Controls Assurance Manager

The Controls Assurance Manager will support the overall Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX) compliance process including risk assessment, scoping, planning, executing and managing the assessment strategy and testing of internal control over financial reporting (ICFR). In addition to ICFR audits, the position may also require involvement in process documentation, development of risk and control matrices, and flowcharts. The Controls Assurance Manager is responsible for developing staff and cultivating business relationships throughout the organization.

Additional responsibilities include:

• Support the Regional Lead on risk assessment, scoping and planning procedures for the assessment business process cycle
• Effectively contribute to process improvement initiatives across the organization
• Execution of the global ICFR program and testing activities in the region for completion in line with global due dates
• Support the Regional Lead on the coordination of relationships within the region with ICT SOX & internal/external providers for all the activities connected to ICFR testing
• Implementation within the region of best practices, process and efficiency improvements and global standardization of the ICFR testing program
• Manage ICFR process documentation updates as requested
• Assist with SOX scoping and controls management
• Support the Regional Lead on the coordination of the test plan execution with applicable regional finance teams and designated personnel
• Deliver training for ICFR testing requirements and methodology to the team
• Supervise staff reviewing work performed, assigning roles and responsibilities, providing timely feedback, etc.
• Execute the global reliance strategy and provide overall governance of the regional ICFR testing plan execution
• Support with proactive feedback the management of Governance, Risk and Compliance ("GRC") system maintenance and usage
• Ensure alignment on issues with SOX process/control owners, escalating as necessary; report on issues to the SOX/ICFR regional/sector and global teams and to the external auditors
• Plan and coordinate SOX retest activities for remediated issues and roll-forward procedures
• Manage and execute special projects, as assigned

What You'll Learn:

• Ensure teams understand business processes from the initiation of activity through recording the related controls and risks
• Identify potential gaps in risks and controls within the control framework presenting potential exposure to management
• Support the team in leading meetings with different levels of management including interviews to perform testing, learn business processes, provide status updates and deliver issues
• Effectively project-manage planned testing over multiple business processes
• Writing skills to communicate processes and testing procedures
• Perform QA review of control testing working papers
• Document deficiency language and appropriately communicating the issues to stakeholders including management and external auditors
• Supervise a team assigned to the assessment
• Present testing status and communicate issues to various levels of management
• Build relationships with the external auditors and control owners
• Work with managers from different countries to ensure consistency in testing and process documentation

What This Role Will Prepare You For:

• Roles (including manager and director roles) within Group Controls Assurance, Internal Controls and Financial Reporting (ICFR), Corporate Finance and Corporate Accounting

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance
  
• CPA, CA, CIA or other relevant local certifications
• 8+ years of relevant work experience, including public accounting experience
• Fluency in English
• Experience with SOX and internal controls over financial reporting
• Significant knowledge of IFRS and International Auditing Standards
• Supervisory experience and project management skills

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree
• Knowledge and/or experience in the automotive industry
• Ability to understand and document complex business processes
• Detail oriented with excellent written/oral communication skills
• Demonstrated ability to identify risks and offer value added solutions
• Highly motivated, self-starter with the ability to interface with management and work well in a team environment
• Strong PC skills including Microsoft Office Suite, GRC technologies, and data analysis tools
• Knowledge of further languages (French, Italian, German, Spanish or Portuguese) in addition to the native one is an advantage