Director of Internal Control

Mistral AI Mistral AI · AI Frontier · Paris, France · Finance

This role focuses on building and deploying an internal control function from scratch for Mistral AI, ensuring financial integrity and compliance. It involves designing a COSO-aligned framework, embedding controls into key processes, and leveraging AI/ML tools for automation and monitoring. The role requires collaboration with various departments, risk assessment, coordination of external audits, and team leadership. Experience in building control functions, problem-solving, and adaptability to dynamic environments are key. Familiarity with ERP systems and data-driven tools is a plus.

What you'd actually do

  1. Build a risk-based internal control system from the ground up, covering financial, operational, and compliance areas. Ensure alignment with Mistral’s rapid growth and global operations.
  2. Collaborate with Finance, Legal, Engineering, and HR to embed controls into key workflows (e.g., supplier approvals, cash management, datacenter operations). Train teams to adopt and maintain these processes effectively.
  3. Leverage ERP systems and AI/ML tools to automate manual controls, develop dashboards, and enhance real-time monitoring.
  4. Partner with Legal and CISO to build a company-wide risk matrix, identifying high-risk areas (e.g., cloud costs, data privacy) and defining remediation protocols.
  5. Coordinate audits to ensure readiness for regulatory reviews and investor due diligence. Stay updated on evolving standards to guide leadership and teams.

Skills

Required

  • Internal control and audit background
  • Experience building a control function from scratch or playing a key role in a growing internal control team
  • COSO frameworks
  • Risk identification
  • Process design
  • Clear communication
  • Influencing skills
  • Problem-solving
  • Adaptability
  • Fluency in French and English

Nice to have

  • Familiarity with ERP systems
  • Familiarity with data-driven tools (e.g., Python/SQL)
  • Familiarity with AI-driven automation

What the JD emphasized

  • build Mistral AI’s Internal Control function from the ground up
  • design and deploy a COSO-aligned framework
  • embed controls into critical processes
  • automate monitoring using AI/ML tools
  • safeguard Mistral’s high-stakes growth
  • Build a risk-based internal control system from the ground up
  • Collaborate with Finance, Legal, Engineering, and HR to embed controls into key workflows
  • Leverage ERP systems and AI/ML tools to automate manual controls
  • Partner with Legal and CISO to build a company-wide risk matrix
  • Coordinate audits to ensure readiness for regulatory reviews and investor due diligence
  • Build and manage a high-impact internal control team
  • Building a control function from scratch
  • playing a key role in a growing internal control team
  • hands-on and pragmatic approach
  • translates complex risks into actionable solutions
  • build trust by listening, influencing, and delivering results
  • proactively improving processes and challenging the status quo
  • solution-oriented
  • continuous improvement
  • Familiarity with ERP systems, data-driven tools (e.g., Python/SQL), or AI-driven automation is a plus
  • adapt controls to Mistral’s unique business model and global scale
  • Fluency in French and English is required