Director Standards & Professional Guidance

Director, Standards & Professional Guidance – Financial Services

Location: Lake Mary, FL or Washington, DC (Hybrid)
Department: Standards & Professional Guidance
Status: Full-Time | Exempt
Salary Range: $130,000–$165,000 annually
Travel: Approximately 10%

About The IIA

The Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) is the global leader and recognized authority for the internal audit profession. We advance the profession worldwide through education, advocacy, certifications, research, thought leadership, and professional resources.

Guided by our values of People First, Integrity, Collaboration, Accountability, and Innovation, we offer a collaborative, purpose-driven workplace where employees can grow professionally while making a global impact.

Why Join The IIA?

Help shape the professional guidance that supports internal auditors working across the global financial services industry.

As Director, Standards & Professional Guidance – Financial Services, you will have the opportunity to:

• Influence the development of professional guidance, thought leadership, and practical resources for internal auditors worldwide.

• Serve as a financial services subject matter expert on banking, insurance, asset management, capital markets, and evolving regulatory expectations.

• Collaborate with global experts, financial institutions, regulators, industry associations, and professional organizations.

• Help advance The IIA's International Professional Practices Framework (IPPF) and strengthen the value of internal auditing.

• Lead meaningful projects that address emerging financial services risks, including operational resilience, financial crime, fintech, digital assets, and artificial intelligence.

Position Summary

The IIA is seeking an experienced Director, Standards & Professional Guidance – Financial Services to lead the development of timely, relevant professional guidance, thought leadership, and practical resources for the global internal audit profession.

This role serves as a key financial services subject matter expert within The IIA's Standards & Professional Guidance team, with a focus on banking, insurance, asset management, capital markets, financial services regulation, and risk management.

You will collaborate with global volunteer committees, subject matter experts, regulators, and internal stakeholders to develop and maintain guidance aligned with the International Professional Practices Framework (IPPF), identify emerging industry issues, and strengthen the relevance and impact of The IIA's professional resources.

The ideal candidate brings deep financial services internal audit experience, strong regulatory and risk management knowledge, exceptional communication skills, and the ability to lead complex initiatives involving diverse global stakeholders.

Work Arrangement & Travel

This is a hybrid position based in either Lake Mary, Florida, or Washington, DC, combining in-office collaboration with remote work.

Approximately 10% travel is required for business meetings, conferences, stakeholder engagement, and other organizational activities.

What You'll Do

Professional Standards, Guidance & Thought Leadership

• Lead the development, review, and maintenance of professional guidance, thought leadership, and practical tools supporting the global internal audit profession.

• Support the ongoing development and relevance of The IIA's International Professional Practices Framework (IPPF).

• Collaborate with volunteer committees, technical writers, and global subject matter experts to produce high-quality guidance and professional resources.

• Develop content in various formats, including technical guidance, reports, articles, presentations, webinars, and templates.

• Apply quality assurance processes to ensure guidance is accurate, relevant, and aligned with established development standards.

• Respond to technical inquiries regarding The IIA Standards and professional guidance.

Financial Services Expertise & Emerging Risks

• Serve as a subject matter expert on financial services internal auditing, governance, risk management, regulatory compliance, and internal controls.

• Monitor regulatory and supervisory developments affecting banking, insurance, asset management, and capital markets.

• Provide expertise on credit, market, liquidity, operational, conduct, and model risk, as well as capital adequacy and financial reporting.

• Address emerging issues involving anti-money laundering, sanctions, fraud, financial crime, consumer protection, and market conduct.

• Identify implications of fintech, digital assets, third-party risk, operational resilience, data governance, and AI for internal audit practices.

• Translate complex regulatory and technical topics into practical, accessible professional guidance.

Global Stakeholder Engagement & Collaboration

• Serve as staff liaison to The IIA's Global Financial Services Knowledge Group and other relevant volunteer groups.

• Build and maintain relationships with financial institutions, regulators, supervisory authorities, standard-setting bodies, professional associations, and industry experts.

• Facilitate collaboration among global volunteers and subject matter experts to support content development and strategic priorities.

• Represent The IIA through conferences, webinars, speaking engagements, and professional forums.

• Partner with Global Advocacy on responses to regulatory consultations and industry initiatives.

• Collaborate with Marketing, Education, and other internal teams to integrate professional guidance into The IIA's products, services, and communications.

Strategic Leadership & Project Management

• Lead multiple high-priority guidance and content development projects from planning through completion.

• Direct and coordinate volunteer subject matter experts and provide feedback to technical writers.

• Identify emerging industry trends and recommend new guidance, resources, and thought leadership opportunities.

• Contribute to strategic initiatives that strengthen The IIA's influence and value to financial services professionals worldwide.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, Economics, Risk Management, or a related field.

• 7+ years of internal audit or related professional experience, including at least 5 years at the manager level or above and 5 years supporting or auditing financial services organizations.

• Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) designation required.

• In-depth knowledge of financial services internal auditing, governance, risk management, internal controls, and regulatory compliance.

• Strong understanding of banking, insurance, asset management, capital markets, or related financial services activities.

• Knowledge of financial services risks and regulatory expectations, including financial, operational, credit, market, liquidity, conduct, and model risk.

• Demonstrated ability to lead complex projects, collaborate with subject matter experts, and manage multiple priorities and deadlines.

• Exceptional technical writing, verbal communication, presentation, and stakeholder engagement skills.

• Ability to translate complex financial services and internal audit concepts into clear, practical guidance for global audiences.

• Ability to build credibility and maintain professional relationships with senior stakeholders, industry organizations, and subject matter experts.

• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office, SharePoint, and databases.

• Ability to travel approximately 10%.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in a relevant discipline.

• Experience in banking, insurance, asset management, capital markets, financial services regulation, or a related specialty.

• Additional certifications such as CPA, ACCA, CISA, CRMA, CAMS, or FRM.

• Experience within a professional services organization, professional association, or international organization.

• Familiarity with audit, governance, risk and compliance (GRC), enterprise resource planning (ERP), financial reporting, regulatory reporting, or data analytics platforms.

• Familiarity with AI-enabled audit and analytics tools.

• Experience collaborating with regulators, supervisory authorities, standard-setting bodies, and international professional organizations.

• Additional language proficiency.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all employees are treated with dignity and respect. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.