Internal Controls Consulting, Principal

Your Role 

The Internal Controls Advisory Services (ICAS) team supports Blue Shield of California in strengthening enterprise-wide internal controls, risk management, and governance practices across business and technology functions. The Principal will report to the Director, ICAS and play a critical role in driving a strong and sustainable control environment. This role goes beyond execution, owning complex initiatives, influencing senior stakeholders, and shaping how controls evolve in a changing risk landscape (including AI-enabled processes). You will operate with high autonomy, bring a point of view, and help translate risk and controls into practical, business-friendly solutions.

Our leadership model is about developing great leaders at all levels and creating opportunities for our people to grow – personally, professionally, and financially. We are looking for leaders that are energized by creative and critical thinking, building and sustaining high-performing teams, getting results the right way, and fostering continuous learning.

Your Work 

In this role, you will: 

• Lead complex internal controls advisory engagements across the organization
• Drive end-to-end control assessments, including risk identification, scoping, testing strategy, and reporting
• Identify control gaps, root causes, and sustainable solutions - not just observations
• Provide clear, actionable recommendations that balance risk mitigation with business practicality
• Contribute to and help shape the ICAS work plan and risk coverage strategy 
• Evaluate emerging risks (operational, regulatory, financial, privacy etc.) and proactively adjust control focus
• Support enterprise initiatives (e.g., system implementations, transformations, AI adoption) from a controls perspective
• Demonstrate strong working familiarity with AI and automation concepts, and how they are transforming business processes and control environments 
• Act as a translator between business, technology, and risk, helping teams understand how their roles, processes, and controls evolve in an AI-enabled environment
• Partner with stakeholders to embed controls and governance into AI-enabled processes, balancing innovation with appropriate risk management
• Promote a mindset of experimentation and continuous learning, helping teams evolve as AI capabilities expand across the enterprise
• Build strong relationships with business leaders and act as a trusted advisor 
• Influence to drive timely remediation and accountability
• Communicate complex control issues in simple, business-relevant language (written and verbal)
• Prepare and deliver clear, concise reports for senior leadership on control effectiveness and risks 
• Highlight themes, trends, and systemic risks, not just individual issues
• Provide forward-looking insights, not just backward-looking assessments

Your Knowledge and Experience 

• Requires a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience
• Requires a minimum of 10 years of experience in internal audit, internal controls, risk advisory, or related field 
• Strong understanding of internal control frameworks and risk assessment methodologies 
• Experience leading complex, cross-functional engagements
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and drive outcomes with minimal supervision 
• CPA, CIA, CISA or equivalent certifications 
• Prefer: Healthcare experience (e.g., Medi-Cal, Medicare)