Senior Internal Auditor

Morning Star

Job Summary

Morningstar's Global Audit and Assurance (GAA) function seeks a highly motivated Senior Internal Auditor. This role involves evaluating the company’s business and information technology processes, assessing the effectiveness of internal controls, and contributing to Sarbanes-Oxley Section 404 compliance. The Senior Internal Auditor will work with management to recommend changes for increased efficiencies and reduced risks, taking ownership of audit workstreams and synthesizing complex information.

Must Have

  • Execute audit workstreams across financial, operational, compliance, and information technology reviews.
  • Perform walkthroughs of complex business and IT processes and assess internal controls.
  • Develop clear, risk-focused observations and practical recommendations.
  • Apply COSO, COBIT, IIA Global Internal Audit Standards, and US GAAP.
  • Assist with continuous risk assessment and audit plan development.
  • Proactively identify improvement opportunities and emerging risks.
  • Action-oriented, self-starter with strong communication skills.
  • Comfortable working independently or in teams, delivering projects on time.
  • Ability to diagnose problems, determine root causes, and recommend solutions.
  • Strong capability in risk identification, assessment, and control design/evaluation.
  • Solid knowledge of internal auditing standards, accounting, business principles, and computerized systems.
  • Undergraduate degree in accounting, business, IT, MIS, or related field.
  • Minimum of 3 years of internal or external audit experience.
  • Understanding of technical aspects of accounting and financial reporting.

Good to Have

  • Experience in a Big 4 or Tier-Two public accounting firm.
  • Professional accreditation (e.g., CIA, CPA, CISA).
  • Experience in performing data analytics and using software like Alteryx, Microsoft 365 (Excel, Power BI, Power Automate, SharePoint).
  • Demonstrated interest in innovation, data analytics, automation, or emerging technologies.
  • Exposure to auditing or assessing risks related to advanced technologies (AI, ML, automation, data-driven systems).
  • Exceptionally curious, adaptable, and comfortable navigating ambiguity.
  • Highly collaborative, with strong cross-functional partnering ability.
  • Excellent project management, presentation, and storytelling skills.

Perks & Benefits

  • 75% 401k match up to 7%
  • Stock Ownership Potential
  • Company provided life insurance - 1x salary + commission
  • Comprehensive health benefits (medical/dental/vision)
  • Potential premium discounts and company-provided HSA contributions (up to $500-$2,000 annually)
  • Additional medical Wellness Incentives - up to $300-$600 annual
  • Company-provided long- and short-term disability insurance
  • Trust-Based Time Off
  • 6-week Paid Sabbatical Program
  • 6-Week Paid Family Caregiving Leave
  • Competitive 8-24 Week Paid Parental Bonding Leave
  • Adoption Assistance
  • Leadership Coaching & Formal Mentorship Opportunities
  • Annual Education Stipend
  • Tuition Reimbursement
  • Charitable Matching Gifts program
  • Dollars for Doers volunteer program
  • Paid volunteering days
  • 15+ Employee Resource & Affinity Groups

Job Description

Senior Internal Auditor

The Group:

Morningstar is a leading global provider of independent investment insights. Our core competencies are data, research, and design, and we employ each of these to create products that clearly convey complex investment information. Our mission is to empower investor success and everything we do at Morningstar is in the service of the investor.

Reporting to the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors, the purpose of the Global Audit and Assurance (GAA) function is to strengthen Morningstar’s ability to create, protect, and sustain value by providing the Company with organizationally independent, risk-based, and objective assurance and consulting services to evaluate and improve Morningstar’s governance, risk management and control processes.

The Role:

Morningstar’s GAA function seeks a highly motivated Senior Internal Auditor who thrives on new experiences and challenges. As a Senior Internal Auditor, you will play an integral role in evaluating the company’s business and information technology processes and effectiveness of internal controls. You will have the opportunity to work on a variety of operational, compliance, financial, and information technology reviews as well as evaluate the effectiveness of internal controls over external financial reporting as part of the company’s Sarbanes-Oxley Section 404 compliance activities.

You will work closely with all levels of management across the organization, recommending changes to strengthen controls for increased efficiencies and reduced risks. The Senior Internal Auditor will be expected to take ownership of audit workstreams, synthesize complex information, and contribute meaningfully to GAA. This role reports directly to the Global Audit & Assurance Manager.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Execute audit workstreams across financial, operational, compliance, and information technology reviews, applying sound audit judgment throughout planning, execution, and reporting
  • Perform walkthroughs of complex business and information technology processes and independently assess the design and operating effectiveness of internal controls. Evaluate, synthesize, and interpret audit evidence against defined criteria to identify root causes, key risk themes, and meaningful insights
  • Develop clear, risk-focused observations and practical recommendations that articulate business impact and drive corrective action
  • Effectively apply the COSO internal control framework, COBIT IT governance framework, IIA Global Internal Audit Standards and US GAAP accounting principles.
  • Assist audit management with the execution of continuous risk assessment and audit plan development
  • Serve as a trusted advisor and business partner by proactively identifying improvement opportunities and emerging risks

Requirements:

  • Action-oriented, self-starter with strong verbal and written communication skills.
  • Comfortable working both independently or in teams with a demonstrated ability to deliver end-to-end audit projects on time with a high degree of quality.
  • Demonstrated ability to diagnose problems, determine root causes, and recommend pragmatic solutions to complex challenges
  • Strong capability in risk identification, risk assessment, and control design and evaluation
  • Solid knowledge of internal auditing standards; accounting and business principles; and computerized financial and operational systems
  • Undergraduate degree in accounting, business, information technology, management information systems, or a related field.
  • Minimum of 3 years of internal or external audit experience.
  • Understanding of the technical aspects of accounting and financial reporting

Additional Desired Attributes

  • Experience in working for a Big 4 or Tier-Two public accounting firm highly preferred
  • Professional accreditation (e.g., CIA, CPA, CISA) highly preferred
  • Experience in performing data analytics and using data extraction and analysis software such as Alteryx, Microsoft 365 (e.g., Excel advanced analytics, Power BI, Power Automate, SharePoint), or similar platforms to support audit execution, risk analysis, or process improvement
  • Demonstrated interest in innovation, including the application of data analytics, automation, or emerging technologies to enhance audit quality and efficiency
  • Exposure to auditing or assessing risks related to advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence, machine learning, automation, or complex data-driven systems
  • Exceptionally curious, adaptable, and comfortable navigating ambiguity and change in a dynamic environment
  • Highly collaborative, with a strong ability to partner cross-functionally on detail-oriented initiatives
  • Excellent project management, presentation, and storytelling skills, including the ability to tailor messages to different audiences and clearly articulate the business impact of findings to stakeholders

Compensation and Benefits

At Morningstar we believe people are at their best when they are at their healthiest. That’s why we champion your wellness through a wide-range of programs that support all stages of your personal and professional life. Here are some examples of the offerings we provide:

  • Financial Health
  • 75% 401k match up to 7%
  • Stock Ownership Potential
  • Company provided life insurance - 1x salary + commission
  • Physical Health
  • Comprehensive health benefits (medical/dental/vision) including potential premium discounts and company-provided HSA contributions (up to $500-$2,000 annually) for specific plans and coverages
  • Additional medical Wellness Incentives - up to $300-$600 annual
  • Company-provided long- and short-term disability insurance
  • Emotional Health
  • Trust-Based Time Off
  • 6-week Paid Sabbatical Program
  • 6-Week Paid Family Caregiving Leave
  • Competitive 8-24 Week Paid Parental Bonding Leave
  • Adoption Assistance
  • Leadership Coaching & Formal Mentorship Opportunities
  • Annual Education Stipend
  • Tuition Reimbursement
  • Social Health
  • Charitable Matching Gifts program
  • Dollars for Doers volunteer program
  • Paid volunteering days
  • 15+ Employee Resource & Affinity Groups

Morningstar's hybrid work environment gives you the opportunity to collaborate in-person each week as we've found that we're at our best when we're purposely together on a regular basis. In most of our locations, our hybrid work model is four days in-office each week. A range of other benefits are also available to enhance flexibility as needs change. No matter where you are, you'll have tools and resources to engage meaningfully with your global colleagues.

001_MstarInc Morningstar Inc. Legal Entity

12 Skills Required For This Role

Communication Excel Data Analytics Risk Management Internal Audit Risk Assessment Financial Data Analysis Game Texts Storytelling Power Bi Accounting Machine Learning

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