Full-Time

Associate Audit Director

Compliance Risk Management

Updated on 9/11/2026

Western Alliance

Western Alliance

1,001-5,000 employees

Regional bank offering tailored business banking

No salary listed

Company Does Not Provide H1B Sponsorship

Phoenix, AZ, USA + 1 more

More locations: Chandler, AZ, USA

In Person

Occasional travel is required.

Bachelor's

Category
Risk & Compliance (1)
Required Skills
Public Speaking
U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP)
Workiva
Risk Management
Data Analysis

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Requirements
  • At least 8 years of related experience in Internal Audit, Risk Management, Regulatory Compliance, or a similar field.
  • A bachelor's degree in a related field is required.
  • Intermediate to advanced experience and knowledge in the assigned internal audit area.
  • Intermediate to advanced ability to deal with complex problems involving multiple facets and variables in non-standardized situations, define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
  • Intermediate to advanced knowledge of internal control analysis and risk assessment methodologies, the COSO framework, Institute of Internal Auditors standards, FRB Supervisory Letter 13-1 standards, GAAP, and/or Sarbanes-Oxley Sections 302 and 404 regulatory requirements.
  • Intermediate to advanced time management and organizational skills.
  • Advanced public speaking and written communication skills.
  • One of the following certifications is required: Certified Internal Auditor, Certified Public Accountant, Certified Regulatory Compliance Manager, Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist, Credit Risk Certification from RMA, Certification in Control Self-Assessment from IIA, or Certification in Risk Management Assurance from IIA.
  • Occasional travel is required.
Responsibilities
  • Plan, oversee, and report on audits in assigned coverage areas in support of the department's annual audit plan.
  • Assist with the annual risk assessment and related quarterly continuous monitoring.
  • Lead assigned audits and ensure timely wrap-up and completion according to the audit plan.
  • Evaluate processes and internal controls for adherence to bank policies, procedures, and federal and state banking regulations.
  • Inform senior leadership of audit results and related risks.
  • Complete root cause analyses for identified issues to strengthen and improve controls.
  • Attract, hire, and retain Auditor and Senior Auditor professionals who report directly to the role.
  • Oversee the day-to-day activities of the audit team with assistance from Audit Project Managers.
  • Coordinate with other audit teams to use staff effectively for completion of the overall audit plan.
  • Provide ongoing coaching, training, development, and motivation to the audit team.
  • Build collaborative relationships with department heads, business leaders, and staff to promote enterprise risk awareness.
  • Meet regularly with department heads and business leaders to discuss audits, assess risks, evaluate issue remediation progress, provide feedback, and gather business insights.
  • Support the Audit Director or Senior Audit Director in completing the annual risk assessment and developing the resulting audit plan.
  • Prepare a comprehensive risk-based, multi-year audit coverage plan for the assigned area, ensuring audits remain within cycle and are logically budgeted and resourced.
  • Lead execution of the assigned audit plan area, appropriately leveraging and delegating work to Audit Project Managers.
  • Ensure key risks and critical plan inputs are considered during audit planning.
  • Lead internal control evaluations using risk management frameworks.
  • Oversee all phases and wrap-up of assigned audits using Wdesk/Workiva.
  • Review and provide feedback on critical planning, testing approach, and audit documentation.
  • Discuss audit scope and approach with department leadership to ensure appropriate audit coverage.
  • Review Audit Project Manager work and higher-risk controls and exceptions for compliance with requirements, objectives, Institute of Internal Auditors standards, and audit methodology.
  • Provide guidance, coaching, and clear feedback to the audit team and ensure review notes are resolved before audit wrap-up.
  • Incorporate data analytics into audit testing.
  • Finalize root cause analyses for audit issues identified in test work.
  • Clarify and clear audit review notes from the Audit Director or Senior Audit Director.
  • Complete overall audit hours analysis and final quality assessments for completeness and compliance with audit methodology.
  • Draft and present audit reports communicating risks and issues to audit leadership and department leadership for approval.
  • Work with management to create effective management action plans in a timely manner.
  • Attend monthly management meetings to monitor open audit issues, understand progress, and provide feedback toward closure.
  • Ensure delays and required extensions are escalated and addressed according to audit methodology.
  • Monitor issue deadlines, implementations, and closures, assigning validation testing based on workload and expertise.
  • Follow up on exceptions from internal, external, and regulatory examination reports.
  • Review, approve, and close medium- and low-risk issues.
  • Provide ad hoc reports and status updates to supervisors.
  • Work with co-source partners when necessary to maintain an efficient audit process.
  • Complete required annual department training and discuss performance goals with the Audit Director or Senior Audit Director.
  • Attend and lead team, peer, and one-on-one meetings.
  • Own and complete department initiatives focused on efficiency, strategic change, audit methodology, and technology-based solutions.
  • Support Audit Project Manager initiatives by acting as a reviewer before completion.
  • Lead inclusive teams and develop staff through hiring, coaching, performance management, training, and development.
  • Support staff training to improve Auditor and Senior Auditor skill assessment results.
Desired Qualifications
  • Previous leadership experience is preferred.
  • Intermediate-level knowledge of data analytic tools is preferred.

Western Alliance provides banking products and financial services to small and middle-market businesses, real estate investors, and professional firms. The company operates through several regional divisions and specialized lending groups that generate revenue by providing customized loans, deposit accounts, and treasury management services. Unlike many traditional banks, it uses a relationship-based model that combines local geographic expertise with national specialized groups in sectors like technology and life sciences. Its goal is to provide tailored financial solutions to specific industries and local markets through a diversified portfolio of commercial and industrial lending.

Company Size

1,001-5,000

Company Stage

IPO

Headquarters

Phoenix, Arizona

Founded

2002

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Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Q2 2026 EPS reached $2.36 and net income hit $268.8 million.
  • Western Alliance cut higher-cost deposits by over $1 billion and lowered funding costs.
  • Management raised 2026 ambitions to $5 billion loan growth and $150 million buybacks.

What critics are saying

  • Jefferies sued Western Alliance on July 2, 2026 over the First Brands $25 million account.
  • March 6, 2026 LAM charge-off of $126.4 million exposed weak oversight in structured trade finance.
  • Heavy CRE and specialized-lending concentration makes another fraud, servicing, or tenant shock immediately earnings-damaging.

What makes Western Alliance unique

  • WA VenueX launched July 24, 2026, giving Western Alliance always-on dollar settlement for crypto clients.
  • Western Alliance serves about 150 institutional digital-asset clients, including stablecoin issuers, exchanges, and trading firms.
  • Its specialized lending platform spans CRE, tech, and mortgage warehouse financing across national niches.

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Benefits

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

401(k) Company Match

Tuition Reimbursement

Employee Referral Bonus

Wellness Program

Company News

PR Newswire
Aug 14th, 2026
Hadrian closes $360M credit facility to expand US manufacturing footprint

Hadrian has closed a $360 million revolving credit facility to expand its US manufacturing infrastructure and meet production targets for defence and aerospace programmes. Morgan Stanley Senior Funding served as lead arranger, with joint lead arrangers including Western Alliance Bank, J.P. Morgan, and First Citizens Bank. The financing follows Hadrian's $1.37 billion Series D fundraise announced last week, which valued the advanced manufacturing company at $7.87 billion. The credit facility will support buildout of Hadrian's factory network and machinery investments. Hadrian currently operates four facilities totalling nearly 3 million square feet in California, Arizona, and Alabama, with additional sites under development. The company builds highly automated factories combining robotics and AI for space and defence manufacturers.

FinSMEs
Aug 12th, 2026
MarginEdge Raises $80M in Series D and Debt Funding

MarginEdge, an Arlington, Virginia-based restaurant management and financial software platform provider, raised $80m in Series D and debt funding

Third News
Aug 5th, 2026
Ordway raises $20M to accelerate AI-powered billing and revenue management platform

Ordway, a monetisation platform for innovative business models, has secured $20 million in growth capital. The funding round was led by Harbert Growth Partners, with Western Alliance Bank's Innovation Banking Group participating through debt. The company plans to use the investment to double its research and development budget, focusing on advancing its artificial intelligence product roadmap. Ordway has doubled its recurring revenue over the past two years whilst remaining profitable. Recent AI-powered launches include MCP access for Claude, an advanced cash reconciliation feature, and a contract data abstraction tool. The company has also introduced Ordway Payments, an integrated platform designed to streamline payment processing and revenue reconciliation. The funding will support development of AI agents to automate time-consuming tasks such as updating financial records and creating AI-powered forecasting models for cash flow and revenue predictions.

LeapRate
Jul 26th, 2026
Western Alliance launches WA VenueX for round-the-clock dollar settlement.

Western Alliance launches WA VenueX for round-the-clock dollar settlement. Western Alliance Bank revealed on Friday that it has formally launched WA VenueX, an institutional platform offering real-time US dollar liquidity and support for digital asset activity within a regulated banking environment. The Phoenix-based commercial bank, which holds more than $90 billion in assets, said that its WA VenueX Network provides 24/7 dollar instant settlement for approved institutional digital asset businesses. Since an initial rollout earlier this year, the network has processed billions of dollars in transaction volume across stablecoin minting and redemption, institutional settlement and real-time liquidity rebalancing. The launch places Western Alliance among a small group of regulated US financial institutions offering always-on infrastructure for institutional digital asset markets. Further capabilities, including digital asset custody, financing, tokenisation and programmable financial services, are said to be in development and will be introduced in phases. "Western Alliance Bank is always looking for innovative ways to better serve our clients while advancing the S-curve funding growth strategy we outlined at our Investor Day in May," stated Dale Gibbons, vice chairman and chief banking officer, deposit initiatives and innovation. He added that the platform also supported the bank's deposit remixing efforts and a more diversified source of funding. David Fragale, senior managing director of the bank's digital assets group, said WA VenueX "brings together real-time USD settlement and a roadmap toward integrated digital asset capabilities within a single platform." The bank noted that it launched the platform with nearly five years of digital asset banking experience and about 150 institutional clients, including stablecoin issuers, exchanges and trading firms. The network is currently available to select clients, with integration supported via API.

Associated Press
Jul 24th, 2026
Western Alliance Bank launches WA VenueX for 24/7 institutional crypto liquidity

Western Alliance Bank has launched WA VenueX, an institutional financial platform providing 24/7 US dollar liquidity for digital asset businesses. The bank, which has over $90 billion in assets, said the platform has already processed billions of dollars in transactions since its initial rollout earlier this year. WA VenueX Network enables real-time settlement for stablecoin minting and redemption, institutional digital asset settlement, and liquidity rebalancing. The platform currently serves select institutional clients, with Coinbase among the users. Western Alliance plans to expand the platform's capabilities to include digital asset custody, financing, tokenisation, and programmable financial services in coming months. The bank has approximately 150 institutional digital asset clients, including stablecoin issuers, exchanges, and trading firms.