This position is National Remote. You'll enjoy the flexibility to telecommute* from anywhere within the U.S. as you take on some tough challenges.
At UnitedHealthcare, we're simplifying the health care experience, creating healthier communities and removing barriers to quality care. The work you do here impacts the lives of millions of people for the better. Come build the health care system of tomorrow, making it more responsive, affordable and optimized. Ready to make a difference? Join us to start Caring. Connecting. Growing together
The External Audit Program Lead is responsible for the coordination and completion of audit projects across various functional areas. They provide subject matter expertise in areas including project scope definition, risk identification, project methodology, resource allocation, facilitation, and other areas of expertise based on established project management techniques. They present to management on project updates, project cycle, and expected results. The External Audit Program Lead ensures projects are completed on time and in scope. They work directly with customers and external audit firms to plan large complex audit projects and resolve issues related to scope and timing based on established United audit protocols. This includes planning and managing large, complex audit projects; scheduling, establishing project timelines, and ensuring deadlines for project tasks, milestones and deliverables are met. The External Audit Program Lead also manages requests from external audit firms and customers on defining project scope and performance expectations. Previous project management office (PMO) experience is key for success in the role.
This position is full-time. Employees are required to have flexibility to work 40 hours a week. This could be either a 8-hour shift schedules Monday - Friday or 4 times 10-hour shift from Monday - Friday, as long as you are working the hours per business need. It may be necessary, given the business need, to work occasional overtime.
This will be on the job training and the hours during training will be during normal business hours, Monday - Friday. Training will be conducted virtually from your home.
Primary Responsibilities:
- Responsible for effectively managing large complex audit projects
- Develops audit programs to support new types of audits and engagements
- Assesses and interprets customer and audit firm needs and requirements
- Ensure audit projects meet established objectives for timeliness, productivity, and customer satisfaction
- Serves as the central point of contact for internal and external audit stakeholders
- Proactively identifies project risks and negotiates to obtain stakeholder consensus when conflicts arise
- Serves as the first escalation point for audit issues; provides direction and support for others with less experience
- Assigns tasks and deliverables to internal and external audit stakeholders and ensures timely completion
- Provides explanations and information to others on difficult issues
- Follows standard audit protocols and procedures for all projects
- Creates and maintains audit records, ensuring accuracy and integrity of audit data
You'll be rewarded and recognized for your performance in an environment that will challenge you and give you clear direction on what it takes to succeed in your role as well as provide development for other roles you may be interested in.
Required Qualifications:
- High School Diploma / GED OR equivalent work experience
- Must be 18 years of age OR older
- 2+ years of experience leading audit engagements
- 2+ years of project management experience
- 2+ years of experience working within the healthcare industry
- Experience with Microsoft Office including Microsoft Access (ability to conduct data entry), Microsoft Excel (basic formulas, filter, sort, create and edit spreadsheets), Microsoft PowerPoint (create and edit decks), Microsoft Teams, and Microsoft Outlook (email and calendar management)
- Ability to work full time (40 hours a week), during our normal business hours of 5:00 am - 6:00 pm in your time zone. You will have the ability to work a flexible schedule Monday - Friday, as long as you are working the hours per business need.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Project Management Certification
- Audit Certification as a Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), International Organization for Standardization (ISO), or another similar certification
Telecommuting Requirements:
- Ability to keep all company sensitive documents secure (if applicable)
- Required to have a dedicated work area established that is separated from other living areas and provides information privacy
- Must live in a location that can receive a UnitedHealth Group approved high-speed internet connection or leverage an existing high-speed internet service
Soft Skills:
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Demonstrated ability to effectively manage multiple projects concurrently
- Strong negotiation skills
- Strong planning and organizational skills
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
- Demonstrated ability to prioritize competing demands in a fast-paced environment
- Ability to collaborate effectively with business partners, external audit firms and customers at all levels in high pressure situations
*All employees working remotely will be required to adhere to UnitedHealth Group's Telecommuter Policy
Pay is based on several factors including but not limited to local labor markets, education, work experience, certifications, etc. In addition to your salary, we offer benefits such as, a comprehensive benefits package, incentive and recognition programs, equity stock purchase and 401k contribution (all benefits are subject to eligibility requirements). No matter where or when you begin a career with us, you'll find a far-reaching choice of benefits and incentives. The salary for this role will range from $72,800 to $130,000 annually based on full-time employment. We comply with all minimum wage laws as applicable.
Application Deadline: This will be posted for a minimum of 2 business days or until a sufficient candidate pool has been collected. Job posting may come down early due to volume of applicants.
At UnitedHealth Group, our mission is to help people live healthier lives and make the health system work better for everyone. We believe everyone-of every race, gender, sexuality, age, location, and income-deserves the opportunity to live their healthiest life. Today, however, there are still far too many barriers to good health which are disproportionately experienced by people of color, historically marginalized groups, and those with lower incomes. We are committed to mitigating our impact on the environment and enabling and delivering equitable care that addresses health disparities and improves health outcomes - an enterprise priority reflected in our mission.
UnitedHealth Group is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer under applicable law and qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national origin, religion, age, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by local, state, or federal laws, rules, or regulations.
UnitedHealth Group is a drug - free workplace. Candidates are required to pass a drug test before beginning employment.
Skills Required
- High School Diploma / GED OR equivalent work experience
- Must be 18 years of age or older
- 2+ years of experience leading audit engagements
- 2+ years of project management experience
- 2+ years of experience working within the healthcare industry
- Experience with Microsoft Office including Microsoft Access (data entry), Microsoft Excel (basic formulas, filter, sort), Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Teams, and Microsoft Outlook
- Ability to work full time (40 hours/week) during business hours (5:00 am - 6:00 pm in your time zone) with flexible Monday - Friday scheduling
- Ability to keep company sensitive documents secure and maintain a dedicated, private home workspace with approved high-speed internet
- Strong written and verbal communication, negotiation, planning, analytical, and organizational skills; ability to manage multiple projects concurrently
- Project Management Certification
- Audit Certification such as Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), ISO, or similar
Optum Compensation & Benefits Highlights
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — PTO accrues each pay period with eight paid U.S. holidays plus a floating holiday, and generous time away is consistently emphasized. This breadth supports planned and unplanned time off beyond standard vacation days.
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Parental & Family Support — Six weeks of paid parental leave, up to two weeks of paid caregiver leave, Bright Horizons back‑up care, and adoption assistance signal strong family-oriented support. EAP access with counseling sessions further extends help to employees and their households.
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Wellbeing & Lifestyle Benefits — Company‑paid short‑ and long‑term disability, Calm app membership, tuition reimbursement, commuter and FSA accounts, and broad employee discounts expand everyday wellbeing resources. Free or low‑cost virtual visits complement these lifestyle supports.
Optum Insights
What We Do
Optum, part of the UnitedHealth Group family of businesses, is a global organization that delivers care, aided by technology to help millions of people live healthier lives. The work you do with our team will directly improve health outcomes by connecting people with the care, pharmacy benefits, data and resources they need to feel their best. Here, you will find a culture guided by inclusion, talented peers, comprehensive benefits and career development opportunities. Come make an impact on the communities we serve as you help us advance health optimization on a global scale. Join us to start Caring. Connecting. Growing together. At Optum, we support your well-being with an understanding team, extensive benefits and rewarding opportunities. By joining us, you’ll have the resources to drive system transformation while we help you take care of your future. We recognize the power of connection to drive change, improve efficiency and make a difference in health care. Join a team where your skills and ideas can make an impact and where collaboration is key to creating technology that produces healthier outcomes.
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Optum Offices
Hybrid Workspace
Employees engage in a combination of remote and on-site work.
Optum has three workplace models that balance the needs of the business and the responsibilities of each role. These models, core on‑site (5 days/week), hybrid (4 days/week) and telecommute or fully remote, vary by country, role and location.