Director, Business Assurance & Advisory

Job Description

Job Description

About The Energy Authority

The Energy Authority is a public power-owned, nonprofit corporation with offices in Jacksonville, Florida, and Bellevue (Seattle), Washington. TEA provides public power utilities with access to advanced resources and technology systems so they can respond competitively in the changing energy markets. Through partnership with TEA, utilities benefit from an experienced organization that is singularly focused on deriving the maximum value of their assets from the market.

Join Our Team as a Director, Business Assurance & Advisory!

At The Energy Authority (TEA), we believe strong governance, thoughtful risk management, and continuous improvement are essential to delivering exceptional value to public power. As our Director of Business Assurance & Advisory, you'll play a pivotal role in strengthening our organization's risk management, internal controls, compliance, and operational effectiveness. This is an opportunity to build and lead TEA's independent business assurance function, providing objective insights that help protect the organization, improve decision-making, and support long-term success. You'll work closely with executive leadership, business units, external assurance partners, and the Finance & Audit Committee to identify emerging risks, evaluate controls, and turn findings into meaningful improvements. If you're a strategic thinker with a strong commitment to integrity, independent judgment, and practical problem-solving, this is an opportunity to make a lasting impact across TEA.

Why You'll Love This Role

• Make a strategic impact: Help shape TEA's approach to enterprise risk management, governance, and business assurance.

• Influence at the highest levels: Present audit strategies, significant findings, and emerging risks to designated oversight groups and the Finance & Audit Committee.

• Build something meaningful: Develop and execute a multi-year business assurance strategy and risk-based audit plan aligned with TEA's priorities.

• Be a trusted advisor: Partner with teams across the organization to strengthen controls, improve processes, and proactively address risks.

• Champion continuous improvement: Identify opportunities to enhance operational effectiveness, accountability, and organizational resilience.

• Protect what matters: Help safeguard TEA's assets, strengthen compliance, and support sound business decisions while maintaining independence and objectivity.

What You'll DoBusiness Assurance Strategy & Governance

• Develop and execute a multi-year business assurance strategy and annual risk-based audit plan aligned with TEA's objectives, enterprise risks, and available resources.

• Maintain a comprehensive enterprise assurance map that connects corporate risks with appropriate assurance activities.

• Participate in enterprise-wide risk assessments and adjust audit priorities as risks and business needs evolve.

• Monitor operational incidents and errors to identify trends and inform audit priorities.

• Maintain business assurance policies, procedures, methodologies, and the assurance charter in alignment with applicable professional standards.

• Safeguard the independence and objectivity of the business assurance function, promptly communicating any actual or perceived impairments to the appropriate oversight group.

Risk Assessment & Audit Oversight

• Evaluate the design and operating effectiveness of internal controls, financial and operational information, contractual and policy compliance, asset protection, and operational efficiency.

• Coordinate Member auditors, third-party assurance providers, external consultants, and other resources to execute targeted assurance reviews.

• Partner with the Chief Risk Officer to align assurance activities with enterprise risk assessments, significant risks, governance practices, and internal control objectives.

• Monitor and validate management's implementation of audit recommendations and corrective actions.

• Maintain appropriate access to TEA records, systems, property, and personnel necessary to perform authorized audit activities.

Executive Reporting & Stakeholder Engagement

• Present the business assurance strategy, audit plan, resource needs, significant findings, emerging risks, and performance results to designated oversight groups.

• Escalate significant risks and findings through the appropriate governance channels.

• Maintain direct and unrestricted access to the Functional Reporting Group, including executive sessions when appropriate.

• Communicate complex issues clearly and objectively, translating audit findings into practical recommendations and actionable insights.

• Build credible, constructive relationships with leaders and employees while maintaining the independence necessary to raise difficult issues.

Compliance & Advisory Services

• Serve as a trusted resource to business units evaluating significant initiatives, new systems, policies, processes, and control designs.

• Help teams identify risks early and develop practical approaches to strengthening controls and improving processes.

• Monitor changes in professional standards, technology, business risks, and applicable requirements to inform TEA's assurance approach.

• Coordinate assurance activities with external auditors, compliance functions, and other providers to improve coverage and reduce duplication.

• Maintain sensitive information and records with appropriate discretion and in accordance with applicable requirements.

Leadership & Continuous Improvement

• Build a capable, credible, and service-minded business assurance function equipped to address TEA's evolving risk profile.

• Coordinate internal resources, Member auditors, consultants, and assurance providers to deliver high-quality work.

• Establish priorities, manage commitments, and ensure findings and recommendations are followed through to resolution.

• Adapt assurance activities as organizational priorities and risk conditions change.

• Perform other duties as assigned, provided they do not impair the independence or objectivity of the business assurance function.

What You'll BringRequired Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Information Systems, or a related field.

• At least 10 years of progressively responsible experience in business assurance, risk management, compliance, or a related field.

• Experience developing and executing risk-based audit plans.

• Experience communicating audit findings, risks, and recommendations to executive leadership or a board committee.

• An active Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA), Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), or comparable professional certification.

• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Office, particularly Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.

• Strong analytical, written communication, presentation, and problem-solving skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in a related field.

• Experience in energy trading operations.

• CIA designation.

• Experience with data analytics, audit management, governance-risk-and-compliance (GRC), enterprise resource planning (ERP), or data visualization tools.

• Experience coordinating multiple assurance providers and working across complex, cross-functional business environments.

What Sets You Apart

Integrity & Independent Judgment: You exercise sound judgment, protect confidential information, recognize potential conflicts, and remain objective when evaluating difficult or sensitive issues.

Risk & Controls Expertise: You understand how business strategy, operations, technology, financial processes, and compliance intersect to create risk. You can evaluate controls, identify root causes, and connect individual findings to broader organizational implications.

Communication & Influence: You communicate complex issues in a clear, balanced, and practical manner. You build trust with employees and executives, present recommendations confidently, and influence outcomes without compromising independent conclusions.

Strategic Thinking & Execution: You translate organizational objectives and risk assessments into focused priorities, adapt as conditions change, and follow through to ensure meaningful results.

Collaborative Leadership: You are approachable, solutions-oriented, and committed to helping teams improve. You know how to balance constructive partnerships with the professional independence required of a business assurance leader.

Ready to Make an Impact?

If you're passionate about strengthening governance, proactively managing risk, and helping an organization make better-informed decisions, we'd love to hear from you. Join TEA and help build a business assurance function that protects our organization, empowers our teams, and supports the future of public power.

TEA Values

TEA employees share a common sense of purpose. When TEA accomplishes its mission, the result is improved quality of life for the citizens and businesses of the communities our clients serve.

TEA employees exceed the expectations of those they serve, deliver services with the highest standards of fair, honest, and ethical behavior, set the standard for service and expertise in our industry, embody a spirit of collaboration, and embrace TEA’s founding entrepreneurial spirit by seizing opportunities to deliver value.

If you are self-motivated, driven to deliver excellence, and passionate about your career, TEA is the perfect place for you.

It’s YOUR Future. It’s OUR Future.