Job Description

Sr. Manager, Internal Audit

Pella, Iowa (hybrid)

Pella Corporation is a privately held, industry‑leading manufacturer with a strong track record of profitable growth, innovation, and operational excellence. Over the past decade, Pella has expanded in scale and complexity through acquisitions, product and manufacturing innovation, and increased use of advanced technologies—including AI, automation, and data‑enabled capabilities. This continued evolution has strengthened the organization’s focus on disciplined execution, governance, and risk management to support sustainable growth and long‑term competitiveness.

Our culture is a critical driver of our success. At Pella, we care boldly, learn rapidly, and drive results. We strive to empower our people to lead, collaborate across the organization, and continuously improve how we serve our customers and operate our business. As we continue to grow and evolve, our culture remains grounded in accountability, innovation, and a shared commitment to delivering meaningful outcomes—for our customers, our team members, and our communities.

Pella operates nationally with a broad manufacturing and distribution footprint and serves customers across multiple channels, including distributors, retail, and large professional builders. Our business spans both product supply and installation, supporting homeowners, contractors, and commercial projects through a range of trusted brands and delivery models.

The Sr. Manager, Internal Audit leads the Internal Audit and Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) functions and serves as a key advisor to executive leadership, including the Audit Committee Chair, CEO, EVP/CFO, General Counsel, and senior functional leaders.

The role partners with the business to optimize risk management, internal controls, and governance practices in support of growth, transformation, and innovation, while also strengthening the organization’s enterprise-wide risk posture and operational effectiveness.

This role emphasizes operational, technology, and strategic risk, not just financial controls. It plays a critical role in helping Pella navigate increasing complexity driven by acquisitions, technology modernization, AI adoption, and reliance on third‑party platforms—ensuring risks are well understood, governed, and aligned with business objectives.

Audit Committee & Board Engagement

• Serve as liaison to the Audit Committee, supporting the Chair and engaging directly with Board members on key risk and control matters.
• Lead the development and presentation of the annual internal audit plan and enterprise risk assessment, ensuring alignment to the organization’s highest priorities.
• Communicate audit results, emerging risks, and ERM insights clearly and effectively, elevating issues that require Board awareness or action.
• Provide independent, objective perspectives to support effective governance, transparency, and decision-making at the Board and executive levels.

Internal Audit & Risk Leadership

• Lead a risk-based internal audit function focused on areas of highest enterprise impact, including operations, technology, data governance, cybersecurity, and AI-enabled processes.
• Partner with business leaders to strengthen processes, controls, and risk management practices across the organization.
• Drive continuous improvement in audit methodology, leveraging data analytics, automation, and technology-enabled testing approaches.
• Identify and share leading practices, not just control deficiencies, to support enterprise-wide improvement.

Enterprise Risk Management (ERM)

• Lead and evolve the ERM program to ensure the organization maintains an appropriate risk profile to support growth, transformation, and innovation.
• Facilitate enterprise-level risk discussions that connect strategy, execution, and emerging risks, including technology, AI, and third-party dependencies.
• Provide actionable, decision-oriented risk insights to executive leadership.

Technology, Data, and AI Governance

• Partner in advancing data governance, AI governance, and cybersecurity oversight across the enterprise.
• Key contributor in governance forums (e.g., AI Steering Team, cybersecurity leadership) to ensure appropriate controls and risk considerations are embedded in transformation initiatives.
• Evaluate and strengthen control environments supporting digital platforms, cloud technologies, and third-party solutions.

Leadership & Cross-Functional Partnership

• Lead, coach, and develop the internal audit team, building a high-performing, forward-looking function.
• Collaborate across operations, finance, IT, legal, and business leadership to support major initiatives, including acquisitions and integration efforts.
• Influence without authority and drive alignment across diverse stakeholders.

Governance, Compliance, and Special Investigations

• Support corporate governance processes in partnership with Legal and executive leadership, including ethics and compliance oversight and Board-related activities.
• Lead or support sensitive investigations as needed with appropriate confidentiality and objectivity.
• Serve as a key driver of Pella’s “Total Integrity in Everything We Do” commitment, including oversight of annual ethics and compliance processes.
• Partner with the General Counsel to evaluate and enhance ethics, compliance, and governance practices.

Leadership Characteristics:

• Demonstrates the highest standards of ethics, integrity, and professionalism.

• Collaborates effectively across functions to drive enterprise-wide impact.

• Connects the dots—anticipates outcomes, solves problems, and drives practical solutions.

• Leads with courage, making informed decisions and recommendations with confidence.

• Comfortable influencing and inspiring others, building alignment at all levels of the organization.

• Learner mindset with curiosity around technology, data, and AI.

• Decisive, adaptable, and able to balance rigor with speed.

• Champion of change, innovation and continuous improvement enabling progress with speed and agility.

• Strong executive presence, ability and communication skills.

• Brings a strong drive to win, with high energy and a results-oriented mindset.

• Balances customer focus, process discipline, and proactive execution.

Professional Qualifications & Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or related field; CPA and/or CIA preferred.

• 10+ years of audit, accounting, or risk-related experience (2+ years of public accounting strongly preferred).

• Strong experience with IT/Cybersecurity controls across on‑prem and cloud environments.

• Experience with data analytics, automation, cybersecurity, and AI governance.

• Strong understanding of GAAP and enterprise control environments.

• Ability to apply analytical and statistical concepts to practical risk and control scenarios.

• Excellent organizational, analytical, and communication (written and verbal) skills.

About Pella Corporation

As the #1 most-preferred national window and door brand by homeowners across the country, Pella Corporation leads the industry in innovation and design. Founded in 1925, today the Pella Family of Brands encompasses a robust product offering sold and installed through various channels. We are a growing, privately owned company with 20 manufacturing locations and over 10,000 team members in the U.S. and Canada. Pella is consistently recognized as a great place to work by Newsweek, Forbes and Glassdoor, having most recently been named to America’s Greatest Workplaces for Diversity by Newsweek in 2024, as well as Forbes' 2024 Best Employers for Women and Best-In-State Employer in Iowa. We have also received numerous accolades for innovation and design, including Fast Company’s Best Workplaces for Innovators in 2024 and Most Innovative Manufacturers for 2022 and 2023.

At Pella, our team cares deeply, learns continuously and achieves results that go beyond. We encourage creative thinking that seeks out and includes diverse perspectives. And we empower you to do the work you’re most proud of — that’s why we offer individualized talent development plans, cross-functional experiences and opportunities for career advancement through personal and professional development.

With talent just like you, we are imagining, building and fighting for a brighter future for generations to come. Ready to find a career that sparks your passion?