Michael Zardus
Associate Director
Cincinnati,OH
Summary
Associate Director with over a decade of experience delivering audit and compliance solutions for Fortune 500 financial institutions and regional banks. Proven leader in internal controls, regulatory compliance, and enterprise risk management with a track record of aligning audit functions with OCC expectations, Heightened Standards, and enterprise risk priorities. Trusted advisor to Chief Audit Executives and senior leadership, driving strategic audit planning, regulatory issue validation, and enhanced stakeholder reporting. Skilled in modernizing audit operations, optimizing team resources, and delivering insights to audit committees that influence enterprise decision-making.
Overview
11
11
years of professional experience
Work History
Associate Director
Protiviti
01.2023 - Current
- Served as Chief of Staff to the Chief Audit Executive at a $5B regional bank; coordinated execution of the annual audit plan, managed resource planning for a 15-member team, led development of executive reporting to the Audit and Executive Committees, and developed and led execution of the Internal Audit strategy and multi-year evolution plan, including key transformation milestones.
- Advised audit leadership on optimizing team structure, project allocations, and issue validation cycles, resulting in more consistent audit execution and capacity forecasting.
- Led regulatory issue validation for OCC Matters Requiring Attention (MRAs), including analysis of supervisory letters, validation of remediation activities, and authorship of closure documentation for executive and regulatory review.
- Directed a firmwide attribute mapping initiative at a global bank, assessing 8,000+ control attributes for regulatory alignment and customer impact; partnered across legal, compliance, and business units to ensure accuracy.
- Refreshed the internal audit universe and conducted enterprise-level risk assessments to align audit planning with strategic objectives and regulatory requirements.
- Partnered with audit leadership and cross-functional stakeholders to modernize audit operations, strengthen governance reporting, and enhance visibility into emerging risks.
- Supported internal audit modernization initiatives using tools such as AuditBoard, SmartSheet, and Teammate+, enabling more automated reporting and data-driven risk insights.
- Mentored and coached junior audit team members and consultants, promoting knowledge transfer and capability building across projects.
Senior Manager
Protiviti
01.2021 - 12.2022
- Led strategic internal audit and risk advisory engagements for large multinational financial institutions, partnering with executive clients to improve governance frameworks and regulatory readiness.
- Directed teams of 5–10 professionals, including co-source and client staff, across concurrent engagements focused on audit planning, SOX controls testing, and enterprise risk reviews.
- Supported Quality Assurance (QA) reviews for a global financial institution by evaluating the design, execution, and documentation of internal audit engagements for consistency with internal audit methodology, regulatory expectations, and IIA Standards.
- Provided actionable feedback to engagement teams and audit leaders to enhance audit quality, methodology adherence, and root cause identification.
- Oversaw project budgets, resource allocation, and profitability analysis across a portfolio of engagements valued at over $5M annually.
- Led and executed internal audit engagements across a diverse portfolio of areas including ACH/Wire Transfers, Billing, Branch Operations, Capital Projects, Compliance, General Ledger Close, HR, Inventory, Payroll, Treasury Services, Trust Operations, Wealth Management, and Vendor Management.
Manager / Senior Consultant / Consultant
Protiviti
08.2014 - 12.2020
- Executed end-to-end internal audits across operational, financial, and compliance areas including treasury operations, vendor management, wealth management, payroll, and HR.
- Contributed to audit planning and fieldwork across multiple industries, including banking, healthcare, and fintech, with a focus on process improvement and risk mitigation.
- Collaborated with client process owners to identify internal control gaps, evaluate risk exposures, and recommend practical, risk-aligned remediation strategies.
- Mentored consultants and supported their development through on-the-job coaching, feedback on workpapers, and quality assurance oversight.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Finance
Miami University
Skills
- Internal Audit Strategy
- Risk-Based Audit Planning
- Board Reporting
- Audit Committee Reporting
- Regulatory Issue Validation
- OCC Heightened Standards
- Regulatory Governance
- Enterprise Risk Management
- Control Frameworks
Timeline
Associate Director
Protiviti
01.2023 - Current
Senior Manager
Protiviti
01.2021 - 12.2022
Manager / Senior Consultant / Consultant
Protiviti
08.2014 - 12.2020
Bachelor of Science - Finance
Miami University
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