Internal Audit Leader

Forward Financing is a financial technology company based in Boston, Massachusetts with team members throughout the United States, Dominican Republic, and Canada. The company is on a mission to unlock the capital that fuels small businesses across America. Recognized as a Best Place to Work by Built In Boston and certified as a Great Place To Work, Forward is investing in its employees, technology, and customer experience with long-term success in mind every step of the way.

As the first dedicated Internal Audit resource, you will report to the Chief Financial Officer (while also providing regular updates to the Board) and will lead and mature our internal audit function. This leader will design and execute a risk-based audit plan covering financial, operational, technology, and compliance risks across a multi-location organization that originates and services all revenue based financing (RBF) and lending products. The ideal candidate has internal audit leadership experience in lending, fintech, or broader financial services, and understands the complexities of U.S. financial services regulations, scalable credit operations, and a distributed workforce.

In this role you will:

• Audit Leadership & Strategy
• Develop and execute a risk-based internal audit plan aligned with company strategy, risk appetite, and state and federal regulatory expectations.
• Establish audit policies, methodologies, and a multi-year roadmap for a growing, multi-office organization.
• Present annual audit plans, findings, and risk assessments to the CFO and audit committee.
• Financial & Operational Audits
• Lead audits across the financing lifecycle, including:
• Underwriting and credit decisioning
• Funding and disbursement
• Portfolio monitoring and servicing
• Collections, recovery, and loss mitigation
• Accounting and financial reporting
• Evaluate workflow, process, and control effectiveness across teams located in the U.S., Canada, and the Dominican Republic.
• Regulatory & Compliance Oversight (U.S. Market Focus)
• Conduct audits focused on compliance with U.S. federal and state regulations, consumer protection laws (where applicable), fair lending expectations, and financial reporting requirements.
• Partner cross-functionally to create multiple ways to ensure consistent application of U.S. and/or local regulatory standards across international employee locations, as applicable.
• Technology, Data & Cyber Audits
• Oversee IT audits related to cybersecurity, access management, data integrity, vendor oversight, and controls for proprietary systems and credit models.
• Assess controls around the loan origination systems (LOS), CRM, data pipelines, and underwriting tools supporting operations.
• Risk Management & Advisory
• Identify emerging risks and provide insights on operational efficiency, control gaps, and process improvements.
• Serve as an independent advisor on major initiatives, including system modernization, automation, and process redesign projects tied to operations.
• Team Leadership & Management
• Build and lead a high-performing audit team, including internal staff and strategic co-sourcing partners.
• Establish consistent audit documentation, workpapers, testing standards, and quality assurance processes across globally distributed teams.

Role Requirements:

• 10+ years of internal audit experience, including at least 5 years in a leadership role.
• Background in specialty lending, fintech, or financial services serving U.S. customers.
• Experience with specialty lending, revenue-based financing, or SMB-focused financial products with strong understanding of the credit lifecycle
• Prior experience establishing or scaling an internal audit function.
• Experience auditing teams spread across multiple countries while operating under a U.S.-centric regulatory and compliance framework.
• Deep familiarity with COSO, IIA standards, and risk-based audit methodologies.
• Strategic and analytical with strong business judgment with a track-record of demonstrating Independence and objectivity while maintaining strong partnership with business leaders.
• Strong operational understanding, especially in high-volume U.S. financing environments.
• Cross-border leadership capability, managing workflows across U.S., Canada, and Dominican Republic teams.
• High integrity, confidentiality, and ethical standards.
• Ability to communicate complex issues clearly to executives, regulators, and the audit committee.
• Experience using data analytics and testing automation (SQL, Python, Power BI).
• Self-motivated with strong work ethic, proactivity, desire to learn, and the ability to produce high-quality outputs
• Excellent communication, attention to detail, and organizational capabilities
• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, or related field.
• CPA, CIA, CISA, CRCM, or related certifications.

Compensation:

Annual Targeted Salary: $195,000 $245,000 USD

Annual Target Bonus: 20%

At Forward Financing, we're committed to fair and transparent compensation. We believe in providing a compensation package that recognizes your skills, experience, and the unique value you bring to our team. We take a market-based approach to pay, regularly reviewing benchmark data to ensure our compensation remains competitive, equitable, and aligned with our performance-driven culture.

Final offers are determined by a variety of factors, including the candidate's qualifications, relevant experience, specific skills, and internal equity. This approach ensures that our compensation is competitive and equitable. Your recruiter will provide specific details on the expected base and variable earnings as it pertains to this specific role.

Total Rewards:

Additionally, we offer a comprehensive total rewards package, including but not limited to: medical, dental, vision, commuter benefits, a flexible time-off policy, paid parental leave, 401k match for US employees, wellness reimbursement, volunteering days, annual professional development budget, and charitable donation match.

Forward is proud to be a remote-first company, keeping workplace flexibility a top priority for our employees. As a business, we are focused on impact; we are more concerned with your contributions to the success of the company than where you get your work done. To help facilitate in-person collaboration, employees are welcome to work from one of our premiere office locations.

When we aren't collaborating to drive business and support our customers, we're finding virtual and in-person ways to get to know our colleagues, celebrate team wins, and have fun together!

Our Core Values:

• Drive the Mission: We believe in financial opportunity for underserved small businesses. We say "yes" when others say "no."

• Keep It Real: We value direct communication, candid feedback, and authenticity. We are an open book.

• Act With Kindness: We create an environment where caring is cool and helping is the norm. We do the right thing.

• Shoot for Extraordinary: We are inspired by innovative thinking and continuous improvement. We never settle for yesterday's best.

About Us:

Forward Financing is a fintech company based in Boston, Massachusetts with team members throughout the United States, Dominican Republic, and Canada. The company is on a mission to unlock the capital that fuels small businesses across America. Whether facing challenges accessing traditional financing or simply needing a convenient, flexible solution, Forward is committed to funding more of the millions of small businesses nationwide. By simplifying the requirements, streamlining the process, and using advanced proprietary technology, Forward is often able to deliver approvals within hours and funds that same day giving more businesses the financial opportunity they need to thrive. Plus, with their dedicated teams and award-winning service, customers get personalized support when they need it most.

Since 2012, Forward has expanded access to capital by providing over $4.8 billion in funding to more than 92,000 small businesses. The company is A+ rated by the Better Business Bureau with an Excellent / 4.7 stars rating on Trustpilot.com . Recognized as a Best Place to Work by