adopted.  
• Lead the engagement of certified professionals for the completion of the ongoing external quality assurance and improvement assessments.  

 
 Oversee and Manage IDEA Public Schools Fraud, Abuse and Waste Reporting Hotline.  

• Follow up on all reports made through the district's fraud reporting hotline and coordinate investigative efforts with legal counsel and the Audit Committee.   
• Oversee and maintain the fraud reporting hotline's case management system to ensure all reports have proper  follow up and are resolved within 3 days of report.   
• Maintain active lines of communication with all relat ed areas involved in the resolution of reports, including the Audit Committee,  Superintendent,  Legal  Counsel , Human Resources, Health Services and other relevant  and appropriate  departments and staff.    

 
Ensure the highest level of consulting services and support to the different departments and functions of IDEA Public Schools. 

• Assist management on the interpretation of rules, regulations,  policies  and procedures.   
• Strive for  organizational wide  compliance with  internal  policies  and lead research efforts for best practices on all areas of school operations.  
• Coordinate research efforts within the internal audit department for consulting  support .  

• Partner with  all  teams to ensure implementation of corrective action plans from both internal and external audit or rev iew  engagements .  

 
Conduct investigations and other special assignments as assigned by the Audit Committee. 

• Coordinate the Internal Audit Department's resources for the accommodation and completion of investigation and special assignment engagements.  
• Perform investigations maintaining the highest levels of confidentiality and professionalism.   

• Coordinate the assignment of appropriate staff for support with investigations and other special assignments   
• If necessary and applicable, lead and coordinate the outsourcing of any investigation as approved by the Audit  Committee .  

 
Manage and Lead all functions of the Internal Audit Department.  

• Evaluate current resources and timely inform the Audit Committee of any shortage or limiting factors for the performance of internal audit functions.   

• Prepare and submit the annual internal audit budget for Audit Committee Approval and recommend amendments as needed.   
• Ensure all staff within the Internal Audit Department has the competency needed to perform internal audit engagements and coordinate all continuing education efforts to maintain professional proficiency.   

 
Live values of IDEA 

• Believes and is committed to our mission: that all students  are capable of getting  to and through college.  

• Is driven by outcomes and  results and  wants to be held accountable for them.  
• Has a propensity for action, willing to make mistakes by doing in order to learn and improve  quickly.  
• Thrives in an entrepreneurial, high-growth environment; is comfortable with ambiguity and change.  
• Seeks and responds well to feedback, which is shared often and freely across all levels of the organization.  
• Works through silos and forges strong cross-departmental relationships  in order to  achieve outcomes.  

• Embodies IDEA's core values.  

Supervisory Responsibilities:  

• Directly manages  all staff under the Internal Audit Department.   

Qualifications:  

• Education: bachelor's degree in accounting, management, finance, or business required; master's degree in business administration, accounting or finance strongly preferred.  

• Experience:  10 +  years auditing experience; preferably  internal audit at a  non-profit or educational setting .   
• License or Certification:  Certified Public Accountant, Certified Internal Auditor or Certified Fraud Examiner  required .  

 

IDEA Public Schools does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, sex or disability, in admission or access to, or treatment of employment in its programs and activities. Any person having inquiries concerning the organization's compliance with the regulations implementing Title VI of Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504), or Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), may contact IDEA Human Resources at (956) 377-8000.