Head of Internal Audit

CenterPoint Energy and its predecessor companies have been in business for more than 150 years. 

Our Vision: Our vision is to become the most admired utility in the United States through the execution of our long-term growth strategy. We have an unwavering commitment to safely and reliably deliver electricity and natural gas to millions of people. 

Our Commitment: CenterPoint Energy is committed to creating an inclusive work environment where business results are achieved through the skills, abilities and talents of our diverse workforce.

At CenterPoint Energy, individuals are respected for their contributions toward our company objectives. We strive for an inclusive work environment across all levels that is reflective of the available workforce in the communities we serve. 

Job Summary

The Head of Internal Audit holds a pivotal role within the organization, tasked with the development, leadership, and execution of a comprehensive, enterprise-wide internal auditing strategy. This position is integral to ensuring that all auditing activities adhere to established standards and regulatory requirements. By establishing robust auditing governance frameworks and procedures, the Vice President of Audit aims to achieve long-term auditing objectives that support the organization's strategic goals.

Furthermore, this role is essential for maintaining the integrity and efficiency of the organization's financial and operational processes.

The Head of Internal Audit is responsible for safeguarding the organization's assets, ensuring accurate financial reporting, and promoting operational excellence. Through rigorous audit practices and continuous improvement initiatives, this role contributes significantly to the organization's overall risk management and compliance efforts.

Essential Functions

• Communicate regularly with the Audit Committee and Executive Management team on the organization’s risk management activities and obtain approval for the risk-based Annual Internal Audit Plan.
• Assist Senior Leadership and the Audit Committee in understanding risks and other audit-related matters to meet their oversight responsibilities.
• Identify and communicate trends and emerging risks/issues that could impact the organization.
• Understand and meet the organization’s governance needs as well as those of the Audit Committee and Senior Leadership to provide the necessary assurance and consulting services.
• Continuously improve the quality of the Internal Audit Function to ensure Internal Audit efforts add value to the organization and that the maturity of the Internal Audit Function is at an advance stage/level. This process will consider emerging trends and successful practices in internal audit.
• Lead, hire and train high-quality, competent, ethical, objective Internal Audit staff who can add value to the organization and advance within Internal Audit and/or the organization.
• Engage co-source auditors and specialists as required and ensure engaged co-source auditors and specialists are qualified and perform quality work.
• Provide risk-objective, reasonable assurance, advisory, insight and foresight on the effectiveness of the organization’s internal control environment to key stakeholders.
• Provide forensic investigations across the company.
• Partner and coordinate with second-line assurance functions to avoid duplication of assurance efforts and work with those functions to understand the risks/compliance requirements to the organization and how best to mitigate risk and comply with legal, regulatory and applicable standards.
• Provide financial and operational audits across the company.
• Lead testing of Sarbanes-Oxley controls and advise the Internal Controls Department as needed.
• Ensure conformance with the Global Internal Audit Standards.
• Ensure that the Internal Audit Function remains free from all conditions that threaten the independence of the function and the ability of internal auditors to carry out their responsibilities in an unbiased objective manner,
• Monitor and advise on the organization’s enterprise risk management program/efforts.
• Provide recommendations on how best to align the organization’s governance efforts by monitoring elements of the company’s governance processes, making recommendations for improvement, following up on corrective actions, and reporting results to the Audit Committee.
• Provide Audit Committees with a high-level perspective on key organizational risks, which in turn helps directors assess the adequacy of risk monitoring, as well as work with the audit committee in developing programs that help prevent fraud. Report progress against the Annual General Plan and KPI performance measures.
• Give counsel to the Audit Committee with current information on leading practices in risk management and corporate governance.
• Meet with the Audit Committee at each Audit Committee meeting and with the Audit Committee chair before and/or after each committee meeting and as needed between meetings at the request of the Audit Committee Chair or when the Chief Audit Executive deems a meeting is required to discuss a significant risk issue/event.
• Hold frequent formal and informal meetings with Senior Leadership and ongoing dialogue to provide updates on internal audit projects and get Senior Leadership input/feedback on Internal Audit plan/projects.
• Establish a career development and mentoring program as part of the Internal Audit Function.
• Maintain a Quality Assurance and Improvement Program that conforms to the Global Internal Audit Standards. Ensure that the results of internal and external quality assessment results are timely reported to the Audit Committee and Senior Management, including all action plans required to address identified conformance gaps and enhancement opportunities.
• Ensure alignment of the Annual Risk Assessment and Internal Audit Plan to stakeholder objectives to ensure value-added internal auditing activities.
• Provide forecast and budgets for the Internal Audit Function.
• Develop/maintain an Internal Audit Strategic Plan that is aligned with the organization’s strategic plan and focus on advancing the services provided by the Internal Audit Function to strengthen the organization’s ability to create, protect, and sustain value by providing the board/audit committee and management with independent, risk-based, and objective assurance, advice, insight, and foresight

Education Description

• Requires a bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Economics, Finance or Business Administration.

• Must be a Certified Public Accountant and/or Certified Internal Auditor. 
• Master of Business Administration, a plus. 
• CISA, CFE, CRMA, or other certifications are beneficial. 

Experience

• Requires minimum ten (10) years Internal Audit experience, with proven experience at a senior or officer level within a large public company. 

Experience (Preferred) 

• Minimum ten (10) years public practice or related expertise as reliance is placed upon Internal Audit by external financial auditors for SOX 404, investigations and Financial Statement Audit work.
• Experience in preparing cash forecasts and cash flow analyses
• management experience within a large multi-national public company with a preference towards Manufacturing and Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) organizations.
• Superior leadership skills with excellent project management abilities required.
• Deep understanding of the rigors and requirements of internal audit (operational and financial) and governance, risk and control advisory services who can be a true business partner to the executive leadership team as well as the Board of Directors/Audit Committee
• Extensive experience with global Internal Audit planning and execution, risk management, Anti-Corruption (FCPA, UK Bribery Act, etc.), process and systems development, Whistleblower Investigations and SOX compliance control systems.
• Referenceable track record of leading and building (team, methodologies, best practices) a global Internal Audit function where Internal Audit is a critical stakeholder in the business.
• Has successfully led large-scale transformations and dramatic data-driven culture change agendas in order to drive best-in-class performance in revenue, profit, and shareholder value creation.
• Extensive experience driving best-in-class integrated process improvement initiatives in Finance, Operations, Supply Chain, Human Resources, and Sales/Marketing in a complex environment.
• Leads inspirational change using teams through a major division/company and built strong direct reporting teams. Understands, respects and engages people at every level of an organization.
• Exceptional communicator who effectively cascades key messages throughout the organization. Lengthy track record of leading large-scale global company-wide changes by involving and creating buy-in from all essential internal and external constituencies.

We want you to know
Being a part of the CenterPoint Energy team is more than a career alone. It's an opportunity to make a positive impact. You will be an integral part of enabling everyday life and the pursuit of possibilities for the customers we serve and the communities we share. The vital services we provide are at the core of making our world work, and by sharing your energy with us, we'll create a better tomorrow together. 
 

What we bring to you

• Competitive pay
• Paid training
• Benefits eligibility begins on your first day
• Transit subsidies
• Flexible work schedule, paid holidays and paid time off
• Access to discounts at fitness clubs and an on-site wellness center at our headquarters in Houston
• Professional growth and development programs including tuition reimbursement
• 401(k) Savings Plan featuring a company match dollar-for-dollar up to 6% and a company contribution of 3% regardless of your contribution

Job Type: Executives 
Posting Start Date: 05/29/2025​
Posting End Date: 06/12/2025

This contractor and subcontractor shall abide by the requirements of 41 CFR §§ 60-1.4(a), 60-300.5(a), and 60-741.5(a). These regulations prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their status as protected veterans or individuals with disabilities and prohibit discrimination against all individuals based on their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin. Moreover, these regulations require that covered prime contractors and subcontractors take affirmative action to employ and advance in employment individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status or disability.

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