Head of Audit, Risk, and Compliance (Palo Alto)

We are seeking a Head of Audit, Risk & Compliance to lead our end-to-end governance ecosystem, unifying Internal Audit, Enterprise Risk, and Regulatory Compliance and Navan, and reporting to our CFO. This high-impact role is about being the architect of a scalable, tech-forward framework that empowers our business to innovate safely. You will deliver independent assurance to the Audit Committee and Executive Management, while partnering deeply with Finance, Legal, Security, and Product to operationalize risk. We are seeking a pragmatic leader with the executive presence to influence at the highest levels and the expertise to balance rigorous control environments with the speed required for Navan’s fast-moving, high-growth environment.What You’ll Do:Architect the Global Strategy: Define and execute a unified, multi-year roadmap for Navan’s global Audit, Risk, and Compliance function, balancing rigorous public-company requirement with rapid business innovation.Lead Audit & SOX Governance: Own the end-to-end SOX and ICFR readiness strategy, while designing a risk-based internal audit plan that delivers actionable insights on control health to the Audit Committee.Master Regulatory & Risk Oversight: Own the global regulatory compliance roadmap—including fintech/travel-specific requirements, sanctions (OFAC), KYC/KYB, and trade pre-clearance.Modernize Compliance & Audit Operations: Drive tech-forward solutions, leveraging automation and data analytics to streamline third-party due diligence, banking/ABL reporting obligations, and internal control monitoring.Champion Accountability & Remediation: Partner cross-functionally with Finance, Legal, Security, and Product to embed intuitive compliance controls into business workflows and drive durable, root-cause remediation.Build & Influence: Recruit and scale an elite, multi-disciplinary team, serve as the primary advisor to the C-suite and Board on strategic risk and governance, and build a strong relationship with the Audit Committee Chair.What We’re Looking For:Proven Leadership Scale: 12+ years of progressive leadership experience spanning internal audit, SOX, enterprise risk, and compliance—ideally gained within high-growth technology, fintech, or complex public-company environments.Technical Mastery: Deep foundational knowledge of SOX/ICFR, risk management frameworks (COSO/ISO), regulatory/sanctions compliance (OFAC, KYC), international travel compliance, and ITGCs.SaaS & Tech Fluency: Experience auditing automated controls, cloud infrastructure, and data flows. You understand how technology impacts financial data integrity and how to leverage automation for efficiency.Operational Execution: A proven ability to translate complex regulatory requirements into clear, automated software workflows and efficient operational processes.Exceptional Executive Presence: A proven track record of distilling highly technical risk and governance concepts into strategic, actionable narratives for the C-suite, Board, and external regulators.Pragmatic Builder Mindset: You don’t just audit processes; you design them. You balance rigorous compliance standards with operational speed, ensuring compliance acts as a guardrail rather than a blocker.Education, Credentials & Background:We value exceptional capability, rigorous analytical skills, and proven outcomes above specific degree labels. A Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, business, or a related field provides a strong foundation.Active professional certifications (e.g., CPA, CIA, CISA, CRCM) or an advanced degree (MBA/JD) are highly valued as evidence of technical expertise, but equivalent real-world mastery in scaling fintech or tech-company governance is equally prioritized.The posted pay range represents the anticipated low and high end of the compensation for this position and is subject to change based on business need. To determine a successful candidate’s starting pay, we carefully consider a variety of factors, including primary work location, an evaluation of the candidate’s skills and experience, market demands, and internal parity.For roles with on-target-earnings (OTE), the pay range includes both base salary and target incentive compensation. Target incentive compensation for some roles may include a ramping draw period. Compensation is higher for those who exceed targets. Candidates may receive more information from the recruiter.Pay Range$216,000—$480,000 USD