Regional Internal Controls Manager

Our client is an exciting US listed global business in Central London seeking a Regional Internal Controls Manager. The business is going through a lot of change and continues to grow, and would suit someone with experience working in a dynamic environment. This is a business partnering role in the central finance team, with a need to build relationships across the business with various senior stakeholders, to partner on all matters internal controls.

Internal Controls Manager – role overview:

Reporting to the Group FD, the role will assist and partner with Senior Management across the Region to implement and maintain a set of effective and efficient Internal Controls throughout the region. The remit extends to three entities across Europe, with currently one direct report to manage.

Main duties and responsibilities:

• Continue to develop and drive the implementation of a Regional Internal Control Framework across the UK and European businesses, and take overall ownership for the associated process and control documentation;
• Provide subject matter expertise on SOX regulations and compliance requirements, including delivery of formal and informal SOX training to business participants as needed;
• Take ownership for coordination of SOX audits, including liaising with internal and external auditors, business participants, and Senior Management;
• Review, evaluate and distil Internal Audit test findings, and escalate possible critical issues to Senior Management, as appropriate;
• Ensure that practical and effective remediation plans are established for internal control deficiencies identified and play an oversight role to ensure that plans are executed timely and appropriately;
• Help to identify new areas of potential risk and opportunities for improvement given changes within the operational environment. Support, where appropriate, the implementation of new internal controls to manage these risk areas and opportunities;
• Help to build a culture of strong internal controls across the Group where SOX processes and controls are embedded as business as usual activity over time;
• Get involved in any ad hoc projects, within remit, as may be required by the Regional Controller or the Group FD. This includes providing internal controls input into an ERP implementation project;
• Oversee one direct report in Europe;
• Take ownership of the maintenance of the Group Approvals Framework / Delegations of Authority
• Develop and implement a documentation management strategy for key internal approvals, including SOX control documentation;
• Provide advice, support and guidance to the Group business units on a day-to-day basis on internal control issues as they arise;

Key Deliverables:

1. Updated control narratives and control matrices for each Group entity in scope.
2. Updated Approvals Framework for each entity in scope.
3. Established Continuous Improvement, Change Control and Communication protocols.
4. Documentation management strategy and database for key internal approvals.
5. Work with US parent Internal Audit team to establish and embed all required Group certifications.
6. Liaise with ERP systems project, feeding into scope and definition from internal controls perspective.

Key job requirements:

1. Fully qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA) preferred;
2. Ideally trained in Audit and working in a SOX environment with in depth knowledge of auditing principles, auditing standards and SOX requirements (preferably for a US parent);
3. Minimum of 5 years SOX compliance experience and must be fully conversant in all aspects of SOX – narratives, controls, processes and compliance;
4. Strong Project Management skills;
5. Experience in ITGC, general computer/application controls and a sound understanding of IT platforms, applications and related technology;
6. Solid analytical skills with the ability to digest and disseminate information on a broad range of businesses and stakeholders;
7. Ability to multi task and work well under pressure, prioritising tasks and workload and managing conflicting demands of the business units and senior management team;
8. Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to interact effectively with all levels of staff across the Group, as well as key stakeholders;
9. Excellent communication skills both written and verbal;
10. Excellent organisational and time management skills with the ability to plan own work, work autonomously and on own initiative and meet deadlines;
11. Excellent attention to detail with a high level of accuracy of work;
12. Appreciation of the demands of managing conflicting interests and of meeting statutory requirements;
13. Ability to navigate complex problems and ensure effective and sound decision making, systematically and under pressure;
14. Effective management and delegation with the ability to build trust and motivate a team;
15. Some travel throughout the UK and Europe will be required.