SOX MANAGER (North America)

SOX MANAGER (North America)

The SOX Manager will be responsible for leading the SOX program in North America. This will include SOX testing, audits, and, on occasion, overseeing staff on multiple concurrent engagements, as necessary. The SOX Manager will be a working manager who is able to develop, execute, and manage all aspects of SOX including: planning, testing & reporting. 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 SOX Manager will report to the CAE and assist in the annual Internal Audit risk assessment process and ERM. Over time, candidates who are successful in the SOX Manager role may have the opportunity to rotate into other assignments or be promoted within the function.

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 SOX 404 compliance program including testing, reporting and monitoring of all business process cycles in scope (e.g. PTP, OTC, Inventory Management, Payroll, Financial Close, etc.) to improve the overall control environment. Most importantly, the individual must meet the deadlines and be able to work independently. Work 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.
• Manage the SOX auditors in North America and ensure all SOX testing for 404, ITACs, key reports are done timely.
• Assist in development of a comprehensive (ERM) risk management framework/strategy to facilitate identification, measurement, control and monitoring of key risk activities for all North America entities.
• Assist in preparing risk assessments and annual audit plans.
• Collect and analyze data, conduct interviews and document, summarize, and assist the Senior member in the Audit team during scoping, planning and during audits.
• Identify, recommend and implement the necessary improvements to accounting policies/procedures, internal business controls and help improve overall business efficiency.
• Prepare audit work papers and write 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.
• Strong analytical, research, and organizational skills, issue identification/prioritization/ resolution, and report writing skills is required.
• Prepare internal audit reports for audit areas and audits assigned and help train the auditors to ensure they can broaden their skill sets.
• Participate in a variety of special projects assigned by management.

 

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.
• A consistent drive to question the business and yourself on how to do things better and more efficiently.
• Ability to take initiative and get things started when there may be no established path
• Oracle experience highly desired.
• Manufacturing 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.
• Have strong operating and financial controls evaluation skills.
• Possess the ability to work in cross-functional teams, cultivate leadership abilities and to develop operational and financial management 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.
• Must have the ability to multitask.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance.
• At least 7-9 years of combined experience in internal or external auditing, SOX compliance practices; Sarbanes-Oxley experience is required.
• Experience working in a SOX environment conducting SOX testing, SOX reviews and reporting required (preferably at a manufacturing company).
• Certifications such as CPA, CA, CIA, CISA, CFE. MBAs are preferred.
• Big Public Accounting experience desired.

 

Primary Location: Needham, MA

Travel: Up to 30-35% including international