Vice President, Internal Audit

**The Opportunity**: The VP, Internal Audit provides vision, strategic leadership and management oversight to the internal audit function, which enhances and protects the Company by providing risk based and objective assurance, advice and insight. Internal Audit brings a systematic, disciplined approach to the evaluation and improvement of the effectiveness of governance, risk management, and control systems and processes.

As a member of the CFO’s leadership team the VP, Internal Audit will use a collaborative, business-focused approach to further develop its position and brand as a strategic business partner. This includes providing broad and deep audit, financial, business, operational, planning, and management expertise enterprise wide.
**Snapshot of a Day-in-the-Life**:

- Direct and oversee Maple Leaf Foods overall internal audit program. Plan, develop, and conduct financial, operational, and control process reviews and audits. Develop a risk-based annual Audit Plan and oversee the execution of the Audit Plan across the enterprise.
- Ensure timely delivery of all aspects including planning, risk assessment, fieldwork, root cause analysis and reporting, and improvements, to ensure alignment, implementation, and maturity of enterprise controls in compliance with approved policies, processes, procedures, standards and regulatory requirements.
- Lead and inspire an internal audit team focused on driving innovation and delivering global best-in-class internal audit service across all areas of the business.
- Continue to develop and promote operational audit capabilities; identify and recommend improvements to business processes which will enhance organizational effectiveness and company performance. Recommend corporate and organizational policies, processes and systems, and enlist appropriate executives to implement.
- Maintain the department’s credibility by continuing to develop the staff’s ability to influence clients in the business; develop associates to become future finance leaders.
- Seeing the bigger picture and providing constructive challenge, ensuring audit ratings and recommendations are appropriate and value-added for the business.
- Meet regularly with the Chief Financial Officer, Chief Executive Officer and other senior level executives as needed to gain executive perspective on risks, and to communicate audit results and issues of concern.
- Meet directly with the Audit Committee and its Chair as needed.
- Monitor the control environment through systematic risk monitoring and frequent interaction with management at all levels. Liaison with senior executive clients as needed.
- Provide support to the company’s external auditors, KPMG, in connection with their annual audit of Maple Leaf Foods.
- Ensure that the quality of audit reports and other deliverables - including audit field work, audit reporting, and administrative practices - are consistent with established professional standards, company policies and procedures, and department objectives.
- Act as a coach and mentor to the Audit staff, ensuring successful risk assessment, prioritization, scheduling, staffing, and completion of audit projects. Take an active role in the professional development of team members, with a goal of awarding top performers to roles in accounting and finance.
- Demonstrate a commitment to Maple Leaf Foods Leadership Values.

**Year One Critical Success Factors**:

- Develop a deep understanding of Maple Leaf Foods: its businesses, strategy, culture and vision for the future to ensure that the Audit department is aligned.
- Gain credibility with the CEO, CFO, peers and Board of Directors early on. Demonstrate an enthusiastic, positive attitude and desire to contribute to the success of the company.
- Ensure that the capabilities of the audit team remain broad, so that team members can continue to take on value-added initiatives aimed toward improving the effectiveness and profitability of business operations.
- Develop credibility with the Audit department team; be seen as a leader and developer of talent who keeps the team motivated and engaged.
- Create and manage an internal audit rotational program whereby internal audit becomes a feeder of top finance and accounting into the rest of the organization.
- Successfully execute planned audits and business reviews; deliver findings that are business related and provide meaningful insights as well as ensuring that relevant compliance and control requirements are met.

Additional qualifications include:

- Strong strategic and consultative skills. Able to establish credibility as a business partner respected by line clients; proven ability to add value.
- Persuasive leadership and communication skills and the ability to gather data and information from a wide range of business leaders. Able to motivate direct and indirect constituents through thought leadership, personal energy and commitment.
- Organized, intuitive and a collaborative problem-solver. A