Vice President, Chief Audit Executive

Company:Driven Brands

Driven Brands is North America's largest automotive services company with a portfolio of iconic brands including Take 5 Oil Change®, Meineke Car Care Centers®, Maaco®, 1-800-Radiator & A/C®, Auto Glass Now®, and CARSTAR®. Our vision is to fuel the pursuit with the simplest, most convenient, and most reliable car care experience.

Headquartered in Charlotte, NC, Driven Brands is more than a workplace. We're a launchpad — for careers, for dreams, and for people driven to do great things.

Every day, we fuel the pursuit — for our customers chasing life's moments, for our franchisees building lasting legacies, and for each other as we grow, lead, and succeed together.

Performance matters. We take pride in it. We own it. We show up for one another and for our communities.

Because at Driven Brands, we're not just fixing cars. We're building futures, unlocking potential, and fueling what's possible — together.

JOB DESCRIPTION:

We are seeking a seasoned internal audit executive to serve as Vice President, Chief Audit Executive (“CAE”). Reporting to the Audit Committee and administratively under the CFO, this leader will oversee a high-performing team of approximately 10 professionals and a third-party co-sourced partner. The CAE will be responsible for setting the strategy of internal audit at Driven including SOX compliance, Enterprise Risk Management (ERM), franchise audit programs and internal investigations — all within a complex, multi-brand environment operating across both franchised and company-owned locations.

This is a highly visible role with meaningful board and executive exposure, well suited to a technically strong audit leader who also brings strategic business acumen and the interpersonal credibility to influence at all levels of the organization.

SOX Compliance & Internal Controls

• Lead the re-design and continuous improvement of the Company's SOX 404 program, including scoping, risk assessment, control design, and testing in partnership with a newly-created SOX second line of defense that reports into the Chief Accounting Officer.
• Partner closely with external auditors to coordinate testing activities, resolve issues, and ensure efficient use of the Company's reliance model.
• Oversee third-party co-sourcing relationship supporting SOX testing; manage quality, timelines, and cost-effectiveness of external resources.
• Drive remediation efforts for identified control deficiencies and communicate findings and status updates to senior management and the Audit Committee.

Enterprise Risk Management (ERM)

• Own and evolve the Company's ERM framework, including risk identification, assessment, prioritization, and reporting.
• Facilitate executive and board-level risk discussions, translating complex risk landscapes into clear, actionable insights.
• Integrate ERM outputs into the annual internal audit plan to ensure audit resources are aligned with the Company's most significant risks.

Internal Investigations

• Lead or oversee internal investigations into allegations of fraud, misconduct, policy violations, and financial irregularities across corporate and franchise operations.
• Ensure investigations are conducted with objectivity, confidentiality, and in compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.
• Report findings and recommendations to the Audit Committee, Legal, and Human Resources as appropriate.

Franchise Audit Program

• Oversee the annual franchise audit program across the Company's multi-brand portfolio, assessing compliance with franchise agreements, brand standards, financial reporting requirements, and operational policies.
• Identify systemic risks and trends within the franchise network and communicate insights to franchise operations and brand leadership.
• Build collaborative relationships with franchisees and field operations teams to promote a culture of compliance and continuous improvement.

Leadership & Stakeholder Management

• Recruit, develop, and retain a diverse, high-performing internal audit team.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to the Audit Committee, CFO and senior business leaders on matters of risk, controls, and governance.
• Develop and maintain the annual audit plan, ensuring appropriate coverage of financial, operational, compliance, and technology risks.
• Prepare and present clear, insightful communications to the Audit Committee on a quarterly basis.
• Champion a risk-aware culture throughout the organization, particularly across franchise and company-owned operations.

• 15+ years of progressive internal audit, external audit, or financial controls experience, with at least 5 years in a leadership role.
• Demonstrated expertise in SOX 302 and 404 compliance, including program design, control testing, and deficiency management.
• Experience at or with a publicly traded company; strong understanding of SEC reporting requirements and PCAOB standards.
• Prior experience in franchise, restaurant, retail, or multi-unit consumer businesses strongly preferred.
• Proven track record managing internal investigations and navigating sensitive, complex situations with discretion.
• Experience building and leading high-performing teams, including management of co-sourcing and third-party relationships.
• Strong executive presence with the ability to communicate complex issues clearly and credibly to Boards, Audit Committees, and C-suite executives.

Added Fuel if you have:

• CPA, CIA, CFE, or equivalent professional certification.
• Experience with ERM frameworks (COSO, ISO 31000) and risk-based audit methodology.
• Experience implementing and improving leveraging of GRC platforms, data analytics tools, and audit management software.
• Prior Big 4 public accounting background is a plus.

Applicants for our positions are considered without regard to race, ethnicity, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, religion, military or veteran status, or any other characteristics protected by law.

#LI-DM1

#LI-Remote

#DBCORP

Position Location:

North Carolina

Compensation Range:

$226,100.00 - $403,800.00

Compensation Frequency:

Annual

Base pay offered may vary depending on actual location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Supplemental pay types may include commissions or bonus incentives, depending on the role. Driven Brands offers a variety of health and wellness benefits including paid time off and holiday pay. Details regarding our benefits can be found here: https://www.drivenbrandsbenefits.com

Get early access to 50% of your earned wages at any time through our myFlexPay program.