Data Science Specialist

Job Description

SUMMARY: The Data Science Specialist, Audit & Compliance Analytics supports Compliance, Funding Compliance, Internal Audit, and SOX by applying data analytics to audit, testing, monitoring, and risk management activities. This role combines audit and internal control knowledge with technical data skills to improve the efficiency, consistency, and depth of assurance activities across the organization.

The ideal candidate has experience in external audit, Internal Audit, SOX, risk advisory, compliance testing, or a similar assurance function, with a strong interest in using data and technology to enhance traditional testing and monitoring approaches. Big 4 public accounting or professional services experience is strongly preferred.

The role will analyze large and complex datasets, develop repeatable testing routines, identify exceptions and potential risks, and create audit-ready documentation and reporting. The Data Specialist will also help expand the use of automation, AI, and modern analytics tools across Audit, Risk and Compliance.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties.

Audit, Compliance & Control Analytics

· Apply data analytics to support Internal Audit, Compliance, SOX, operational reviews, and other assurance activities.

· Translate audit and compliance objectives into data requirements, testing procedures, queries, and analytical routines.

· Develop and execute data-driven testing procedures to evaluate transactions, populations, processes, and controls against defined requirements.

· Analyze complete populations to identify trends, anomalies, exceptions, and potential control issues.

· Perform data validation, reconciliation, and completeness and accuracy procedures.

· Evaluate testing results and supporting evidence and clearly document conclusions and exceptions.

· Develop repeatable analytics that can be used for recurring testing and monitoring.

· Identify opportunities to replace manual or sample-based testing with automated or population-based analytics.

· Escalate significant or anomaly exceptions and data quality concerns appropriately.

Internal Audit & SOX Support

· Support Internal Audit and SOX engagements through data analysis, population development, control testing, and exception analysis.

· Prepare and validate populations used for audit and control testing.

· Test key reports, system-generated data, and other information used in controls.

· Perform data-driven procedures to assess completeness, accuracy, validity, and consistency.

· Support testing of key controls and management review controls through data analytics.

· Develop automated testing routines for recurring SOX and audit procedures.

· Prepare audit-ready workpapers and supporting documentation, including data sources, queries, filters, methodology, testing steps, and results.

· Support Internal Audit and SOX teams in identifying opportunities to increase testing coverage and improve testing efficiency.

Compliance & Privacy Monitoring

· Support recurring compliance monitoring through data analysis, exception reporting, and automated testing.

· Analyze access, user, and other privacy-related datasets in support of FERPA and applicable state requirements.

· Develop and maintain monitoring routines to identify unusual activity, exceptions, or potential compliance issues.

· Perform data testing against policies, procedures, regulatory requirements, and established controls.

· Document monitoring procedures, results, exceptions, and supporting evidence.

· Partner with Compliance and other stakeholders to investigate and resolve data-related questions and exceptions.

Funding Compliance Analytics

· Perform analytics supporting the accuracy and completeness of district and state funding submissions.

· Validate enrollment, attendance, demographic, and program participation data.

· Analyze funding-related populations to identify anomalies, inconsistencies, and potential reporting issues.

· Investigate data exceptions and discrepancies and support resolution with business and data teams.

· Develop repeatable analytics and automated reports to strengthen funding compliance monitoring.

· Maintain clear documentation and evidence supporting funding analyses and testing.

Data Analytics & Automation

· Write and maintain SQL queries and Python to extract, transform, validate, and analyze data from multiple sources.

· Develop datasets and analytical routines that can be reused across audit and compliance activities.

· Build dashboards, reports, and visualizations that clearly communicate testing results and areas of risk.

· Support automation of manual testing and monitoring processes.

· Explore the use of Python, AI, machine learning, and other emerging technologies to improve audit and compliance analytics.

· Partner with Data Engineering, IT, GRC, and other technical teams to understand data sources, system functionality, and data limitations.

· Maintain documentation of data sources, business rules, analytical logic, assumptions, and validation procedures.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

· Work closely with Internal Audit, Compliance, Funding, IT, Data Engineering, GRC, and business stakeholders.

· Translate business, audit, and compliance questions into actionable analytical requirements.

· Communicate analytical results and testing findings clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences.

· Provide data and analytical support for audits, reviews, compliance assessments, and management reporting.

· Develop strong working relationships across functions while maintaining appropriate independence and objectivity.

· Escalate complex issues, significant exceptions, and data concerns to the Senior Manager, Data Analytics or appropriate functional leader.

Supervisory Responsibilities: This position has no formal supervisory responsibilities.

MINIMUM REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

· Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Data Analytics, Information Systems, Computer Science, Business, or a related field.

· Five (5) years of experience in external audit, Internal Audit, SOX, risk advisory, compliance testing, or another assurance function.

· Demonstrated understanding of internal controls, audit methodology, control testing, evidence evaluation, and audit documentation.

· Experience using data analytics to support audit, compliance, risk, SOX, or control testing.

· Strong SQL and Python skills and experience querying and analyzing large or complex datasets.

· Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to identify exceptions, trends, inconsistencies, and potential control issues.

· Ability to translate audit or compliance requirements into data queries, testing procedures, and analytical routines.

· Strong attention to detail and commitment to data accuracy.

· Ability to clearly document methodology, assumptions, testing procedures, results, and supporting evidence

· Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.

· Effective written and verbal communication skills.

· Ability to work collaboratively with both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

· Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Project, Visio, etc.); Web proficiency.

· Ability to clear required background check

Certificates and Licenses: None required.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

· Experience at a Big 4 accounting or professional services firm in Audit, Risk Advisory, Technology Risk, SOX, Data & Analytics, or a related practice.

· Experience performing SOX, ITGC, operational, financial, compliance, or technology-related testing.

· Experience using analytics to perform population-based testing or identify exceptions across large datasets.

· Experience with Power BI, Tableau, or other data visualization tools.

· Experience with SQL and Python or other scripting languages for data analysis and automation.

· Experience with data Snowflake, DBT, and Github

· Experience working with enterprise systems such as ERP, HRIS, SIS, LMS, CRM, or financial systems.

· Familiarity with data governance, data quality, data lineage, access management, or privacy concepts.

· Experience developing automated audit or compliance testing.

· Familiarity with AI-enabled analytics or emerging technologies.

· Experience in an education, government, regulated, or highly controlled

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

· This position is virtual and open to residents of the 50 states, D.C.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS: Stride, Inc. considers a person’s education, experience, and qualifications, as well as the position’s work location, expected quality and quantity of work, required travel (if any), external market and internal value when determining a new employee’s salary level.  Salaries will differ based on these factors, the position’s level and expected contribution, and the employee’s benefits elections.  Offers will typically be in the bottom half of the range. 

We anticipate the salary range to be $70,202.25 and $120,966.00. Eligible employees may receive a bonus.  This salary is not guaranteed, as an individual’s compensation can vary based on several factors.  These factors include, but are not limited to, geographic location, experience, training, education, and local market conditions. Stride offers a robust benefits package for eligible employees that can include health benefits, retirement contributions, and paid time off. 

The above job is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of duties and standards of the position. Incumbents will follow any other instructions, and perform any other related duties, as assigned by their supervisor. All employment is “at-will” as governed by the law of the state where the employee works. It is further understood that the “at-will” nature of employment is one aspect of employment that cannot be changed except in writing and signed by an authorized officer.

Job Type

Regular

The above job is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of duties and standards of the position. Incumbents will follow any other instructions, and perform any other related duties, as assigned by their supervisor. All employment is “at-will” as governed by the law of the state where the employee works.  It is further understood that the “at-will” nature of employment is one aspect of employment that cannot be changed except in writing and signed by an authorized officer.

If you are a job seeker with a disability and require a reasonable accommodation to apply for one of our jobs, you can request the appropriate accommodation by contacting [email protected].

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

Stride, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants receive consideration for employment based on merit without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status, or any other basis prohibited by federal, state, or local law. Stride, Inc. complies with all legally required affirmative action obligations. Applicants will not be discriminated against because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant.