Prin Internal Auditor

Consumers Energy is Michigan’s largest energy provider, providing natural gas and/or electricity to 6.8 million of the state’s 10 million residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties. Consumers Energy knows job number one is to keep the lights on for customers. We are committed to delivering reliable, clean, and affordable energy to our customers 24/7.  

This position is not eligible for immigration sponsorship, e.g., H-1B, TN, etc. Please do not apply if you will need immigration sponsorship for a work visa now or in the future, including sponsorship for H-1B, TN, etc., now or in the future. We are unable to hire individuals with CPT, OPT, or STEM OPT for this position as the position is not eligible for participation in the H-1B lottery program and is not eligible for current or future immigration sponsorship for a work visa.

Location: This is a hybrid (virtual/onsite) position with required onsite days on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday assigned to the One Energy Plaza located in Jackson, MI.  The selected candidate must be within a commutable distance or willing to relocate (relocation package is available for those that qualify).  

GENERAL SUMMARY OF JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

The Principal Internal Auditor is accountable for the strategic direction, technical integrity, and effectiveness of complex assurance and advisory work supporting the company’s Sarbanes-Oxley Act compliance program and internal control over financial reporting. As an individual contributor, the role establishes risk-based approaches, resolves the most complex control and financial reporting matters, influences enterprise decisions, completes complex control testing, and provides authoritative counsel to Internal Audit leadership, business leaders, and control owners. The Principal drives sustainable improvements in governance, risk management, control effectiveness, and audit modernization while maintaining independence and objectivity.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Shape governance and control decisions for significant business, financial, and technology initiatives. Define required outcomes, challenge assumptions, establish remediation expectations, and hold stakeholders accountable for sustainable risk reduction.
• Render authoritative judgments on complex accounting, financial reporting, system, and control matters. Provide final technical and quality review of high-risk work, significant deficiencies, conclusions, and recommendations.
• Own and lead the risk-based strategy, methodology, standards, and activities for complex Sarbanes-Oxley Act and internal control over financial reporting assessments, including risk assessment, process and control evaluation, testing, deficiency assessment, and remediation validation.
• Lead the external audit reliance strategy, resolve complex assurance matters, and strengthen the efficiency and credibility of assurance activities. Advise senior leaders on significant control themes, emerging risks, and required actions.
• Serve as the senior technical authority for audit professionals by setting practice standards, building organizational capability, and guiding resolution of unprecedented or highly complex issues.
• Drive modernization of the assurance program through data analytics, automation, artificial intelligence, and continuous controls monitoring, with measurable improvements in risk coverage, insight, and efficiency.
• Direct enterprise-level assessments of financial reporting risk and the design and operating effectiveness of business process, information technology, automated, interface, and report controls.
• Other duties as assigned or as may be necessary.

KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS/ABILITIES

• Strong knowledge of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, internal control over financial reporting, accounting, auditing standards, and the internal control framework.
• Ability to influence stakeholders, work effectively across levels, and maintain independence and objectivity.
• Knowledge of business process controls, information technology general controls, automated controls, enterprise systems, and emerging technology risk.
• Strong analytical, critical-thinking, problem-solving, project-management, and organizational skills.
• Ability to communicate complex risks clearly and translate findings into practical business recommendations.
• Ability to coach others and independently manage competing priorities and deadlines.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field with seven (7) or more years of progressive experience in Sarbanes-Oxley Act compliance, internal audit, public accounting, external audit, risk management, or a related assurance function, including substantial experience leading high-risk, complex, or enterprise-wide engagements. Demonstrated success establishing risk-based audit or compliance approaches, evaluating internal control over financial reporting, and reaching defensible conclusions on complex control, accounting, and technology matters. Experience serving as a technical authority and principal advisor to senior leaders and audit professionals; influencing cross-functional stakeholders; challenging assumptions; resolving disagreements; and driving timely, sustainable remediation. Proven ability to provide final technical and quality oversight and shape external assurance activities. (Required)
• (OR) Associate's degree with nine (9) or more years of progressive experience in Sarbanes-Oxley Act compliance, internal audit, public accounting, external audit, risk management, or a related assurance function, including substantial experience leading high-risk, complex, or enterprise-wide engagements. Demonstrated success establishing risk-based audit or compliance approaches, evaluating internal control over financial reporting, and reaching defensible conclusions on complex control, accounting, and technology matters. Experience serving as a technical authority and principal advisor to senior leaders and audit professionals; influencing cross-functional stakeholders; challenging assumptions; resolving disagreements; and driving timely, sustainable remediation. Proven ability to provide final technical and quality oversight and shape external assurance activities. (Required)
• (OR) High School Diploma/GED with eleven (11) or more years of progressive experience in Sarbanes-Oxley Act compliance, internal audit, public accounting, external audit, risk management, or a related assurance function, including substantial experience leading high-risk, complex, or enterprise-wide engagements. Demonstrated success establishing risk-based audit or compliance approaches, evaluating internal control over financial reporting, and reaching defensible conclusions on complex control, accounting, and technology matters. Experience serving as a technical authority and principal advisor to senior leaders and audit professionals; influencing cross-functional stakeholders; challenging assumptions; resolving disagreements; and driving timely, sustainable remediation. Proven ability to provide final technical and quality oversight and shape external assurance activities. (Required)

Why should you join our team?

At Consumers Energy, we offer more than just a place to work. We foster a culture that supports career development, growth, and stability, and we take pride in offering our co-workers excellent benefits and compensation packages. We are deliberately creating an inclusive culture that makes our diverse team of co-workers feel valued, supported, and empowered every day. We're a company made up of thousands of people, all with different stories to share and work to do, but we stand united in our company purpose: world class performance delivering hometown service.

What we offer:

• Competitive compensation packages
• Medical, Dental and Vision
• 401k with company match
• Paid parental leave
• Up to 13 paid Holidays
• Paid time off
• Educational Assistance Program

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion: 

We, at CMS Energy, value Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion. It is part of our DNA. We treat our employees with respect, we treat each other fairly and we value the opinions of others. We are passionate about building and nurturing an environment where everyone feels included. We don’t discriminate. We seek to learn about each other and better understand our unique differences. Our uniqueness makes us authentic. We create safe spaces where everyone can be who they truly are. We invite difficult conversations and uncomfortable topics. We value diverse perspectives; this is what makes us great together. We harbor an inclusive environment where employees feel empowered to share their backgrounds, experiences, and ideas. Our Employee Resource Groups, Women in Energy (WE), Minority Advisory Panel (MAP), Pride Alliance of Consumers Energy (PACE), GENERGY (Different Generations), capable (Different Abilities), Interfaith, People Planet Partners, and Veterans Advisory Panel (VAP) are key enablers to living the values of our company culture: Caring, Empowered, Deliberate, Agility, and Ownership.

All qualified applicants will not be discriminated against and will receive consideration for employment without regard to protected veteran status, disability, race, color, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or national origin.