Senior Associate, Internal Audit

About the Firm

Ares’ success has been driven by our people and our culture. Today, our team is guided by core values—Collaborative, Responsible, Entrepreneurial, Self-Aware, Trustworthy—and our purpose to be a catalyst for shared prosperity and a better future. We are committed to fostering a welcoming and inclusive work environment where high-performance talent of diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives can build careers within this exciting and growing industry.

About the Role

As the third line of defense, Internal Audit’s mission is to independently assess the firm’s overall control environment, including governance processes, risk management, and compliance frameworks. The role involves communicating and reporting on the effectiveness of the firm’s governance, risk management, and controls that mitigate current and evolving risks, raising awareness of control risks, and monitoring management’s implementation of control measures.

Responsibilities

• Support the AI audit coverage strategy, including risk assessments and recommendations to strengthen risk mitigation.
• Provide practical guidance for assessing AI risks across audit projects.
• Engage stakeholders to ensure AI risks are appropriately identified, assessed, and documented.
• Stay current on AI technologies, ethical considerations, and regulatory requirements to inform audit coverage.
• Partner with Technology, Risk, Privacy, Legal, and other stakeholders to support AI audit planning and execution.
• Identify audit process improvements to increase productivity, efficiency, and contribution to economic profit without compromising effectiveness.
• Leverage and advocate for the use of technology across the audit function, with a particular emphasis on data analytics.
• Partner with business and technology stakeholders to develop use cases and integrate automation into control testing.
• Identify and evaluate risks and assess the adequacy, effectiveness, and compliance of internal controls.
• Assess control effectiveness and deliver high-quality audit findings and recommendations.
• Demonstrate strong judgment and sound decision-making.
• Identify and communicate existing and emerging business risks and significant issues in a timely and proactive manner.
• Exhibit strong organizational and follow-up skills.
• Execute responsibilities accurately, efficiently, and proactively.
• Maintain all organizational and professional ethical standards.
• Conduct quarterly risk and fraud assessments based on input from management, external auditors, and external factors to support the development of quarterly audit plans.
• Pursue professional development opportunities, including internal and external training and participation in professional associations.
• Maintain independence and objectivity in all audit activities.
• Maintain an in-depth understanding of business areas, processes, and supporting functions.

Requirements

• Strong experience with data analytics and comfort with manipulating large data sets.
• Experience in developing, validating, or auditing AI/ML models.
• Subject matter expertise in auditing and enterprise risk management concepts (e.g., risk assessment/prioritization, process & internal controls, root cause analysis).
• Understanding of local and globally significant regulatory requirements pertaining to AI.
• Understanding of the operation of financial markets, financial instruments, and strategies.
• 5 years of internal audit experience in the Financial Services Industry with an emphasis in the Investment Management industry.
• Strong managerial, written, and verbal communication skills, as well as analytical, problem-solving, organizational, and interpersonal skills.
• Enthusiastic, self-motivated, strong interest in learning, effective under pressure, and willing to take personal responsibility and accountability.
• Related certifications (CPA, CA, CIA, or similar) preferred.

Reports to the Head of Internal Audit.

Pay

The anticipated base salary range for this position is $125,000 - $155,000. Total compensation may also include a discretionary performance-based bonus.

Benefits

• Comprehensive Medical/Rx, Dental, and Vision plans.
• 401(k) program with company match.
• Flexible Savings Accounts (FSA) and Healthcare Savings Accounts (HSA) with company contribution.
• Basic and Voluntary Life Insurance.
• Long-Term Disability (LTD) and Short-Term Disability (STD) insurance.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and Commuter Benefits plan for parking and transit.
• Access to a world-class medical advisory team and a mental health app that includes coaching, therapy, and psychiatry.
• Mindfulness and wellbeing app.
• Financial wellness benefit that includes access to a financial advisor.
• New parent leave, reproductive and adoption assistance, and emergency backup care.
• Matching gift program and education sponsorship program.