Senior Internal Auditor (Finance / Accounting)

Company Description

Since 1940, Dairy Queen® has been one of the world’s best known and loved brands. Based in Minneapolis, MN, International Dairy Queen Inc., (IDQ), is the parent company of American Dairy Queen Corporation. As a leading franchisor, there are more than 7,000 independently owned and operated restaurants in the U.S., Canada and more than 20 countries around the world. IDQ is a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (Berkshire) which is led by Warren Buffett, the legendary investor and CEO of Berkshire.

Here at IDQ, we create extraordinary Fan experiences every day and we do this through our commitment to hiring and retaining only the best in class talent. We firmly believe that our employees are the catalyst to the success of the company where their initiative, strategic thinking, and entrepreneurial spirit are recognized and rewarded. We're looking for motivated, passionate and dedicated individuals with an inherent need and ambition to go after bigger challenges.

Job Description

The Senior Internal Auditor plays a critical role in safeguarding the integrity of American Dairy Queen (ADQ) by conducting comprehensive audits to verify that franchisee fees are accurate and compliant with contractual agreements. This role ensures adherence to corporate policies, including trademark usage, product consistency and reporting accuracy. Beyond traditional audit responsibilities, the Senior Internal Auditor serves as a trusted advisor, providing cross-functional support to strategic projects and leveraging expertise in accounting, finance, and business operations to drive continuous improvement across the Dairy Queen system.

Principal Accountabilities

• Franchise Audits & Compliance
• Assign, execute and review franchise audits with precision, compiling and analyzing financial and operational data.
• Ensure accuracy of fees paid by franchisees and compliance with contractual provisions.
• Apply knowledge of Dairy Queen brand recipes to reconstruct hypothetical sales based on product purchase volumes.
• Franchisee Engagement & Communication
• Conduct one-on-one meetings with franchisees to present audit findings, provide actionable recommendations, and strengthen contractual compliance.
• Build trust and credibility with franchisees by demonstrating deep knowledge of audit practices and the Dairy Queen brand.
• Defuse challenging conversations with professionalism and negotiation skills.
• Operational Excellence & Risk Management
• Manage, review, and approve testing procedures to ensure operational and accounting practices meet standards of accuracy and integrity.
• Identify risks and recommend process improvements, including the design and implementation of new audit methodologies and reporting tools.
• Protect the Dairy Queen brand by verifying proper trademark use and adherence to approved recipes, products, and preparation procedures.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Partner with Operations, R&D, Legal, and other departments to support projects and ensure timely completion of initiatives.
• Provide expertise to franchisees and internal business partners on restaurant performance, sales trends, and financial analysis.
• Support and oversee third-party international audit vendors to ensure consistency and quality of audit practices.
• Strategic Contributions
• Review and approve prospective franchisees, ensuring compliance with ADQ standards.
• Develop financial and operational goals for franchisees and ADQ Business Consultants to improve profitability.
• Promote continuous improvement and innovation within the audit function, fostering a culture of learning and quality.
• Document and maintain departmental procedures to serve as a comprehensive reference for auditors.
• Leadership & Values
• Champion DQ Core Values, shaping a positive culture across teams, the franchise system, and communities.
• Perform other related duties and special projects as assigned, contributing to the long-term success of ADQ.
• Assign, execute and review franchise audits with precision, compiling and analyzing financial and operational data.
• Ensure accuracy of fees paid by franchisees and compliance with contractual provisions.
• Apply knowledge of Dairy Queen brand recipes to reconstruct hypothetical sales based on product purchase volumes.
• Conduct one-on-one meetings with franchisees to present audit findings, provide actionable recommendations, and strengthen contractual compliance.
• Build trust and credibility with franchisees by demonstrating deep knowledge of audit practices and the Dairy Queen brand.
• Defuse challenging conversations with professionalism and negotiation skills.
• Manage, review, and approve testing procedures to ensure operational and accounting practices meet standards of accuracy and integrity.
• Identify risks and recommend process improvements, including the design and implementation of new audit methodologies and reporting tools.
• Protect the Dairy Queen brand by verifying proper trademark use and adherence to approved recipes, products, and preparation procedures.
• Partner with Operations, R&D, Legal, and other departments to support projects and ensure timely completion of initiatives.
• Provide expertise to franchisees and internal business partners on restaurant performance, sales trends, and financial analysis.
• Support and oversee third-party international audit vendors to ensure consistency and quality of audit practices.
• Review and approve prospective franchisees, ensuring compliance with ADQ standards.
• Develop financial and operational goals for franchisees and ADQ Business Consultants to improve profitability.
• Promote continuous improvement and innovation within the audit function, fostering a culture of learning and quality.
• Document and maintain departmental procedures to serve as a comprehensive reference for auditors.
• Champion DQ Core Values, shaping a positive culture across teams, the franchise system, and communities.
• Perform other related duties and special projects as assigned, contributing to the long-term success of ADQ.

The US national salary for this role is $86,377 to $105,812. The range displayed reflects the targeted hiring range for positions across all US locations. This role is eligible for an annual incentive. Individual pay is determined by job-related skills, work location, and relevant education or experience.

Qualifications

Education & Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field or equivalent experience in lieu of degree.
• Minimum of seven years of relevant auditing and accounting experience.
• Prior restaurant or food service industry experience (5+ years preferred).
• Professional certification (CPA, CIA, CISA) strongly preferred or actively pursuing certification.
• Proficiency in data analytics and visualization tools (e.g., Power BI, Tableau).
• Experience within a franchisor organization highly desirable.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to think creatively and develop innovative solutions.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to clearly articulate audit results to diverse audiences.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite; familiarity with ERP and audit management systems preferred.
• Exceptional organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Strong negotiation and conflict resolution skills.

Additional Information

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.  You must be work authorized in the United States without the need for employer sponsorship.

Benefits

Our benefit package supports the well-being of our employees and their families.  Our comprehensive benefit package includes, medical, dental, 401K match, paid time off (including volunteer time as well as parental leave) and so much more!  To learn more about our great benefit offerings, Click Here.

Work Environment

Most positions located out of our global headquarters in Bloomington, MN will work a hybrid work schedule where you will work 3 collaboration days a week.  Additional in office time may be required to support team/project needs.  

Inclusion & Belonging

We are committed to creating a culture of inclusion and belonging for all who touch DQ. We believe in and commit to fostering a community where employees bring their authentic selves to work, and where we recruit, engage, and retain employees, franchise owners, and suppliers based on qualifications and merit. We strive to maintain an environment where everyone feels welcome.

IDQ is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and we use E-Verify to confirm the identity and employment eligibility of all new team members. You must be authorized to work in the United States without the need for employer sponsorship.