Director of Internal Control

About Mistral

Mistral provides full-stack AI solutions: from frontier models to developer tools, applications, and compute. We partner with enterprises tackling the hardest problems—across high-stakes industries like finance, manufacturing, defense, healthcare, and the public sector—co-creating customized AI systems that they can run on their terms.

We are a dynamic, collaborative team passionate about AI and its potential to transform society. Our diverse workforce thrives in competitive environments and is committed to driving innovation. Our teams are distributed between Europe, North America, Asia and the Middle East. We are creative, low-ego and team-spirited.

The Role

As a Director of Internal Control on the Finance team, you will build Mistral AI’s Internal Control function from the ground up, ensuring financial integrity, compliance, and strategic agility as the company scales. Reporting directly to the SVP Finance, you will design and deploy a COSO-aligned framework, embedding controls into critical processes such as procurement, payroll, and subsidiary oversight. Collaborating with Legal, CISO, and business units, you will foster a culture of accountability and risk mitigation across global entities, safeguarding Mistral’s high-stakes growth and preparing the company for future milestones.

What You Will Do

• Design and deploy a risk-based internal control system covering financial, operational, and compliance areas.
• Integrate controls into key workflows (e.g., supplier approvals, cash management, datacenter operations) by collaborating with Finance, Legal, Engineering, and HR.
• Automate and optimize controls using ERP systems and AI/ML tools to enhance real-time monitoring.
• Partner with Legal and CISO to build a company-wide risk matrix and define remediation protocols for high-risk areas.
• Coordinate external audits to ensure readiness for regulatory reviews and investor due diligence.
• Build and manage a high-impact internal control team, fostering a culture of proactive problem-solving.
• Maintain control documentation, evaluate testing results, and escalate gaps to leadership.

What We're Looking For

• Strong background in internal control and audit, with experience building a control function from scratch or playing a key role in a growing internal control team (e.g., in tech, scale-ups, or highly regulated environments).
• Expertise in COSO frameworks, risk identification, and process design with a hands-on, pragmatic approach.
• Collaborative and influential communication skills to translate complex risks into actionable solutions for non-finance stakeholders.
• Problem-solving mindset to proactively improve processes and challenge the status quo.
• Tech-savvy with familiarity in ERP systems, data-driven tools (e.g., Python/SQL), or AI-driven automation.
• Global and inclusive leadership with fluency in English to work across 15+ subsidiaries. French is a plus.

What We Offer

We offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your well-being, growth, and work-life balance. Benefits vary by country and may include healthcare coverage, parental leave, retirement plans, relocation support, wellness programs, meal and transportation allowances, and other location-specific perks.

For the most up-to-date details on benefits available in your location, please refer to our Benefits page.

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