Director of Internal Audit
Fervo Energy
Director of Internal Audit
Fervo Energy
Delivers 24/7 carbon-free geothermal energy
Fervo Energy (NASDAQ: FRVO) is a modern power company developing next-generation geothermal resources to meet the growing demand for affordable, reliable, 24/7 carbon-free energy. Our mission is to transform geothermal into America’s most dependable and affordable source of clean, around-the-clock power. By combining innovations in horizontal drilling, fiber-optic sensing, and advanced reservoir engineering, Fervo has developed a repeatable approach to building utility-scale enhanced geothermal systems. Our flagship Cape Station development in Utah is planned to deliver 500 MW of firm, carbon-free power, and we are advancing a development pipeline of more than 50 GW. Join us and work alongside world-class engineers, geoscientists, operators, project builders, and business leaders working to make geothermal a cornerstone of a more reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy future.
The Director, Internal Audit will be the builder responsible for designing the internal audit function from first principles, guiding the establishment of our SOX compliance program, defining the risk universe, and delivering independent assurance across financial reporting, IT, operational technology (OT), cybersecurity, and regulatory compliance.
This is a hands-on leadership role for a seasoned internal audit professional who thrives in ambiguity and wants to shape a function rather than inherit one. You will partner closely with the Head of Compliance & Regulatory Programs, the CFO, external auditors, and the Audit Committee of the Board to ensure Fervo’s control environment is appropriate, risk-aligned, and continuously improving.
This position reports directly to the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors, consistent with Nasdaq listing standards and IIA professional standards for internal audit independence, with a dotted-line (administrative) reporting relationship to the Head of Compliance & Regulatory Programs.
Internal Audit Strategy & Governance
Build Fervo’s internal audit function from the ground up, including charter, methodology, risk-based annual audit plan, and quality assurance and improvement program aligned with IIA standards
Serve as the primary point of contact for the Audit Committee—preparing materials, delivering updates on key risks and control issues, and ensuring concerns are surfaced early and resolved decisively
Define the enterprise risk universe in partnership with Finance, Legal, Compliance, IT, and Operations, and translate it into a multi-year audit roadmap that scales with the business
Establish audit standards, documentation norms, and workpaper discipline sufficient to withstand external auditor and regulator scrutiny
SOX Program Design & Execution
Partner with Finance and Accounting to support the design and build-out of Fervo’s SOX program, including scoping, risk assessment, control design evaluation, and deficiency remediation tracking, ensuring controls are designed into processes rather than layered on after the fact
Own the independent testing layer of Fervo’s SOX program, executing control testing, evaluating deficiency severity, and reporting results to the Audit Committee independently of management’s conclusions
Coordinate directly with external auditors on SOX scoping, walkthroughs, testing reliance, and deficiency evaluation—driving one version of the truth and minimizing duplication
Provide control guidance on new system implementations, M&A activity, and strategic initiatives to ensure SOX and broader control considerations are addressed up front
IT & Cybersecurity Audits
Design and execute IT general controls (ITGC), application controls, and cybersecurity audits across financially significant systems, OT environments, and field-data infrastructure
Assess cyber risk posture in coordination with IT and Security leadership, including reviews of access management, change management, incident response, and third-party and cloud risk
Build data analytics, continuous monitoring, and fraud detection capabilities into the audit toolkit to surface trends, anomalies, and emerging risks
Regulatory & Compliance Audits
Deliver independent audits of Fervo’s regulatory compliance programs—including FERC, NERC, energy market participation, domestic content and prevailing wage, trade and sanctions, ethics and anti-corruption, supply chain compliance, and third-party/vendor compliance—in coordination with the Director, Compliance & Regulatory Programs
Evaluate the design and operating effectiveness of controls embedded in engineering, operations, and commercial workflows to confirm that compliance happens in the field, not just on paper
Support investigations and special projects as requested by the Audit Committee, General Counsel, or executive leadership, with defensible methodology and independent reporting
Team & Stakeholder Leadership
Build and lead a small, high-caliber internal audit team over time—balancing in-house talent with co-source relationships to match capability to the risk profile
Develop strong working relationships with business leaders by communicating best practices and delivering internal control awareness and training across the organization
Communicate effectively with C-suite and Board-level stakeholders, presenting findings and recommendations with clarity, judgment, and appropriate candor
Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or a related field; CPA, CIA, or CISA strongly preferred (MBA a plus)
10+ years of progressive internal audit, external audit, or ICFR experience, including meaningful time at a Big Four or top-tier professional services firm and at a public or near-IPO company
Demonstrated experience standing up or materially rebuilding a SOX program—scoping, control design, testing, and remediation—not just executing within an established one
Deep fluency with COSO 2013, PCAOB AS 2201, and SEC rules governing ICFR, disclosure controls, and audit committee reporting
Working knowledge of IT general controls, cybersecurity frameworks (e.g., NIST CSF, ISO 27001), and audits of complex ERP and operational technology environments
Proven ability to coordinate effectively with external auditors and to present to audit committees and senior executives
Track record of operating independently, exercising sound judgment under ambiguity, and delivering results in fast-moving, resource-constrained environments
Ability to travel to Fervo offices and project sites as needed
Experience in energy (power generation and/or distribution), infrastructure, upstream oil & gas, or other asset-heavy industries
Exposure to regulatory compliance audits in regulated energy environments (FERC, NERC, DOE loan programs, IRS domestic content and prevailing wage)
Experience auditing complex capital projects, joint ventures, or project finance structures
Hands-on experience with ERP systems (Quorum a plus) and audit/GRC platforms
Experience building an internal audit function at a recently public or pre-IPO company
Fervo Energy has offices in Houston, TX, Golden, CO, Reno, NV, Oakland, CA, and Salt Lake City, UT. This position will be eligible for some hybrid work flexibility, but regular in-office presence at our Houston Office will be required.
Benefits and programs are subject to eligibility requirements and may change.
Fervo Energy highly values having employees work in the office to foster collaboration and strengthen our company culture. This role follows a hybrid schedule, with team members expected to work in the office three days per week. Fervo considers this in-office schedule an essential function of the role. Your recruiter can share more information about the schedule.
Fervo Energy is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, gender, religion, marital status, registered domestic partner status, age, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, sex, genetic information, sexual orientation, military or veteran status, or any other consideration made unlawful by federal, state, or local law. Fervo also prohibits discrimination based on the perception that an individual has any of these characteristics or is associated with a person who has or is perceived as having any of these characteristics.
Delivers 24/7 carbon-free geothermal energy
Fervo Energy develops and operates geothermal energy projects to provide 24/7 carbon-free power. It combines proven oil-and-gas technologies with geothermal science, notably horizontal drilling and distributed fiber-optic sensing, to unlock geothermal resources that were previously uneconomical. The company’s main product is a steady, carbon-free geothermal energy supply that can be sold to electricity providers seeking decarbonization. Its approach differs from competitors by applying oil-and-gas drilling methods and advanced sensing to unlock higher resource potential and deliver reliable, cost-effective energy. Fervo’s flagship Cape Station Project demonstrates this approach in action. The company’s goal is to accelerate the clean energy transition by delivering reliable, scalable geothermal energy and expanding geoscience-enabled solutions for decarbonizing the electricity sector.
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