Senior Manager, Sox and Audit

The Senior Manager, SOX & Audit support North America and Canada will be responsible for leading the SOX program for both regions. This will include SOX testing, audits, and, on occasion, overseeing staff on multiple concurrent engagements, as necessary. The Senior Manager, SOX & Audit will be a working manager who is able to develop, execute, and manage all aspects of SOX including: planning, testing & reporting. Most importantly this individual will also work cross-functionally with the IT and the business process SOX team and be able to understand the risk and dependencies across all business cycles. In addition to SOX, this individual will also be required to conduct audits (operational & financial) along with another member of the team which will include fieldwork, report writing and presentation to audit management and senior business management.

The Senior Manager, SOX & Audit will report to the Chief Audit Executive (CAE) and assist in the annual Internal Audit risk assessment process and ERM.

This is a fast-paced environment and requires someone who has the ability to multi-task, work flexible hours as we are an international company.

Duties:

• Build and maintain cross-functional relationships with leaders throughout the organization to assist in creating transparency and ensuring cooperation with various audits and process improvement projects.
• Manage and lead the North America and Canada SOX 404 compliance program including testing, reporting and monitoring of all business process cycles in scope (e.g. FSCP, SEC, PTP, OTC, Inventory Management, Payroll, Financial Reporting etc.) to improve the overall control environment. Most importantly, the individual must meet the deadlines and be able to work independently. Work collaboratively with finance, audit, and IT departments to ensure compliance as several controls have IT dependencies.
• Perform walkthroughs of the various business cycles based on the flowcharts and Risk and Control Matrices and ensure they are updated every year or as the processes evolves and assess the effectiveness of the process and controls as needed.
• Ensure the RCM and deficiency tracker is up to date at all times and track progress of all deficiencies.
• Prepare regular progress update for Global SOX testing including charts for Sr. Leadership and CAE to show status of SOX testing, ITAC, Key reports etc.
• Manage the SOX auditors in the assigned region and ensure all SOX testing for 404, ITACs, key reports are completed timely. This may require testing them as well.
• Assist in development of comprehensive (ERM) risk management framework/strategy to facilitate identification, measurement, control and monitoring of key risk activities.
• Assist in preparing risk assessments and annual audit plans including preparing SOX materiality calculations for all regions.
• Collect and analyze data, conduct interviews and document, summarize, and assist the senior members in the Audit team during scoping, planning and during audits.
• Conduct data analytical audits including B/S and P&L reviews and prepare audit work papers and draft audit reports detailing the audit findings and recommendations. Formulate recommendations to management to correct deficiencies and improve controls. Work as a business partner with the management team without impeding independence.
• Identify, recommend and implement the necessary improvements to accounting policies/procedures, internal business controls and to help improve overall business efficiency.
• Strong analytical, research, and organizational skills, issue identification/prioritization/ resolution, and report writing skills is required.
• This position may be rotated with the SOX EMEA lead position to ensure department is well-rounded.
• Participate in a variety of special projects assigned by management.

Desired Skills:

• Possess a strong understanding of the COSO framework, Sarbanes-Oxley Act (Sections 302 and 404), financial reporting risks, internal controls, US GAAP, and IFRS, with the ability to make control recommendations to successfully mitigate key risks.
• Unparalleled ability to dig deep into the details but present high-level findings to business partners & leadership.
• A consistent drive to question the business and yourself on how to do things better and more efficiently.
• Oracle experience highly desired.
• Manufacturing or CPG industry experience required.
• Thorough knowledge of generally accepted auditing standards and compliance and substantive testing techniques including audit sampling methods. Prior experience with compliance auditing under Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) is a plus.
• Effective oral and written communication and analytical and time management skills and the ability to work with limited supervision
• Experience with internal accounting controls and objectives and Sarbanes-Oxley

Requirements:

• Big Public Accounting experience desired.
• Have strong operating and financial controls evaluation skills.
• Demonstrate strong verbal, written communication and interpersonal skills.
• Possess project management skills with the focus on timely completion of tasks and the ability to identify and assess changing business process risks

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in accounting or finance.
• At least 10 years of combined experience in internal or external auditing, SOX compliance practices; Sarbanes-Oxley testing and managing experience is required
• Experience working in a SOX environment conducting SOX testing, SOX reviews and reporting required (preferably at a manufacturing or CPG company)
• Certifications such as CPA, CA, CIA, CISA, CFE. MBAs are preferred.
• Big Public Accounting experience desired.
• Manufacturing or CPG industry experience required.