Institute Auditor

The full position description can be viewed here.

The Institute Auditor plays a critical role in ensuring MIT adheres to best practices in administering programs and services, managing resources, and assessing operational risks. The role oversees an internal audit function that is committed to providing thoughtful, independent perspective on matters of internal control and appropriate risk management to Institute senior leadership and governance.

The Institute Auditor reports functionally to the MIT Corporation Risk and Audit Committee (Committee) and administratively to the Executive Vice President and Treasurer (EVPT). The position has the authority to escalate significant risk, control, or governance concerns directly to the Risk and Audit Committee where warranted, independent of management perspective. It accordingly requires extremely strong leadership, analytical, collaboration, and communications skills and the ability to maintain independence.

The Institute Auditor leads a team of professional auditors responsible for independently evaluating MIT’s academic, research, and administrative processes. The team develops and executes a comprehensive, risk-based audit and advisory program that includes financial, operational, compliance, and technology reviews across the Institute – including MIT Lincoln Laboratory, a federally funded research and development center managed on behalf of the Department of Defense. The Audit Division partners with Risk Management & Compliance Services, which is part of the Office of the General Counsel (OGC).

The Institute Auditor provides regular reports to the Risk and Audit Committee, presents the annual audit plan for approval, and administers all aspects of Committee operations. The role is also an active participant in cross-Institute initiatives.

For more information about Internal Audit at MIT, see https://audit.mit.edu/.

Competencies and Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, business administration, economics, or finance, or a related field
• A minimum of 10 years of relevant experience, including significant leadership responsibility in internal audit
• Certification as CIA, CISA, or CPA, or equivalent
• Established ability to lead managers and professional staff in a large, complex, decentralized organization
• Broad and substantive understanding of internal controls, risk management, audit standards, and governance across multiple professional disciplines
• Exceptional communication, negotiation, and presentation skills, with experience advising senior leadership on sensitive or strategic issues
• Strong relationship-building skills and the ability to collaborate across diverse Institute operations
• Proven ability to navigate issues of significant complexity, often without clear precedent, and provide innovative, balanced solutions
• The ability to lead through influence in addition to positional authority
• Demonstrated ability to maintain independence, exercise sound judgment, and communicate difficult conclusions in high-pressure or politically sensitive environments
• Tact, discretion, and the highest degree of integrity

Preferred

• Master’s degree or graduate certificate
• Related experience in higher education

Compensation and Location

The target salary range for the position is $290,000-$325,000 depending on experience and qualifications. MIT provides excellent benefits to its employees including health, retirement, and education. The position is based at MIT’s campus in Cambridge, MA. In consultation with the EVPT, there is an opportunity to establish an agreed-upon practice of remote work.

To Apply

MIT has retained Opus Partners to support this recruitment. Craig Smith, Managing Partner, Katie Dean, Senior Partner, and Abigail Maynard, Managing Associate, are leading the search. Please send applications (resume and letter of interest), confidential inquiries, and nominations to abigail.maynard@opuspartners.net.