Chief Internal Auditor

Chief Internal Auditor

Company Summary

Come join one of America’s fastest growing insurance companies with a stable history of 175 years. At National Life Group (“NLG”), we offer a flexible work environment with opportunity for growth. As a mission-driven business, our promises are as important as the products we sell. We encourage our associates to live our values: Do Good. Be Good. Make Good.

Our mission extends beyond the insurance and annuities policies that we sell. Our cause is also to make the world a better place through grants from our charitable foundation, paid time for our employees to volunteer, environmentally sustainable and healthy work sites, and events that promote the work of nonprofits in our own backyard.

We invite you to explore what we have to offer and to join our cause.

Role Summary

The Chief Internal Auditor is a key enterprise-wide leader responsible for setting and executing a strategic vision for the internal audit function. This role ensures that National Life Group (“NLG”) maintains effective internal controls, governance processes, and risk management practices aligned with our mission of “Keeping Our Promises.” The Chief Internal Auditor will lead a high-performing audit team and serve as a strategic partner to senior and executive leadership, the Audit Committee, and external stakeholders, while providing objective assurance on the company’s operations.

This position functionally reports to Audit Committee of the Board of Directors and administratively to the Chief Financial Officer of National Life Group. In addition, this person would interact with and present regularly to Senior Leadership and Executive Leadership Team of the company.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Strategic Audit Leadership & Enterprise Risk Oversight

• Develop and lead a comprehensive, enterprise-wide internal audit strategy that aligns with NLG’s strategic objectives, risk appetite, and evolving regulatory and business environments.
• Define and drive a vision for internal audit that adds strategic value across the organization, ensuring relevance in a dynamic, growth-focused environment.
• Provide independent, objective assurance to the Audit Committee and executive leadership on the effectiveness of governance, risk management, and control processes.
• Partner with other areas of NLG to perform risk assessments to inform audit priorities and ensure alignment with enterprise initiatives.
• Submit the annual internal audit plan to the Audit Committee for approval and provide regular updates on execution, risks, and organizational impact.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to the CEO, CFO, Board, and senior executives on internal controls, risk mitigation strategies, and emerging risks.

Executive Oversight of Audit Operations

• Oversee all internal audit activities across the enterprise, ensuring internal audits are performed with the highest level of independence, objectivity, and professionalism.
• Ensure compliance with IIA standards, company policies, and relevant regulatory requirements.
• Lead the execution and quality assurance of high-impact and complex internal audit engagements through risk-based methodologies.
• Oversee the timely delivery of audit reports with actionable insights that support continuous improvement and performance optimization.
• Ensure follow-up on management actions and remediation of control deficiencies in collaboration with enterprise risk and compliance functions.

Audit Committee Reporting

• Prepare and present concise, impactful reports to the Audit Committee on audit activities, emerging risks, and control issues.
• Communicate significant findings, control gaps, and risk exposures in a business-focused manner, facilitating informed governance decisions.
• Provide assurance and advisory services that support sound governance practices and ethical standards across the organization.

Enterprise Collaboration & Advisory Role

• Cultivate strong, independent relationships with senior leadership, the Audit Committee, external auditors, and regulatory bodies.
• Serve as an executive-level consultant on strategic initiatives, process redesigns, and major system implementations.
• Evaluate risks and controls in the development and expansion of key business functions, offering proactive advice and risk mitigation strategies.
• Support investigations of alleged fraud or misconduct and oversee coordination with legal, HR, and compliance as appropriate.

Innovation, Data Analytics & Continuous Improvement

• Champion innovation in audit methodology, leveraging data analytics, AI, and continuous auditing tools to enhance audit efficiency and insight.
• Establish an audit infrastructure that anticipates future risks and adapts rapidly to organizational change.
• Identify trends and root causes of control issues to inform enterprise risk mitigation strategies.

Leadership, Talent, and Organizational Development

• Build, lead, and retain a high-performing internal audit team with the skills, certifications, and mindset required for a future-ready audit function.
• Promote a strong culture of ethics, transparency, and accountability consistent with our mission of “Keeping our Promises” across the internal audit function as well as broader enterprise.
• Oversee leadership development, succession planning, and competency assessments to ensure a sustainable audit talent pipeline.
• Recognize and reward high performance, innovation, and collaborative behavior aligned with enterprise values.

Audit Governance, Policy, and Administrative Oversight

• Set and maintain the internal audit charter, policies, procedures, and operating frameworks consistent with IIA standards and organizational needs.
• Ensure adequate resourcing for audit coverage through internal staffing and external partnerships where appropriate.
• Develop and manage the internal audit budget and resource strategy in line with business priorities and risk profile.
• Promote knowledge sharing and collaboration with risk management, compliance, legal, and other governance functions to maximize audit value.

All other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, business, finance, or another relevant field.
• Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) and/or Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
• 15 or more years directly relevant work experience with at least 5 years of senior leadership experience.
• Experience working with senior/executive levels of an organization.
• Deep knowledge of Internal Audit and Enterprise Risk Management concepts and techniques.
• Strong and effective business partnering, stakeholder and relationship management skills.
• Experience assessing various forms financial, operational and qualitative information, and make insightful recommendations that impact business outcomes.
• Strong business acumen
• Demonstrated ability to attract, develop and retain talented individuals by creating a learning environment that ensures associates realize their highest potential while building depth within the organization.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• This position currently offers an onsite hybrid work schedule, with the expectation that you are in the office three days per week during onsite core days. Our current onsite core days are Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. The work schedule type and core days are subject to change with advance notification and manager discretion.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in accounting, business, finance, or another relevant field.
• Experience in the Life & Annuity industry strongly preferred, other financial service experience may be considered.
• Direct experience interacting with an Audit Committee strongly preferred.
• Familiarity with GRC tools beneficial.

Benefits

• Your benefits start day one and are flexible and customizable to your and your family’s specific needs. Check out the BENEFITS of a Career at National Life!

The base compensation range represents the low and high end of the range for this position. Actual compensation will vary and may be above or below the range based on various factors including but not limited to qualifications, skills, competencies, location, and experience. The range listed is just one component of our total compensation package for employees.

Other rewards may include an annual bonus, quarterly bonuses, commissions, and other long-term incentive compensation, depending on the position. National Life offers a competitive total rewards package which includes: a 401(k) retirement plan match; medical, dental, and vision insurance; a company funded wellness account for director and below employees; 10 paid holidays; a generous paid time off plan (22 days of combined time-off for non-exempt employees and exempt employees have discretion in managing their time, including scheduling time off in the normal course of business, but in no event will exempt employees receive less sick time than required by state or local law); 6 weeks of paid parental leave; and 6 weeks of paid family leave after a year of full-time employment.

National Life is accepting applications for this role on an ongoing basis and the role remains open until filled.

National Life Group® is a trade name of National Life Insurance Company, Montpelier, VT – founded in 1848, Life Insurance Company of the Southwest, Addison, TX – chartered in 1955, and their affiliates. Each company of National Life Group is solely responsible for its own financial condition and contractual obligations. Life Insurance Company of the Southwest is not an authorized insurer in New York and does not conduct insurance business in New York. Equity Services, Inc., Member FINRA/SIPC, is a Broker/Dealer and Registered Investment Adviser affiliate of National Life Insurance Company. All other entities are independent of the companies of National Life Group.

National Life Group

1 National Life Dr

Montpelier, VT 05604

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