Walker named University’s chief audit officer

Jennifer Walker recently joined UNC Charlotte’s Internal Audit Department as chief audit officer (CAO), following a national search.

As the University’s CAO, Walker will lead the professionals in the Internal Audit Department as they carry out the department’s mission to enhance and protect UNC Charlotte’s value and reputation by providing risk-based and objective assurance, advice and insight.

“I am delighted to welcome Jennifer into the UNC Charlotte family and grateful for the efforts of the search committee that resulted in her hire,” said Jesh Humphrey, UNC Charlotte’s vice chancellor and general counsel. “Jennifer will be leading a tremendous group of auditors, and her exceptional experience, expertise and vision will help build upon the department’s reputation as skilled, effective and collegial professionals.”

Prior to UNC Charlotte, Walker served as the chief audit executive at Health Management Associates Inc. for nine years and at Lillian Vernon Corporation for 13 years. In these prior positions, Walker was responsible for directing all internal audit reviews and special projects in the financial, operational, compliance and information systems areas of the companies. She also recruited, trained and supervised the internal audit staff and ensured that her internal audit departments were in compliance with the Institute of Internal Auditors Standards.

Most recently, Walker was responsible for the SOX Compliance Department at Herc Rentals Inc., where she was charged with ensuring that adequate internal controls existed in a newly formed, publicly traded company.

From 1982 through 1992, Walker worked at Beverly Enterprises, a Fortune 500 nursing home organization, holding management positions in internal audit, accounting, financial reporting and financial controls. Walker started her career in 1980 at Goodman and Company, CPAs, one of the top 10 regional public accounting firms in the United States.

A 1980 magna cum laude graduate of Old Dominion University with an accounting degree, Walker is a certified public accountant, a certified internal auditor and a certified fraud examiner. She is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) and the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners.

She has held various offices with the local chapters of the IIA, including president of the Southwest Florida Chapter in 2009-10 and president of the Tidewater Virginia Chapter in 1997-98.