Robert Christian

About Robert Christian

I am a senior internal audit leader with 19+ years of experience driving enterprise risk coverage, regulatory compliance, and audit innovation across financial services, real estate, and healthcare. I specialize in building integrated, risk-based audit frameworks that align with business strategy.At Freddie Mac, I helped lead a transformation from siloed audit processes to a more dynamic, interconnected approach, increasing risk coverage without increasing headcount or hours. I also co-founded the Internal Audit Ideation & Advisory team, trained the entire division (including execs) on the company’s Affordable Housing Mission, and introduced AI and automation that saved over 1,200 hours of audit labor annually.What sets me apart is my ability to bridge technical rigor with practical execution. I’ve led audits across a wide range of business processes (further detailed in the \"Experience\" section below), I’ve coached junior staff into management roles, served as a trusted advisor to VPs and committees, and built tools that make audit smarter, faster, and more impactful.

Experience

1. Senior Manager, Internal Audit

   Freddie Mac

   Aug 2022 — Present · McLean, VA, US

   Key driver in transforming Freddie Mac Internal Audit from isolated, process-based audits to an integrated, risk-aligned coverage model emphasizing operational interdependencies. Co-founded the IA Ideation & Advisory team, Freddie Mac’s first forward-looking advisory function focused on proactive risk mitigation and innovation.• Developed and implemented an audit framework covering Freddie Mac’s Affordable Housing mission. Trained the division, including executives, on mission objectives, requirements, and interconnects with key operations (e.g. credit, pricing, client engagement). Doubled risk coverage with no increase in headcount or hours.• Delivered as project manager 7 integrated audits, 9 issue validations, and 2 special reviews. Subject matter included consumer/commercial credit governance, pricing, servicing, client engagement, model governance, credit risk transfer, regulatory and GAAP compliance, 3rd party risk oversight, 2nd line/ERM and Compliance oversight, risk appetite metrics and monitoring, LIHTC asset sourcing/management.• Automated repeatable audit testing (e.g, recalculation of regulatory loan purchase targets, issue tracking dashboards, KPI monitoring), saving ~1,200 hours of audit labor annually. Integrated AI into audit planning to enhance risk sensing and project scoping. My automation work is regularly cited by IA leadership as a benchmark for assurance innovation• Managed and coached audit teams of up to six, and personally developed three staff to Manager level, providing performance feedback, technical coaching, and leadership mentoring.• Served as Portfolio Manager for Mission, Affordable, and Sustainable Housing areas, delivering quarterly Audit Committee updates and building strong VP-level partnerships to inform coverage strategy.• Earned top client survey scores for outstanding communication, trust, and respect for business partners’ time, earning a consistent “trusted advisor” reputation across engagements.

Education

• Mountain Lakes High School

  High School

  1997 — 2001

• Northeastern University

  Bachelor’s Degree, Accounting & Finance

  2001 — 2006

• Northeastern University

  Master’s Degree, Accounting

  2006 — 2007

Skills

• Forensic Accounting
• Financial Audits
• Quicken
• Internal Controls
• Risk Assessment
• Sarbanes-Oxley Act
• Microsoft Office
• Idea
• Cpa
• Microsoft Excel
• Acl
• Finance
• Yardi Voyager
• Hyperion
• Revenue Recognition
• Tax
• Investment Properties
• Peachtree
• Auditing
• Gaap
• Operating Budgets
• Payroll
• Analysis
• Medicaid
• Sarbanes-Oxley
• Oracle
• Caseware
• Property Management
• Quickbooks
• Financial Reporting
• Great Plains
• Certified Public Accountant
• External Audit
• General Ledger
• Risk Management
• Financial Analysis
• Information Technology
• Certified Fraud Examiner
• Internal Audit
• Financial Accounting