ROBERT J.

McNICHOLS, MBA
E Mail: rjmcnichols@yahoo.com
Mobile: (425) 213-7334 Home: (352) 505-6346

CHIEF AUDIT EXECUTIVE


Insurance (Property & Casualty, Life and Health, Healthcare) Financial Services
Certified Internal Auditor Certified Information Systems Auditor Certified Financial Services Auditor
Certified Fraud Examiner


PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY

A highly effective chief audit executive with a background in insurance, healthcare and financial services. A
strategic leader who is able to manage the audit and risk process and create significant improvements that reduce risk
and decrease costs. Experienced in establishing internal audit functions and delivering on the needs of critical
stakeholders. A proven leader who can identify and develop top talent to increase employee retention.

CORE COMPETENCIES

Risk Based Auditing Loss Containment Process Improvement
Regulatory Compliance Enterprise Risk Assessment Internal Controls
Executive Leadership IT Audit Fraud Investigation
Audit Committee Relations Corporate Governance Team Development

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Chief Audit Executive, Corporate Assurance and Advisory Services 2010 2012
SantaFe Healthcare, Gainesville, Florida
Reported to the Chairman of the SantaFe Healthcare Audit Committee with a dotted line to the General Counsel.
Joined SantaFe as the head of internal audit in order to build a strategic corporate assurance and advisory function,
along with an enterprise risk management framework.

Conceptualized and implemented the Annual Risk Assessment which led to the identification of the highest risk
business resulting in the execution of internal audits and delivering action plans that outlined ways for senior
leadership to reduce risk.
Created the corporate framework which enabled the company to execute annual risk audits.
Analyzed corporate wide quality assurance processes in order to ensure the company was in compliance with all
regulatory requirements while reducing duplication in order to realize cost savings.
Developed, implemented and managed the Model Audit Rule initiative in order to ensure AvMeds compliance
with regulatory requirements.
Developed an Enterprise Risk framework, initially for AvMed, that will later be implemented across all business
units.
Reported regularly to the Audit Committee.

Vice President, Corporate Internal Audit 2005 2008
Safeco Corporation, Seattle, Washington
Responsible for managing the corporate internal audit department which comprised of a team of 3 direct reports and
18 individuals. Reported to the Chairman of the Audit Committee with a dotted line to the General Counsel.

Developed an extensive analysis which benchmarked several departments including IT and Claims and created a
report which was used by the incoming executive leadership team to prioritize strategic initiatives and action
plans.
Designed an audit methodology to review potential outsourcing opportunities to ensure projects stayed on track
and resulted in a reduction of costs by 20%.
Reviewed the departments risk assessment process and made significant improvements to bring it in line with
the enterprise risk management framework.


Robert J. McNichols
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Executed semi-annual risk assessments which were used to drive the audit plan.
Redesigned the internal SOX Compliance effort in order to successfully transfer the function to the Controllers
department.
Developed direct reports in order to ensure there was a strong pipeline of high potentials for succession purposes.
Leadership style included understanding team member goals and interests, ensuring their development in order
for them to continue to grow and flourish within the organization.
Quarterly reporting to the Audit Committee.

Vice President, Internal Audit and Compliance 2003 - 2005
RLI Corp, Peoria, Illinois
Established the internal audit function to meet NYSE requirements. Reported to the Chairman of the Audit
Committee with a dotted line to the CEO. Led a team of 6 individuals which included 2 direct reports.

Developed and implemented the yearly audit and compliance plan.
Supported Sarbanes-Oxley efforts including providing resources for documentation, testing and reporting of
initial assessment and integrating managements testing in the audit approach.
Managed external vendor relationship that provided whistleblower reporting for the company and investigated
and resolved all allegations.
Implemented continuous auditing routines to monitor internal financial transactions in order to quickly identify
any discrepancies.
Identified and developed a direct report who was then promoted into this role when it became vacant.
Quarterly reporting to the Audit Committee.

Assistant Vice President of Internal Audit 2001 - 2003
CNA Financial, Chicago, Illinois
Responsible for all aspects of audits being performed in business units including life and group, global programs,
reinsurance, corporate finance and corporate center.

Supported the audit committees for various subsidiaries including CNA Trust, CNA Re and CNA Life of
Canada.
Provided timely and accurate feedback to senior leaders regarding areas of risk and made recommendations for
improvement.
Developed and implemented the quality assurance process within the Internal Audit Department.
Managed, mentored and developed a pool of 20 audit professionals.

Director of Internal Audit 1998 - 2001
Penn National Mutual Casualty Insurance, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Reported to the Chairman of the Audit Committees (the organization had two) and administratively to the CFO.
Member of the corporate management team.

Developed and lead the implementation of the annual audit plan at the corporate and divisional levels.
Improved the risk assessment process that took into consideration a more operational risk and process approach.
Improved the working relationship between senior leadership and the audit committees.
Developed a co-sourcing arrangement to conduct internal IT audits.
Worked closely with the new CEO and CFO to help them more fully understand how internal audit could support
their goals and objectives.

Other positions held previously:

Assistant Vice President, Internal Audit
ING Group

Internal Audit Officer
Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada

Senior Auditor
Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis

Staff Auditor
Prudential Insurance Company of America





Robert J. McNichols
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EDUCATION

M.B.A., (Finance), University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
B.S., Business Administration, (Finance), Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

Financial Executives International (FEI)
The Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA)
Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA)
Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE)
Association of Healthcare Internal Auditors (AHIA)
Americas Health Insurance Plans (AHIP)
Risk and Insurance Management Society (RIMS)