Internal Audit Senior Associate, Operations & Compliance

About the role

Coinbase seeks Internal Audit Senior Associates to own and execute risk-based operational and compliance audits from initial scoping through final remediation validation. This is a remote-first role based in the United States, requiring quarterly in-person collaboration during Coinbase surge events. The position reports to the Audit Committee as part of the third line of defense, strengthening governance, risk management, and compliance processes across global operations. Compensation is structured with a base salary range of $121,410 to $182,115 annually, with potential equity awards and benefits such as medical, dental, vision, and 401(k) eligibility. You will operate with a high degree of ownership over the audit lifecycle, ensuring that testing aligns with both operational realities and regulatory expectations. The role demands intellectual rigor, as you will assess complex control environments and translate nuanced findings into clear, decision-ready insights. You will act as a trusted advisor to business stakeholders, helping them understand the intent of controls and the rationale behind audit recommendations. Ultimately, your contributions will reinforce Coinbase's capacity to operate safely, scale responsibly, and maintain trust with regulators and customers.

What you'll do

• Define the boundaries and depth of testing for critical operational and compliance processes while coordinating closely with co-sourced audit partners.
• Schedule and monitor audit timelines, track open workpaper items, and communicate status updates to ensure transparency with stakeholders.
• Investigate the root causes of control failures and propose corrective actions that measurably reduce risk exposure and strengthen control effectiveness.
• Synthesize detailed evidence into direct, concise summaries and issue narratives tailored for executive leadership and regulatory reviewers.
• Verify the effectiveness of remediation efforts by reviewing supporting evidence, confirming gap closure, and documenting the residual risk position.
• Build productive working relationships with stakeholders across operations, compliance, risk, finance, legal, and technology functions.
• Leverage SQL and other data analytics tools to increase testing efficiency, improve insight accuracy, and handle large-scale data sets.
• Apply generative AI tools under human oversight to streamline repetitive workflows, enhance documentation quality, and support analytical tasks.
• Maintain independence and objectivity while evaluating governance structures, testing compliance controls, and validating risk management practices.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of internal audit processes, including methodologies, documentation standards, and knowledge sharing.
• Collaborate with co-sourced partners to align on approaches, share best practices, and ensure consistent application of audit standards.
• Support the preparation of materials for Audit Committee meetings, including summaries of findings, remediation status, and emerging risks.
• Identify opportunities for control enhancements based on audit evidence and emerging risks in the cryptocurrency and financial services landscape.
• Demonstrate professionalism and skepticism in all interactions, ensuring that engagement work adds clear value to the organization.
• Adhere to professional standards, policies, and procedures established by Coinbase and the internal audit function.

Requirements

• Hold five or more years of experience in internal audit, external audit, compliance testing, or financial risk roles.
• Demonstrate the ability to execute audits end-to-end, including planning, fieldwork, reporting, and remediation follow-up.
• Understand key regulatory frameworks such as anti-money laundering (AML), countering the financing of terrorism (CFT), sanctions, and consumer protection in financial services.
• Manage multiple concurrent audit workstreams, priorities, and deadlines effectively without sacrificing quality or accuracy.
• Apply data analytics methods, with SQL experience preferred, to support testing, analysis, and insight generation.
• Use generative AI responsibly, ensuring that human judgment underpins business-ready decisions and conclusions.
• Grasp internal control environments and regulatory compliance within financial services contexts, including the unique dynamics of crypto businesses.
• Prefer candidates with experience in regulated financial institutions, where controls and compliance expectations are particularly rigorous.
• Be actively pursuing professional credentials such as Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), or Series 7.
• Maintain strict adherence to independence standards and exhibit sound professional judgment in all audit engagements.
• Communicate clearly and confidently with stakeholders at all levels, translating technical audit concepts into practical recommendations.
• Demonstrate resilience and adaptability in a fast-paced, evolving environment where priorities may shift quickly.
• Collaborate effectively within diverse, cross-functional teams, respecting different perspectives and working styles.
• Commit to ongoing learning, staying current on regulatory developments, industry trends, and emerging risks in digital assets.
• Ensure documentation is thorough, accurate, and organized to support review, regulatory examination, and future reference.

Nice to have

Preferred qualifications that may distinguish a candidate, though not explicitly listed in the core requirements.

About the company

Coinbase Global, Inc. is an American company that operates a cryptocurrency exchange platform. Founded in 2012 by Brian Armstrong and Fred Ehrsam, Coinbase went public via direct listing on the NASDAQ in April 2021.