Vice President, Internal Audit

Over the last 20 years, Ares’ success has been driven by our people and our culture. Today, our team is guided by our core values – Collaborative, Responsible, Entrepreneurial, Self-Aware, Trustworthy – and our purpose to be a catalyst for shared prosperity and a better future. Through our recruitment, career development and employee-focused programming, we are committed to fostering a welcoming and inclusive work environment where high-performance talent of diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives can build careers within this exciting and growing industry.

Job Description

As the third line of defense, Internal Audit’s mission is to independently assess the firm’s overall control environment, including the firm’s governance processes and controls, and risk management and global Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) 404 compliance activities.

• Communicates and reports on the effectiveness of the firm’s governance, risk management and controls that mitigate current and evolving risk.
• Raise awareness of control risk.
• Oversee business process testing globally, while serving as the key liaison between the business and external auditors
• Monitors management’s implementation of control measures.

The SOX Program Lead is accountable for the effective and efficient SOX program that ensures compliance with SOX requirements for Ares Management globally, including registered and public funds.

Primary functions and essential responsibilities

• Support and supervise the execution of SOX 404
• Optimize the SOX program globally. Assess global control requirements across jurisdictions and businesses to drive a common control approach
• Ensure effective compliance with SOX regulation. Example responsibilities include:
  • Lead annual planning: financial statement risk assessment and control scoping
  • Conduct design walkthroughs, oversee operating effectiveness testing, identification and remediation of deficiencies, and quarterly management certifications
  • Advise business in the development and maintenance of control documentation and issue remediation
  • Provide timely and effective communication with key stakeholders, including internal stakeholders, external auditors, and audit committee(s)
• Promote a risk aware culture by providing training on SOX and internal control topics to the business quarterly
• Provide ongoing improvement to the SOX program based on design and operating effectiveness assessments performed. Advise on process improvements and monitor the implementation
• Assess new controls based on merger activity and incorporate into SOX program, as required. Consider materiality, consolidation, control effectiveness assessment, and entity level procedures
• Design and implement control rationalization activities as the SOX program grows with the business, including ongoing alignment to the COSO Internal Control Integrated Framework
• Design and implement a standardized process for control deficiency assessment and management action plan oversight
• Lead the delivery of Service Organization Controls (SOC 1) assessments globally
• Coordinate between external auditors and the business for any attestation-based reporting that Ares Management may elect to perform (e.g., SOC 1, SOC 2) for the benefit of Limited Partners or external parties
• Leverage and advocate for the use of technology across the function with particular emphasis on data analytics.
• Partner with business and technology to develop use cases and integrate automation in control testing
• Identify and communicate existing and emerging business risks and significant issues in a timely and proactive manner.
• Exhibit strong organization and follow up skills.
• Follow instructions accurately and efficiently and proactively.
• Maintains all organizational and professional ethical standards. 
• Conducts quarterly risk and fraud assessments based on input from management, external auditors, and external factors for the development of quarterly audit plans.
• Pursues professional development opportunities, including external and internal training and professional association memberships.
• Maintains independence and objectivity.
• Maintain an in-depth understanding of business areas and supporting functions.

Qualifications

General Requirements:

• Subject matter expertise in auditing, compliance, and risk management concepts (e.g., risk assessment/prioritization, process & internal controls, root cause analysis)
• Understanding of the operation of financial markets, financial instruments and strategies.
• 10 years of internal audit experience in the Financial Services Industry, focused on SOX and Internal Control.
• Strong managerial skills, written and verbal communication skills, analytical, problem-solving, organizational, and interpersonal skills
• Enthusiastic/ self-motivated/ strong interest in learning/ effective under pressure and willing to take personal responsibility/accountability.
• Related certifications (CPA, CA, CIA or similar) preferred.

Reporting Relationships

Compensation

$200,000 - $230,000

There is no set deadline to apply for this job opportunity. Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until the search is no longer active.