The Senior Director of Internal Controls will lead the design, implementation and ongoing effectiveness of a comprehensive internal controls framework across Finance, Operations, and Technology. This role is critical in strengthening governance, mitigating risk, and enhancing transparency across a complex, high-volume transaction environment.
This leader will build and manage a small, high-performing team responsible for creating a full inventory of controls, evaluating effectiveness, and partnering with business leaders to embed sustainable processes. The role also has ownership of key risk management and monitoring strategies, including preventative and detective controls.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES - ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
Internal Controls Framework
Lead the development of a comprehensive inventory of internal controls across all major business processes
Design and implement a scalable controls framework aligned with company growth and complexity
Establish standards for control documentation, testing, and ongoing monitoring
Partner with Finance, Operations, and IT leaders to ensure controls are embedded into day-to-day processes
Risk Management & Control Effectiveness
Design and oversee preventative and detective controls that reduce exposure to financial and operational risk
Partner with functional leadership to support fact-based response processes when control breakdowns occur
Strengthen monitoring, escalation, and governance mechanisms aligned to the company's risk profile
Reinforce a strong culture of ethics, accountability, and control ownership across the organization
Conduct enterprise-wide risk assessments to identify key financial, operational, and technology risks
Prioritize control enhancements based on risk exposure and business impact
Support external audit requirements and ensure readiness for compliance reviews
Team Leadership
Build, lead, and mentor a team responsible for controls design, documentation, and testing
Develop risk-based testing plans focused on control design and operating effectiveness
Translate testing results into clear, executive-level insights and prioritized recommendations
Track remediation actions to closure and assess post-remediation effectiveness
Drive accountability and continuous improvement
Foster a collaborative, business-partnering mindset within the team
Process Improvement & Transformation
Identify opportunities to streamline processes while strengthening controls
Leverage technology and automation to improve control effectiveness and efficiency
Support broader transformation initiatives (e.g., ERP implementations, system integrations)
LEADERSHIP RESPONSIBILITIES
Number of Direct Reports: 1
Number of Indirect Reports: 10-12
Leadership Responsibilities Strategy
COMPETENCIES - SKILLS
Improve visibility into risks and control effectiveness
Strong partnerships with business leaders and auditors
A well-designed, clearly owned internal control environment embedded into core business processes
Measurable improvement in control effectiveness, consistency, and risk transparency
Reduction in control breakdowns, rework, and reactive issue management
Actionable, trusted insights provided regularly to senior leadership
A controls function viewed as a value-adding business partner, not an oversight body
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
Bachelor's degree in accounting, Finance, or related field (CPA, CIA, or equivalent preferred)
15+ years of experience in accounting / controllership, internal audit, internal controls, risk management, or related functions
Big Four public accounting or equivalent experience with enterprise-wide control assessments and transformation initiatives strongly preferred
Experience in complex, asset-heavy, or transaction-intensive environments (leasing, financial services, or similar industries preferred)
Proven experience building or transforming an internal controls framework
Strong understanding of SOX or SOX-like control environments (even if not formally required)
Demonstrated experience in designing and operating preventative and detective controls in high-risk environments
Exceptional leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills
Numbers & Facts
Location
Schaumburg, Illinois
Skills
Accountingunmatched
Automationunmatched
Business Processesunmatched
Certified Public Accountant (CPA)unmatched
Continuous Improvementunmatched
Document Managementunmatched
Documentation Standardsunmatched
ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning)unmatched
Embedded Systemsunmatched
Establish Prioritiesunmatched
External Auditunmatched
Financeunmatched
Financial Operationsunmatched
Financial Riskunmatched
Financial Servicesunmatched
Information Technology & Information Systemsunmatched
Internal Auditunmatched
Inventory Managementunmatched
Leadershipunmatched
Maintain Complianceunmatched
Mentoringunmatched
Process Developmentunmatched
Process Improvementunmatched
Public Accountingunmatched
Riskunmatched
Risk Analysisunmatched
Risk Managementunmatched
Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX)unmatched
System Integration (SI)unmatched
Team Lead/Managerunmatched
Team Playerunmatched
Technical Operationsunmatched
Test Plan/Scheduleunmatched
Testingunmatched
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