The Opportunity:

The Director position is an exciting strategic leadership role which leads the development of strong partnerships with leaders across the business and supports the development of a next-generation future state for the IA team both from a culture and audit planning perspective. The Director also plays an important departmental management role through oversight of key/high-risk financial, operational, commercial and information technology related reviews. Our work provides team members with an opportunity to be well rounded and uniquely positioned to pursue a long-term career path within or outside of Finance.

Reporting to the Vice President, Internal Audit, the Director primes departmental strategy development, leads a team of high-performing senior auditors, and oversees the delivery of key/high-risk internal audit, advisory, and whistleblower engagements. Through these engagements, the Director and the rest of the Internal Audit team assists the Audit Committee and management in drawing conclusions on the adequacy of the design and operating effectiveness of the organization’s internal controls as well as advising on process improvements to support optimization of MLF’s performance.

Any MLF team member interested in being considered for this role are encouraged to apply online by May 08.  Applications received beyond that date are not guaranteed consideration.

Snapshot of a Day-in-the-Life:

Job responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

People

• Driving the achievement of Internal audit’s “Vision 2026” – specifically:
  • Lead the implementation of cost-effective automation tools to streamline and reduce audit effort in areas where significant manual work is currently being done (e.g. C3, T&E expense testing)
  • Piloting and then ultimately implementing a “Management Awareness of Risks and Controls” rating on IA reports to provide a perspective not only on the effectiveness of controls, but also management’s awareness of their key risks, controls, and related weaknesses.
  • Champion a culture change within IA which will see the department be recognized as business advisors as well as providers of independent assurance
• Fostering a team culture of high-performance by demonstrating a relentless commitment to excellence while expecting the same from others on the team
• Managing and coach a team Senior Auditors, by providing continuous feedback, support, and opportunities to develop and grow as professionals

Business Partner

• Developing strong partnerships with leaders across the business with a reputation of being a trusted business advisor to MLF management teams through providing useful, credible, timely, business-relevant, and independent insights

Internal Audit / Advisory Reviews

• Conducting annual Audit Universe Risk Assessment to identify functional/business areas of highest risk which should be focused on within the Annual Internal Audit Plan. Key aspects of the Director’s role in this process are:
  • Liaise with key Director/VP contracts from each Auditable Entity/Unit across MLF on a quarterly basis to understand the current challenges that they are facing and upcoming changes to their business/functional area (e.g. key projects, team structure, competitive forces, regulatory, etc.)
  • Produce a preliminary “Residual Risk Rating” for each Auditable Entity/Unit in the Audit Universe based on the discussions held above, recent audit/C3 results, and independent industry benchmarking considering Inherent Risk and Control Effectiveness to determine the Residual Risk
  • Support the VP, Internal Audit to prepare for annual meetings with SLT/SMF leaders of each Auditable Entity/Unit to review Residual Risk Ratings and proposed audit approach for upcoming three years
  • Develop a formal framework for Audit Universe Risk Assessments based on the above mentioned attributes
• Preparation of the 3-Year audit plan leveraging the Audit Universe Risk assessments as well as historic audit coverage to produce an audit plan that covers the areas of highest risk, provides value to management, and retains flexibility to respond to evolving needs from the business
• Overseeing/executing the preparation of reporting to Executive Management and the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors for MLF with a focus on distilling the most important messages that need to be conveyed based on the quarter’s Audit and C3 results, Action Plan completion progress, and EthicsLine investigations.
• Contributing to the thought leadership and continuous improvement of internal audit processes and internal control matters
• Contributing to strategic company and Internal Audit initiatives (e.g. adoption of automation and GenAI within Internal Audit)
• Guiding/coaching the Manager, Internal Audit on the scheduling and assigning of auditors to engagements based on skillsets, availability, etc.
• Presenting engagement findings to senior executives
• Managing various key/high-risk internal audit engagements ensuring that:
  • Engagements are well planned, staffed appropriately, and delivered on time
  • Engagements are scoped appropriately to allocate time to areas of highest risk
  • Strong relationships with management are developed through providing timely updates, efficient execution of the engagement, and understanding the area of the business being reviewed
  • Fieldwork is appropriately conducted through supervision of execution and review of working papers
  • Projects are completed on time and on budget
  • Reporting is of the highest quality through review of audit reports – focus is on effectively communicating a balanced perspective on the scope of the engagement in a manner that is concise and useful to the stakeholders and provides practical recommendations to address issues identified
  • Engagement findings are effectively communicated to senior executives

Whistleblower Hotline (“EthicsLine”)

• Leveraging previous experience in conducting investigations to execute EthicsLine investigations for reports received in the areas of fraud, misappropriation, accounting irregularities, etc. Such investigations must be conducted with the highest level of confidentiality and sensitivity and all reporting and supporting documentation is to be at a sufficient level to support legal review/scrutiny.
• Management of the EthicsLine reporting tool which involves:
  • Triaging reports received and either assigning them to supporting functions (e.g. HR, H&S, FSQA, etc.) or scoping investigations that are to be handled by IA,
  • Reviewing results of supporting functions’ investigations for adequacy and documenting in the reporting tool, and
  • Producing weekly EthicsLine reporting on in-progress investigations for the Ethics Committee and quarterly reporting for the Audit and HR & Compensation Committees.

NI 52-109 Compliance

• Conducting an initial, and then annual C3 optimization review which will ensure that the C3 program continues to include the controls that are most key to financial reporting, the risks that these controls address are clearly documented and understood by all parties, and the testing strategy is appropriate and effective.
• As needed, provide coaching/guidance to the Manager of Internal Audit in their role of managing the operational effectiveness assessments of internal controls over financial reporting and disclosure controls and procedures to support the CEO/CFO Certification (“C3”) Compliance Group
• Support a risk-based approach to rolling-out C3 programs to applicable/newly acquired business functions
• Identifying opportunities to streamline and enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of the C3 program, providing recommendations for improvement to the C3 Steering Committee

What You’ll Bring:

• Results orientated high performer
• Personable, engaging and relationship builder
• Proactive, organized and deadline driven
• Superior communication skills, both written and verbal
• Ability to work independently in routine and non-routine environments
• Strong project management skills
• Audit and/or process review and enhancement experience (financial and/or operational)
• Advanced skills in Microsoft Word and PowerPoint
• Information Technology / SAP knowledge is an asset
• Some (i.e. about 10-15%) of out of town travel will be required
• CPA, CA, is required – CIA and CISA designations would be an advantage
• 15+ years of experience in audit/assurance, ideally in large, public organizations with experience in roles interacting with executive audiences
• Experience in advising on post-M&A integration activities is an asset

What We Offer at Maple Leaf Foods:

• Being part of a high-performance, people-focused company that has an inspiring and unique vision to become the most sustainable protein company on earth, and a deep commitment to sustainable protein across North America.
• An inclusive company culture and a work environment that keeps our people safe, rewards excellence, and empowers everyone to learn and contribute their best.
• A hybrid work model that embraces remote work for eligible roles, helping team members achieve work-life balance—combining the best of both spending time working remotely, benefitting from focus time, and purposeful collaboration in the office setting. 
• Competitive Health and Wellness benefits that offer flexibility to meet your individual or family needs, including programs focused on improving mental health and wellbeing. These benefits start on your first day of employment.
• Defined Contribution Pension Plan with company matching that starts on your first day of employment.
• Learning and development opportunities, including workshops, ‘speaker series’ events, and resources that allow you to develop your skills and progress your career.
• Comprehensive tuition reimbursement program that supports continuous learning and development of our team members through investment in eligible degrees, diplomas, professional certification, or trades programs.
• Supporting our deep commitment to community impact, we offer up to two paid days annually to volunteer at a cause of your choice.

About Us:

We’re a carbon neutral food company on a purposeful journey to Raise the Good in Food through better nutrition, safer food and workplaces, more humane animal care, and environmental sustainability efforts that protect our planet. We care about our communities and commit to reducing food insecurity in Canada. Join us on the journey. Let’s build a better future, together.

We’re passionate about food. For more than 100 years, we’ve made delicious, healthy protein that Canadians love under iconic national and regional brands, like Maple Leaf®, Schneiders®, and Greenfield Natural Meat Co.® We’re on a journey to become the most sustainable protein company – not just in Canada – but on earth.

• We are carbon neutral.
• We are one of the only food companies in Canada to set science-based targets.
• We aim to reduce our environmental footprint by 50% by 2025.

We’re a global food company with more than 13,500 team members. We operate sites in 20+ locations across Canada. We also have locations in the U.S. and Mexico, and do business in Asia.

A diverse and inclusive work environment

Championing diversity and inclusion is a critical component to advancing our collective purpose and vision and living the Maple Leaf Leadership Values. We believe in building, investing in, recognizing, and rewarding remarkable people who value an inclusive workplace, embrace all forms of diversity, and commit to including every voice in our collaborative environment. We’re so much stronger when we know we’re accepted and valued for who we are and what we each bring to the workplace.

We embrace a strong, values-based culture

Our eight Leadership Values are our north star. They guide the decisions we make for all our stakeholders: our consumers, our customers, our people, our communities, our shareholders, and the environment.

• Doing What’s Right
• Shared Value
• High Performance
• Diverse and Inclusive Teams
• Disciplined Decision Making
• Our Accountability
• Intense Curiosity
• Transparency and Humility

We thank all applicants for their interest in exploring employment opportunities with Maple Leaf Foods; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. Applicants may be subject to a background check and must meet the security criteria designated for the position.

Championing diversity and inclusion is a critical component to advancing our collective purpose and vision, living the Maple Leaf Leadership Values, and delivering winning results. Accommodation is available upon request for applicants with disabilities in the recruitment and assessment process and when hired; please contact our Talent Attraction Team at accommodations@mapleleaf.com.

Disclaimer:  Please note that salaries posted on sites other than the MLF Careers Page are not a reflection of Maple Leaf Foods and are an estimated salary range provided by that particular job board.  Maple Leaf Foods offers competitive wages and an attractive total rewards package, which will be discussed during an interview with our Talent Team.

#LI-Hybrid