Director, Internal Audit

Hybrid Remote • Houston, TX

Description

Fervo Energy is advancing the next generation of geothermal energy to deliver 24/7 carbon-free power at scale. We combine subsurface engineering, horizontal drilling, and real-time data systems to unlock a clean, reliable energy resource that can meet global demand.

Our team operates at the intersection of energy, technology, and infrastructure—building complex projects in regulated environments where execution quality and operational discipline matter. We value individuals who take ownership, solve hard problems pragmatically, and build systems that scale.

The Director, Internal Audit will be the builder responsible for designing the internal audit function from first principles, guiding the establishment of our SOX compliance program, defining the risk universe, and delivering independent assurance across financial reporting, IT, operational technology (OT), and cybersecurity, and regulatory compliance.

This is a hands-on leadership role for a seasoned internal audit professional who thrives in ambiguity and wants to shape a function rather than inherit one. You will partner closely with the Head of Compliance & Regulatory Programs, the CFO, external auditors, and the Audit Committee of the Board to ensure Fervo's control environment is appropriate , risk-aligned, and continuously improving. You will also coordinate co-source providers and specialists where needed, while maintaining ownership of internal audit strategy, execution, and reporting. (This role is positioned as a platform for advancement: successful candidates who lead the initial SOX adoption and establish the broader internal audit workstreams will be strong contenders for promotion to Chief Audit Executive within 18–24 months, with commensurate growth in scope, team, and Board-level visibility.) The budget to fund co-source providers necessary to execute work required to successfully implement a SOX compliance program and other workstreams has been approved by the Fervo’s senior management and Board of Directors.

This position reports directly to the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors, consistent with Nasdaq listing standards and IIA professional standards for internal audit independence, with a dotted-line (administrative) reporting relationship to the Head of Compliance & Regulatory Programs.

Requirements

Responsibilities

Internal Audit Strategy & Governance

• Build Fervo's internal audit function from the ground up, including charter, methodology, risk-based annual audit plan, and quality assurance and improvement program aligned with IIA standards
• Serve as the primary point of contact for the Audit Committee—preparing materials, delivering updates on key risks and control issues, and ensuring concerns are surfaced early and resolved decisively
• Define the enterprise risk universe in partnership with Finance, Legal, Compliance, IT, and Operations, and translate it into a multi-year audit roadmap that scales with the business
• Establish audit standards, documentation norms, and workpaper discipline sufficient to withstand external auditor and regulator scrutiny

SOX Program Design & Execution

• Partner with Finance and Accounting to support the design and build-out of Fervo's SOX program, including scoping, risk assessment, control design evaluation, and deficiency remediation tracking, ensuring controls are designed into processes rather than layered on after the fact
• Own the independent testing layer of Fervo's SOX program, executing control testing, evaluating deficiency severity, and reporting results to the Audit Committee independently of management's conclusions
• Coordinate directly with external auditors on SOX scoping, walkthroughs, testing reliance, and deficiency evaluation—driving one version of the truth and minimizing duplication
• Provide control guidance on new system implementations, M&A activity, and strategic initiatives to ensure SOX and broader control considerations are addressed up front

IT & Cybersecurity Audits

• Design and execute IT general controls (ITGC), application controls, and cybersecurity audits across financially significant systems, OT environments, and field-data infrastructure
• Assess cyber risk posture in coordination with IT and Security leadership, including reviews of access management, change management, incident response, and third-party/cloud risk
• Build data analytics, continuous monitoring, and fraud detection capabilities into the audit toolkit to surface trends, anomalies, and emerging risks

Regulatory & Compliance Audits

• Deliver independent audits of Fervo's regulatory compliance programs—including FERC, NERC, energy market participation, domestic content and prevailing wage, trade and sanctions, ethics and anti-corruption, supply chain compliance with company procurement policies and leading practices, and third-party/vendor compliance across the supply chain—in coordination with the Director, Compliance & Regulatory Programs
• Evaluate the design and operating effectiveness of controls embedded in engineering, operations, and commercial workflows to confirm that compliance happens in the field, not just on paper
• Support investigations and special projects as requested by the Audit Committee, General Counsel, or executive leadership, with defensible methodology and independent reporting

Team & Stakeholder Leadership

• Build and lead a small, high-caliber internal audit team over time—balancing in-house talent with co-source relationships to match capability to the risk profile
• Develop strong working relationships with business leaders by communicating best practices and delivering internal control awareness and training across the organization
• Communicate effectively with C-suite and Board-level stakeholders, presenting findings and recommendations with clarity, judgment, and appropriate candor

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, or a related field; CPA, CIA, or CISA strongly preferred (MBA a plus)
• 10+ years of progressive internal audit, external audit, or ICFR experience, including meaningful time at a Big Four or top-tier professional services firm and at a public or near-IPO company
• Demonstrated experience standing up or materially rebuilding a SOX program—scoping, control design, testing, and remediation—not just executing within an established one
• Deep fluency with COSO 2013, PCAOB AS 2201, and SEC rules governing ICFR, disclosure controls, and audit committee reporting
• Working knowledge of IT general controls, cybersecurity frameworks (e.g., NIST CSF, ISO 27001), and audits of complex ERP and operational technology environments
• Proven ability to coordinate effectively with external auditors and to present to audit committees and senior executives
• Track record of operating independently, exercising sound judgment under ambiguity, and delivering results in fast-moving, resource-constrained environments
• Ability to travel to Fervo offices and project sites as needed

Preferred

• Experience in energy (power generation and/or distribution), infrastructure, upstream oil & gas, or other asset-heavy industries
• Exposure to regulatory compliance audits in regulated energy environments (FERC, NERC, DOE loan programs, IRS domestic content / prevailing wage)
• Experience auditing complex capital projects, joint ventures, or project finance structures
• Hands-on experience with ERP systems (Quorum a plus) and audit/GRC platforms
• Experience building an internal audit function at a recently public or pre-IPO company

Location

Fervo Energy has offices in Houston, TX, Golden, CO, Reno, NV, Oakland, CA, and Salt Lake City, UT. This position will be eligible for some hybrid work flexibility, but regular in-office presence at our Houston Office will be required.

Fervo Energy is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, gender, religion, marital status, registered domestic partner status, age, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, sex, genetic information, sexual orientation, military and veteran status or any other consideration made unlawful by federal, state, or local laws. It also prohibits unlawful discrimination based on the perception that anyone has any of those characteristics or is associated with a person who has or is perceived as having any of those characteristics.