Chief Audit Executive

Job description

**42200BR**
**Extended Job Title:**

Chief Audit Executive

**Position Description:**

The Chief Audit Executive (CAE) is a trusted advisor to the Board of Regents and the Chancellor, serving as a servant leader and the chief steward of integrity, accountability, and transparency across the Texas Tech University System (TTUS).

Reporting functionally to the Board through the Audit Committee and administratively to the Chancellor, the CAE leads a high-performing Office of Audit Services that provides independent, risk-based, and objective assurance, and advisory services designed to add value, manage risk, and enhance operational effectiveness.

The CAE plays a strategic and collaborative role in helping TTUS’s component institutions achieve their missions by anticipating risk, identifying vulnerabilities, and enabling effective management and governance.

The CAE must be a forward-thinking leader who brings not only technical expertise but also credibility, collaboration, and excellent judgment.

For the complete prospectus, please click here (https://www.depts.ttu.edu/hr/documents/2025ACEPA.pdf) .

**Requisition ID:**

42200BR

**Travel Required:**

Up to 75%

**Major/Essential Functions:**

**Strategic Leadership & Board Partnership**
• Serves as the principal advisor to the Audit Committee, Board of Regents, Chancellor and TTUS on internal audit, risk management, governance, control, compliance, and management matters.
• Builds trusted relationships with regents, the Chancellor, system executives, institutional presidents, university administration and key stakeholders to support risk-informed decision-making.
• Keeps the Audit Committee, Chancellor and TTUS informed of significant risks, emerging issues, and innovations in the audit profession and higher education.

**Audit Strategy & Execution**
• Develops, implements, and leads a dynamic, risk-based audit strategy that supports and aligned with the system’s strategic goals.
• Designs and presents an annual audit plan for approval by the Audit Committee; oversees its execution and proactively communicates progress, findings, and resource needs to TTUS and university leadership throughout the year.
• Ensures continuous evaluation of audit methodologies, integrating advanced tools such as data analytics, predictive indicators, and AI-assisted audit capabilities.

**Risk & Controls**
• Supports and enhances system-wide risk management with the Risk & Compliance Officer and compliance officer at each component institution.
• Advises on new or evolving services, systems, initiatives or compliance matters—including IT, enterprise systems, cybersecurity, and compliance risk.
• Monitors and reports on management's response to audit recommendations and the status of management's action plans.

**Investigations & Integrity**
• Oversees investigations involving fraud, waste or abuse, and supports other investigations involving audit-related misconduct in partnership with respective areas.
• Ensures proper audit-related reporting of suspected audit-related irregularities to appropriate authorities, in support of compliance with state laws, system regulations and university policies.
• Escalates issues to the Audit Committee when residual risk is deemed unacceptable.

**Stakeholder Collaboration**
• Maintains effective coordination and collaboration with the Chancellor, institutional presidents, General Counsel, compliance offices, campus police, the State Auditor’s Office, and external auditors to avoid duplication and enhance oversight.
• Coordinates risk assessment and compliance-related activities with the Chief Compliance Officer for each institutional component.
• Provides advisory services, training, and internal consultation to help leaders strengthen internal processes and controls.

**Talent & Team Development**
• Leads and develops a team of audit professionals who demonstrate the highest standards of ethics, performance, and professional growth.
• Ensures the department maintains current knowledge and certifications relevant to internal audit, risk, and higher education.
• Fosters a culture of support, collaboration, and continuous improvement through servant leadership.

**Compliance & Reporting**
• Ensures compliance with the Texas Internal Auditing Act (Texas Government Code, Chapter 2102) and follows the Institute of Internal Auditors (2024) Global Internal Auditing Standards, generally accepted government auditing standards, and other regulatory requirements.
• Prepares and submits required reports to the Board, Chancellor, State Auditor, Governor, and external agencies, in compliance with state and federal statutes.
• Establishes a robust internal quality assurance and improvement program to maintain high audit standards in coordination with the Chancellor and institutional presidents.

**Grant Funded?:**

No

**Minimum Hire Rate:**

salary commensurate with related education, experience and/or skills

**Pay Basis:**

Monthly

**Work Location:**

Lubbock

**Department:**

TTUS Audit Services

**Required Attachments:**

Resume / CV

**Job Type:**

Full Time

**Shift:**

Day

**Required Qualifications:**

• Bachelor’s degree required.

Master’s degree in accounting, business, law, public policy, or related field preferred.
• Credentialing as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), or Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) required; Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) or equivalent professional certification also preferred.
• Minimum of 7 years of progressively responsible experience in audit, enterprise risk management, financial controls, or regulatory oversight—with at least 3 years of auditing experience and 5 years in a leadership role.
• Prior experience reporting directly to a governing board or audit committee is highly desirable.
• Deep understanding of governmental regulations, higher education governance, and enterprise risk management practices.

**_The next CAE will be a seasoned, strategic, and ethical audit leader who:_**
• Leads with humility, courage, and transparency and embodies the TTUS’s core values and culture.
• Embraces innovation in risk assessment, internal controls, and data-informed auditing, and stays ahead of emerging risks, including cybersecurity, AI, compliance, and financial pressures.
• Brings experience from higher education, corporate, government, healthcare, or other complex sectors, with the ability to translate industry best practices to a public university system setting.
• Demonstrates impeccable integrity, objectivity, and communication skills, including the ability to deliver hard truths constructively and impartially.
• Has the presence, discretion, and judgment to navigate a political and public-facing environment, and operates from a place of understanding.
• Is viewed as a valued advisor, not just a monitor—offering insights that help the organization grow stronger, not just identify problems.
• Embraces a servant leader philosophy that builds collaborative partnerships with individuals at all levels, including subject matter experts to ensure effective audits.
• Can operate confidently, confidentially, and transparently in board-level conversations, offering both assurance, honesty, and professional courage.

**Does this position work in a research laboratory?:**

No

**Navy Enlisted Classification Code:**

641

**Army Military Occupational Specialty Code:**

270A

**Air Force Specialty Code:**

36PX

**Marine Military Occupational Specialty Code:**

O101

**Special Instructions to Applicants:**

**NOMINATIONS AND EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST**
Anthem Executive will be assisting the Texas Tech University System and Board with this comprehensive search.

To express interest, you are requested to submit the following:

• A letter of interest stating how your experience is applicable to the position and its opportunities, responsibilities, and requirements expressed in the leadership profile;
• A curriculum vitae or resume; and
• Up to five professional references with email addresses and telephone numbers.

(References will not be contacted without your prior authorization.)

While letters of interest may be accepted until the position is filled, interested parties are strongly encouraged to submit their materials as soon as possible to assure full consideration.

Anthem and TTUS reserve the right to end or extend the expression of interest, application, and nomination process at any time.

Expressing interest is the first step in receiving consideration and does not make one an applicant for the position.

Materials should be submitted electronically to:
SystemCAE@AnthemExecutive.com

**Safety Information:**

Adherence to robust safety practices and compliance with all applicable health and safety regulations are responsibilities of all TTU employees.

**Pay Statement:**

Compensation is commensurate upon the qualifications of the individual selected and budgetary guidelines of the hiring department, as well as the institutional pay plan.

For additional information, please reference the institutional pay plan by visiting www.depts.ttu.edu/hr/payplan.

**EEO Statement:**

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information or status as a protected veteran.

**About the University:**

Established in 1996 and headquartered in Lubbock, Texas, the Texas Tech University System (TTU System has emerged as one of the top public university systems in the nation, operating at 20 academic sites across the state and globe through its five universities.

With the recent additions of a veterinary medicine school in Amarillo and a dental medicine school in El Paso, the TTU System is one of nine higher-education systems in the U.S. to offer programs for undergraduate, medical, law, veterinary, nursing, pharmacy and dental education, among other academic areas.

The TTU System is focused on advancing higher education, health care, research and community outreach.

With approximately 21,000 employees, more than 64,000 students and 400,000 alums, and a statewide economic impact of $19.2 billion, the TTU System has grown tremendously in its short history and is nationally acclaimed.

The TTU System consists of the TTU System Administration and five universities:
• Texas Tech University (TTU)
• Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC)
• Angelo State University (ASU)
• Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso (Texas Tech Health El Paso)
• Midwestern State University (MSU Texas)

With a $3 billion annual operating budget and a $3 billion endowment — both at peak levels in the TTU System’s more than 25-year history — and a dynamic leadership team, the TTU System is positioned for continued and unprecedented growth and prosperity.

Required Skill Profession

Other General