Sr Director, Internal Audit

Date: Apr 16, 2026

Location: Chicago, IL, US, 60607

Company: McDonald's Corporation

Company Description: 

McDonald’s is proud to be one of the most recognized brands in the world, with restaurants in over 100 countries that serve 70 million customers daily. We continue to operate from a position of strength. Our updated growth strategy is focused on staying ahead of what our customers want and realizing further growth potential. Our relentless ambition is why McDonald’s remains one of the world’s leading corporations after almost 70 years. Joining McDonald's means thinking big and preparing for a career that can have influence around the world. 

At McDonald’s, we see every day as a chance to create positive impact. We lead through our values centered on inclusivity, service, integrity, community and family. From support of Ronald McDonald House to our Youth Opportunity project and sustainability initiatives, our values keep us dedicated to using our scale for good: good for our customers, people, industry and planet. We also offer a broad range of outstanding benefits including a sabbatical program, tuition assistance and flexible work arrangements. 

Position Summary

The Senior Director, Internal Audit is a senior leader within Global Internal Audit (GIA), responsible for overseeing the Company’s SOX testing program and all internal audit activities across the U.S. Market and Corporate Functions. This role serves as a trusted advisor to U.S. and Corporate leadership and stakeholders on matters related to audit and internal controls.

 

This role is responsible for continuing to modernize and elevate GIA and delivering risk‑based assurance, forward‑looking insights, and elevating the control environment in support of the Company’s strategic objectives.

 

The Senior Director leads integrated, risk‑based audits across all of McDonald’s U.S. and Corporate functions including operations, supply chain, finance, and compliance; evaluates the effectiveness of internal control structures; and ensures the SOX program is well‑governed, efficient, and scalable. The role partners closely with Finance, Global Business Services, Enterprise Risk Management, Compliance, and operational leadership to anticipate risk, influence decision‑making, and drive continuous improvement, elevating GIA’s impact as a strategic risk and controls partner to the business.

Key Responsibilities

  • Provide strategic leadership for internal audit activities across the U.S. and Corporate Functions, ensuring coverage aligns to enterprise priorities and emerging risks.
  • Hold the organization accountable for effective issue ownership, remediation, and sustainable resolution.
  • Own audit planning and risk coverage decisions, making clear trade‑offs on scope, timing, and resourcing and transparently communicating residual risk.
  • Lead SOX testing activities, including SOX program governance, planning, execution, issue evaluation, and end-to-end coordination, to support reliable financial reporting.
  • Strengthen the SOX operating model by driving role clarity, improving project management discipline, and simplifying and automating testing approaches.
  • Function as a strategic partner to senior leaders, providing forward‑looking perspectives on risk, controls, and governance.
  • Lead, coach, and develop a high‑performing audit team and build a strong talent pipeline within GIA.
  • Drive modernization through data, analytics, automation, and standardized ways of working.
  • Ensure alignment with IIA Standards and SOX requirements and provide clear, insightful reporting on results, trends, and emerging risks.

 

Qualifications & Skills/Competencies

Required Qualifications

Education

  • Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, or related field required.
  • Master’s degree preferred.

Certifications

  • CPA or CIA required.

Experience

  • 12+ years of progressive internal audit, external audit, and/or risk assurance experience.
  • Experience managing global resources and leading complex, cross‑functional and multi-region programs.
  • Proven track record interacting with senior leadership and driving alignment across large, global organizations.
  • Strong understanding of US GAAP, GAAS, PCAOB standards, SOX, COSO, and IIA requirements.

 

Critical Skills & Competencies

  • Strong foundation in internal audit, risk and controls, including SOX, COSO, IIA Standards, and enterprise risk management within large, complex organizations.
  • Proven ability to lead through influence, partner effectively with senior leaders, and clearly translate complex risk and control matters into concise, actionable insights for executive and board‑level audiences.
  • Demonstrate strong judgment in balancing priorities, making trade‑offs, and responding to change while sustaining high‑quality outcomes and developing team capability.
  • Ability to identify complex, multi‑dimensional risk and control issues, understand how financial, operational, and strategic risks intersect, and develop practical, value‑adding solutions across a global enterprise.
  • Strong analytical, decision‑making, and problem‑solving skills, with the ability to lead high‑risk, cross‑functional initiatives and manage competing priorities.
  • Ability to identify and leverage opportunities across data, analytics, automation, and technology to enhance audit effectiveness, efficiency, and insight.

Compensation

Bonus Eligible: Yes

Long - Term Incentive: Yes

Benefits Eligible: Yes

Salary Range

The expected salary range for this role is [[salaryMin]] - [[salaryMid]] per year
 
The above represents the expected salary range for this job requisition. Ultimately, in determining your pay, we may also consider your experience, and other job-related factors.

Additional Information: 

Benefits eligible: This position offers health and welfare benefits, including but not limited to comprehensive health insurance, which includes medical, prescription drug, mental health, dental, and vision coverage, as well as, life insurance. 

Bonus eligible: This position is eligible for a bonus, calculated based on individual and company performance. 

Long term Incentive eligible: This position is eligible for stock or other equity grants pursuant to McDonald’s long-term incentive plan. 

McDonald’s is an equal opportunity employer committed to the diversity of our workforce. We promote an inclusive work environment that creates feel-good moments for everyone. McDonald’s provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities as part of the application or hiring process or to perform the essential functions of their job. If you need assistance accessing or reading this job posting or otherwise feel you need an accommodation during the application or hiring process, please contact mcdhrbenefits@us.mcd.com. Reasonable accommodations will be determined on a case-by-case basis. 

McDonald’s provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to sex, sex stereotyping, pregnancy (including pregnancy, childbirth, and medical conditions related to pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding), race, color, religion, ancestry or national origin, age, disability status, medical condition, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, transgender status, protected military or veteran status, citizenship status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training. 

Nothing in this job posting or description should be construed as an offer or guarantee of employment. 


Nearest Major Market: Chicago