Internal Audit Portfolio Director

Role Responsibilities

The Internal Audit Portfolio Director leads and delivers risk-based internal audit services to departments. This role reports to the Chief Internal Auditor and provides independent assurance and trusted advice to senior leadership to strengthen governance, risk management, and internal controls.  The Director will lead projects that help government advance transformation and program improvement efforts by providing independent audit and advisory services.  Projects may include adoption and use of artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, privacy management, service transformation, major technology adoption, financial or contract reviews, or review of programs and operations.  

In this role, you will have opportunities to work with many different programs across government and assist them in advancing service improvements through advisory and assurance audit engagements.  The Director has responsibility and mandate to lead modernization of our audit methodology, tools and strategy and aligning with industry audit standards.

Major Accountabilities of the role include:

Strategic Audit Leadership

• Develop and oversee risk-based audit plans for assigned portfolios.
• Provide strategic advice to senior executives on risk, control, and governance matters.
• Ensure audits align with legislation, policy, and professional standards.
  
  

Audit Oversight and Quality Assurance

• Lead complex and high-risk audits from planning to reporting.
• Review audit findings to ensure they are clear, evidence-based, and defensible.
• Ensure compliance with internal audit standards and best practices.
  
  

Risk Management and Governance Advisory

• Identify emerging risks and systemic control gaps.
• Provide recommendations that improve accountability and performance.
• Present audit results and recommendations to executive committees.
  
  

Stakeholder Engagement
   

• Build strong working relationships with senior leaders in government.
• Communicate complex findings clearly and confidently.
• Maintain independence while fostering collaborative working relationships.
  
  

Leadership and Team Development

• Lead, coach, and mentor audit professionals.
• Ensure consistent audit methodology and quality across the portfolio.
• Support staff development and succession planning.
  
  

Please click on this link to view the job description for this position.

APS Competencies

Competencies are behaviors that are essential to reach our goals in serving Albertans. We encourage you to have an in depth understanding of the competencies that are required for this opportunity and to be prepared to demonstrate them during the recruitment process.

This link will assist you with understanding competencies:
https://www.alberta.ca/system/files/custom_downloaded_images/psc-alberta-public-service-competency-model.pdf.

Systems Thinking: Understands how governance, financial controls, operational risks, and policy decisions connect across the organization.

Develop Networks: Builds trusted relationships with executives, audit committees, and cross-ministry partners.

Agility: Adjusts audit priorities quickly in response to emerging risks or shifting organizational needs.

Drive for Results: Delivers high-quality audits on time and ensures recommendations lead to meaningful improvements.

Build Collaborative Environments: Maintains audit independence while promoting respectful, solution-focused dialogue.

Develop Self and Others: Coaches and mentors team members while continuously strengthening personal expertise.

Creative Problem Solving: Analyzes complex risk issues and develops practical, balanced solutions.

Qualifications

University degree in Business, Accounting, Finance, Public Administration, Law, Economics, Computer Science or a related field. Professional designation such as CPA, CIA, CISA, or equivalent is strongly preferred. Minimum 7 years of progressive experience in internal audit, risk management, digital transformation, compliance, or financial oversight.

• Experience leading complex audits and advising senior leadership.
• Experience in applying Institute for Internal Audit Standards.
• Strong knowledge of governance frameworks, risk assessment methodologies, and internal control systems.
• Experience presenting findings to executive leadership or audit committees.
• Strong analytical, judgment, and decision-making skills.
  
  

Equivalent combinations of education and experience will be considered.

The following are considered assets.

• Experience in digital transformation programs, demonstrating a transition from manual processes to digital operations.
• Experience with modern audit technologies including generative artificial intelligence.
• Experience auditing in a public sector or government environment.
• Experience leading multi-disciplinary audit teams.
• Experience with enterprise risk management frameworks.
• Experience managing complex or politically sensitive audit files.
• Advanced data analytics, generative artificial intelligence, or audit technology experience.
  
  

Applicants are required to provide a cover letter.

Minimum recruitment standards outline the minimum education and experience required for appointment to a job classification. 
Refer to https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-public-service-minimum-recruitment-standards.

Notes

This is a permanent, full-time position working 36.25 hours per week, Monday to Friday.

Candidates may be asked to participate in a written assessment prior to the interview. The final candidate for this position will be asked to undergo pre-employment checks.

Any costs associated with obtaining the required documents/checks as noted or interview travel expenses, will be the responsibility of the candidate. Out-of-province applicants can obtain the required documents/checks from the province they currently reside in.

Links and information on what the GoA have to offer to prospective employees.  

• Working for the Alberta Public Service - https://www.alberta.ca/advantages-working-for-alberta-public-service.aspx.
• Management Employees Pension Plan (MEPP) - https://www.mepp.ca.
• Alberta Public Service Benefit Information - https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-public-service-benefits.
• Professional learning and development - https://www.alberta.ca/professional-development-support-directive.
• Research Alberta Public Service Careers tool – https://researchapscareers.alberta.ca.
• Positive workplace culture and work-life balance.
• Leadership and mentorship programs.