WHAT DOES AN INTERNAL CONTROLS MANAGER DO?
Updated: Dec 08, 2025 - The Internal Controls Manager develops and implements efficient control solutions to enhance operational effectiveness, ensure policy compliance, and mitigate risks in financial reporting. This role involves leading the Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) compliance program, evaluating control design, monitoring remediation activities, and providing insights to senior management and audit committees. The Manager also partners with process owners and business leaders to strengthen the control environment, drive process improvements, and promote a culture of accountability and compliance excellence.


A Review of Professional Skills and Functions for Internal Controls Manager
1. Internal Controls Manager Functions
- Cross-functional Collaboration: Collaborate with regional, venture, and functional teams across finance, product, and technology to design effective solutions.
- Change Management: Drive organizational change by aligning business processes with technological improvements and control needs.
- Process Optimization: Conduct comprehensive end-to-end process reviews to identify operational inefficiencies and control gaps.
- Governance Enhancement: Recommend and implement process enhancements that strengthen governance and efficiency.
- Internal Controls: Establish robust internal control workflows that support transparent and accountable operations.
- Risk Assessment: Perform ongoing risk assessments to evaluate the effectiveness of internal controls.
- Compliance Monitoring: Monitor key operational areas to ensure consistent compliance with established risk frameworks.
- Control Monitoring: Develop and refine detection rules for continuous control monitoring to identify emerging risks.
- Risk Mitigation: Address high-risk areas promptly through targeted control interventions.
- Incident Analysis: Lead post-incident reviews to analyze root causes of financial losses and propose preventive measures.
2. Internal Controls Manager Accountabilities
- Risk Matrix Management: Review and update risk matrices regularly to ensure accuracy and relevance to evolving business conditions.
- Control Testing: Conduct testing of key controls and prepare management reports aligned with group requirements.
- Access Control: Evaluate system access rights and segregation of duties to prevent conflicts and security breaches.
- Mitigation Measures: Implement appropriate mitigation measures to strengthen system control and compliance.
- Process Analysis: Analyze and refine IT processes to improve operational efficiency and governance.
- IT Control Framework: Develop and maintain an IT control framework consistent with ISO 27001 and COBIT 5 standards.
- Audit Liaison: Act as the primary liaison for external auditors, managing audit preparation and coordination.
- Audit Resolution: Oversee the timely response and resolution of audit findings and recommendations.
- Compliance Support: Assist management in compliance-related projects and the rollout of new tools or systems.
- Documentation Management: Document all processes, procedures, and user guides to promote standardization and clarity.
- Team Communication: Facilitate effective communication and alignment among teams across the organization.
3. Internal Controls Manager Job Summary
- Control Implementation: Coordinate and drive the implementation of the internal control framework across all functions.
- Risk Culture Development: Promote a strong first-line risk and control culture through active coaching and engagement.
- Control Testing: Organize and document first-line control testing activities and self-assessment exercises, including RCSA.
- Quality Assurance: Ensure all testing and documentation meet required quality and timeliness standards.
- Incident Management: Identify and escalate operational incidents with detailed analysis and within prescribed deadlines.
- Incident Documentation: Document incidents thoroughly in alignment with Risk Management guidelines.
- Process Documentation: Maintain updated documentation of key processes and participate in continuous improvement efforts.
- Process Optimization: Lead or support process optimization initiatives that enhance operational efficiency and control effectiveness.
- Escalation Management: Serve as the escalation point for internal control matters to senior management and assurance teams.
- Performance Reporting: Prepare periodic reports evaluating the performance of the internal control environment.
- Self-Assessment Contribution: Contribute to the annual internal control self-assessment for group-level reporting.
4. Internal Controls Manager Responsibilities
- Internal Controls Management: Maintain and oversee the Internal Controls framework in compliance with SOX and group standards.
- Control Tools Administration: Manage tools, templates, solutions, and training programs that support effective control implementation.
- Testing and Reporting: Ensure all testing and reporting requirements are executed accurately and on schedule.
- Financial Control Policies: Implement internal financial control policies consistent with the company’s control framework.
- Control Ownership Support: Establish processes enabling control owners to demonstrate the effectiveness of key controls.
- Control Monitoring: Monitor the ongoing operation of internal controls to ensure sustainability and compliance.
- Control Evaluation: Coordinate evaluations and testing to measure control effectiveness across business areas.
- Process Improvement: Lead continuous improvement projects within the finance function to enhance efficiency.
- Control Awareness: Promote internal control awareness across Refresco UK through training and engagement.
- Management Engagement: Encourage senior management participation in strengthening the control environment.
5. Retail Internal Controls Manager Details
- Policy Compliance Audit: Audit the implementation of financial policies across all stores to ensure compliance and consistency.
- Control Evaluation: Evaluate the effectiveness of each store’s internal control processes and identify areas for improvement.
- Audit Planning: Develop detailed audit plans and standardized procedures to guide store-level reviews.
- Special Audits: Conduct special audits targeting specific operational or financial risk areas.
- Audit Reporting: Prepare and issue comprehensive audit reports summarizing key findings and recommendations.
- Issue Monitoring: Monitor the progress of corrective actions to ensure the timely rectification of audit issues.
- Risk Identification: Identify high-risk business activities and detect irregularities or operational loopholes.
- Procedure Enhancement: Enhance store audit procedures to strengthen overall control effectiveness.
- Improvement Recommendations: Provide management with practical improvement suggestions based on audit outcomes.
- Training Delivery: Deliver regular internal control and compliance training sessions for store employees.
- Financial Awareness: Promote awareness of financial discipline and accountability across retail operations.
6. Internal Controls Manager Duties
- Control Environment Leadership: Lead the development of a strong internal control environment aligned with SOX and COSO requirements.
- Regulatory Compliance: Ensure all control testing, documentation, and reporting meet regulatory and organizational standards.
- Stakeholder Collaboration: Collaborate closely with process owners, control owners, consultants, and external auditors.
- ICFR Management: Oversee the full ICFR lifecycle, including scoping, risk assessment, and control documentation.
- Control Testing: Manage testing of design and operating effectiveness to ensure control reliability.
- Remediation Coordination: Identify control gaps and coordinate timely remediation efforts with relevant stakeholders.
- Progress Monitoring: Monitor and report on internal control testing progress across all business units.
- System Enhancement: Support the enhancement of financial systems and processes through improved internal controls.
- System Integration: Advise on control integration during new system implementations to maintain compliance.
- Deficiency Evaluation: Evaluate control deficiencies in partnership with consultants and auditors under established frameworks.
- Management Reporting: Prepare and deliver status updates and presentations for management and business units.
7. Internal Controls Manager Job Description
- Internal Control Management: Manage and oversee the internal control program and Sarbanes-Oxley procedures to ensure organizational compliance.
- Audit Coordination: Maintain effective relationships with external auditors to support audit processes and coordination.
- IT Control Testing: Conduct and manage periodic user access reviews, segregation of duties analyses, and other IT control testing requirements.
- Remediation Monitoring: Monitor and verify the completion of remediation plans and recommendations arising from internal audits, external audits, and SOX control testing.
- Staff Training: Provide training to accounting staff involved in internal control testing and compliance activities.
- Policy Development: Assist in developing policies, procedures, and internal control frameworks in response to new systems, accounting standards, or regulatory guidance.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Collaborate with finance, accounting, and operations teams to strengthen internal control effectiveness and ensure process alignment.
- Project Support: Support special projects, including system implementations and key accounting initiatives.
- Compliance Culture: Promote a culture of accountability, compliance, and continuous improvement within the internal control function.
8. Senior Internal Controls Manager Overview
- Control Improvement Projects: Coordinate key internal control improvement projects, including segregation of duties and fraud prevention initiatives.
- Financial Security: Oversee efforts to strengthen the security of payment methods and other critical financial processes.
- Ethics Compliance: Lead and promote the anti-corruption and ethics compliance program across the organization.
- Operational Support: Support managers in developing clear, efficient, and compliant operational procedures.
- Regulatory Alignment: Ensure all procedures align with local legal requirements, group policies, and best practices.
- Compliance Training: Provide employees with tools, resources, and training to enhance awareness of compliance challenges.
- Knowledge Sharing: Encourage knowledge sharing and the exchange of best practices to reinforce a strong control culture.
- Self-Assessment Management: Drive the internal control self-assessment process to meet group control standards.
- Framework Compliance: Monitor progress and compliance with the Group Internal Control Fundamentals framework.
- Audit Coordination: Coordinate and manage interactions with Statutory Auditors during internal control reviews.
- Remediation Oversight: Track audit recommendations, oversee corrective action plans, and ensure timely resolution.
- Regulatory Integration: Incorporate external regulatory and market developments into ongoing control improvements.
9. Internal Controls Manager Details and Accountabilities
- Operational Control Testing: Lead and execute operational control testing during multi-location onsite visits, reviewing and discussing results with business stakeholders.
- Compliance Testing: Conduct controls testing and walkthroughs for sourcing and other macroprocesses to ensure compliance and control effectiveness.
- Documentation Management: Prepare and maintain documentation of process executions in accordance with the group's internal control guidelines and requirements set by the Internal Control Lead.
- Data Analytics: Leverage and validate data analytics reports to enable exception-based testing and enhance testing efficiency.
- Workload Management: Assist the Director with workload management, resource planning, and evaluation of team performance.
- Remediation Guidance: Provide remediation guidance and actionable recommendations when high-risk issues are identified.
- Action Plan Oversight: Ensure that action plans are properly reviewed, implemented, and tracked to mitigate risks with clear ownership and accountability.
- Process Improvement: Assess process efficiency and propose control improvements to strengthen business unit operations.
- Stakeholder Support: Coordinate and support Business Process Owners (BPOs) and Business Control Owners (BCOs) in fulfilling their responsibilities to safeguard business integrity.
- Policy Adherence: Promote adherence to company policies, procedures, and internal control standards.
- Risk Communication: Communicate regular updates to leadership on risks, processes, test results, and remediation progress.
- Continuous Improvement: Identify and drive continuous improvement opportunities to optimize business processes and enhance control effectiveness.
10. Internal Controls Manager Tasks
- Control Issue Management: Manage and resolve all control issues and deficiencies identified through internal or external audits and self-assessments.
- Remediation Coordination: Collaborate with process owners to ensure that remediation actions are effectively implemented, documented, and sustained.
- Documentation Maintenance: Maintain accurate and up-to-date documentation for finance-related process flowcharts, narratives, and control descriptions.
- Risk Matrix Review: Regularly review and update risk and control matrices to ensure the integrity and completeness of financial reporting.
- Process Advisory: Provide expert advice on process design and internal control improvements to strengthen the overall finance function.
- Audit Liaison: Serve as the primary liaison between the company and outsourced internal auditors, facilitating clear communication and coordination.
- Audit Coordination: Coordinate audit communications, meetings, and progress updates to ensure transparency and timely resolution of issues.
- Audit Cycle Management: Oversee the full audit cycle, ensuring effective execution and management to uphold financial integrity and regulatory compliance.
- Continuous Improvement: Promote continuous improvement of the internal control environment through proactive collaboration with business leaders and stakeholders.
- Policy Standardization: Ensure key control policies and procedures are properly documented and consistently applied across the organization.
- Process Walkthroughs: Conduct process walkthroughs to gain a thorough understanding of operational workflows and identify control enhancement opportunities.
- Procedure Standardization: Assist in standardizing internal control procedures and strengthening risk management frameworks across departments.
- Risk Mitigation: Implement preventive and corrective actions to address control weaknesses, reduce operational risks, and enhance overall organizational resilience.
11. Internal Controls Manager Roles
- Process Development: Drive the development and implementation of business processes across departments to ensure the internal control framework effectively mitigates risk exposure.
- Control Improvement: Recommend improvements to enhance the internal control environment and increase efficiency in existing processes.
- Testing Design: Design test plans and testing methodologies based on comprehensive risk analysis.
- Deficiency Assessment: Lead control deficiency assessments, conduct root cause analyses, and develop effective remediation plans.
- Control Monitoring: Monitor operational adoption, system usage, and technology platform performance to ensure consistent application of controls.
- Cross-Functional Support: Provide support across accounting, finance, technology, and operations functions.
- Continuous Improvement: Promote continuous improvement of business platforms and processes to strengthen internal controls and achieve operational excellence.
- Procedure Review: Regularly review and update internal procedures and processes to integrate best practices and meet evolving control requirements.
- Leadership Engagement: Encourage self-assessment and accountability by developing leadership engagement and strengthening control competency throughout the organization.
- Training Development: Create and deliver internal control training materials to support compliance awareness across all departments.
- Business Collaboration: Collaborate with business partners to introduce and implement initiatives that enhance efficiency, service quality, and control effectiveness.
- Digital Transformation: Partner with the technology team to drive digital transformation and ensure technology solutions align with internal control and operational requirements.
- Policy Advisory: Provide expert advice on policy and SOP development, system configuration, and segregation of duties to ensure proper control design and readiness for future business needs.
12. Internal Controls Manager Additional Details
- PCI Implementation: Manage the implementation and roll-out of the new Process and Control Inventory (PCI) database.
- Control Assessment: Perform process and control design assessments to support the PCI.
- Stakeholder Communication: Discuss findings and observations with stakeholders.
- Action Tracking: Record, track, and follow up on actions arising from process and control assessments.
- Control Training: Conduct training and awareness sessions with control owners and operators on effective control operation.
- Gap Closure: Collaborate with business and technology control owners to identify and close gaps through actionable recommendations.
- KPI Development: Oversee the development of standardized KPIs and reporting metrics for key processes and controls.
- Reporting Management: Generate reports to support routine updates on the business’s control mitigation efforts and internal control improvements.
- Dashboard Design: Design the PCI dashboard to provide greater insight into PCI onboarding and risk mitigation activities.
- SharePoint Management: Maintain the SharePoint site for PCI updates.
- Framework Development: Contribute to the development of the Controls Framework through continuous personal and professional growth.
- Action Management: Manage daily updates and ensure timely closure of process and control-related business actions.
- Audit Collaboration: Collaborate with Internal Audit as part of planned audit activities.
- Control Evaluation: Work with the Benchmark Administration Management team to assess the appropriateness of controls within the PCI.
13. Senior Internal Controls Manager Essential Functions
- Risk Management: Take primary responsibility for identifying and managing emerging financial reporting risks within the internal control environment of acquired entities.
- Financial Risk Expertise: Provide subject matter expertise on financial risk management, control design, and control assessment to strengthen compliance and governance.
- Control Enhancement: Implement internal control enhancements, including the creation and maintenance of process flowcharts, narratives, and risk and control matrices, while coordinating control improvement initiatives.
- Deficiency Identification: Quickly identify control deficiencies, assess their risk implications, and determine appropriate corrective actions.
- Impact Analysis: Perform detailed impact analyses of control deficiencies to evaluate their potential effect on financial reporting.
- Stakeholder Engagement: Develop and maintain strong relationships with process owners by delivering high-quality results, effective communication, and practical tools and templates to support process improvement.
- Process Validation: Conduct regular meetings and walkthroughs with process owners to validate process updates and ensure accurate assessment of control gaps.
- Regulatory Awareness: Stay up to date with regulatory developments, industry best practices, and evolving SOX compliance requirements.
- Project Support: Assist the Head of Financial Internal Controls with ad hoc projects and special initiatives.
- Audit Coordination: Facilitate coordination and communication between external auditors and management to ensure efficient handling of audit requests and control-related inquiries.
14. Internal Controls Manager Role Purpose
- Internal Control Management: Plan, organize, and manage the internal control function, including the development of an audit manual and the execution of a comprehensive audit plan.
- Risk Assessment: Perform risk assessments across all departments to identify potential vulnerabilities and prioritize audit focus areas.
- Governance Reporting: Report risk management issues and internal control deficiencies directly to the CISO and the Board, providing actionable recommendations to enhance organizational effectiveness and governance.
- Compliance Review: Assess compliance with company policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements to ensure adherence and accountability.
- Operational Improvement: Identify operational strengths and weaknesses and promote continuous improvement through staff training, knowledge sharing, and best practice development.
- Audit Follow-up: Review responses to internal and external audit management letter findings to confirm that recommendations are implemented and all corrective actions are completed promptly.
- Information Security: Evaluate information security frameworks and assess associated risk exposures to safeguard company assets and data integrity.
- Regulatory Compliance: Assess the organization’s regulatory compliance program to ensure it meets applicable laws, standards, and internal expectations.
- Business Continuity: Evaluate the company’s readiness for business interruptions and support the implementation of business continuity plans.
- Fraud Prevention: Contribute to the organization’s anti-fraud initiatives by identifying potential fraud risks and recommending control enhancements to mitigate them.
15. Internal Controls Manager General Responsibilities
- Control Oversight: Provide oversight to ensure operational management maintains a strong and sustainable internal control environment.
- Financial Reporting Advisory: Offer professional expertise and advisory support on internal control over financial reporting to internal stakeholders.
- Process Walkthroughs: Conduct and support process walkthroughs to identify control gaps, assess risks, and recommend improvements for effective risk and control execution.
- Control Evaluation: Evaluate and enhance the control environment and operational effectiveness across all entities, ensuring compliance with corporate policies and procedures.
- Process Standardization: Drive the implementation of standardized processes and control design enhancements to simplify, rationalize, and strengthen the internal control framework.
- Control Culture Promotion: Promote awareness of the importance of a sound internal control culture, emphasizing accountability and ownership to maintain the organization’s reputation as a trusted and respected business partner.
- Methodology Implementation: Assist in implementing local and group-wide methodology updates, encouraging the adoption of technology and automation to improve control efficiency and reliability.
- Remediation Oversight: Oversee and support the remediation and deficiency assessment process by collaborating with process and control owners to define, execute, and monitor remediation plans.
- Root Cause Analysis: Assess root causes of control deficiencies, guide management in sustainable corrective actions, and track progress to ensure timely closure.
- Control Training: Deliver regular training and expert guidance to process owners, control owners, and control performers to strengthen capability and compliance.
- Segregation of Duties Management: Maintain effective segregation of duties (SoD) across IT systems by partnering with business and IT teams to assess SoD conflicts and design mitigating controls where conflicts cannot be avoided.
16. Internal Controls Manager Key Accountabilities
- Control Support: Support internal control processes for assigned countries or functions by partnering with management to strengthen and optimize the control environment through control design, training, monitoring (CCM), and testing activities (SOX and Control Self-Assessments - CSA).
- Compliance Evaluation: Contribute to building a strong culture of compliance by providing expert evaluation of policy effectiveness, control adequacy, and organizational adherence to established frameworks.
- Advisory Reviews: Conduct advisory reviews in identified risk areas to proactively assess control effectiveness and recommend enhancements.
- SOX Execution: Assist management in executing SOX testing and facilitating the control self-assessment process to ensure robust risk management and compliance.
- Process Advisory: Respond to ad hoc requests from management regarding process improvements, risk evaluations, and control-related matters.
- Training Delivery: Deliver training sessions to enhance understanding of policies, control responsibilities, and compliance expectations across the organization.
- Continuous Improvement: Adopt a continuous improvement mindset, identifying and implementing opportunities to enhance efficiency and effectiveness within the internal controls function.
- Team Collaboration: Contribute actively to a high-performing internal controls team by sharing best practices, fostering collaboration, and supporting team development.
- Professional Development: Invest in personal and professional growth to maintain expertise and contribute to the continuous advancement of the internal control function.
17. Internal Controls Manager Roles and Details
- Internal Control Management: Ensure the organization maintains a robust and practical system of internal control over financial processes to safeguard resources and guarantee the accuracy and timeliness of financial reporting in monthly, quarterly, and annual reports.
- Risk Assessment: Assess, document, and report key risks within financial processes, including the risk of material misstatement in financial reporting.
- Control Framework Design: Design, implement, document, assess, and monitor the internal control framework, ensuring sufficient controls exist to prevent both unintentional and intentional errors in financial operations.
- Compliance Testing: Lead internal reviews and compliance testing of internal controls across subsidiaries to ensure consistent adherence to established frameworks.
- Reporting and Communication: Provide timely and comprehensive reporting on the internal control framework and identified deficiencies, ensuring clear communication and escalation to business partners, senior leadership, and the audit committee.
- Remediation Management: Develop actionable remediation plans and track progress to ensure all control deficiencies are effectively addressed and resolved.
- Training Delivery: Conduct regular training sessions and prepare related materials for business partners to strengthen their understanding of risks, controls, and compliance expectations.
- Process Automation: Promote standardization and automation of financial processes through the strategic use of technology to enhance efficiency and reliability.
- Audit Collaboration: Collaborate closely with external auditors to ensure that all relevant risks and audit findings are thoroughly considered, communicated, and resolved.
18. Internal Controls Manager Responsibilities and Key Tasks
- Risk Culture Promotion: Promote a strong culture of risk management and internal control across the organization.
- Risk Oversight: Oversee all risk-related matters, including the continuous improvement of risk management and control processes.
- Risk Framework Development: Develop, implement, and maintain a comprehensive risk management framework to ensure that all risks are identified, assessed, controlled, and reported effectively on both a regular and ad hoc basis.
- Impact Evaluation: Evaluate the potential impact of emerging issues or incidents on the company’s reputation and overall risk profile.
- Framework Evolution: Ensure the risk management framework evolves in line with business developments, external environmental changes, industry best practices, and regulatory requirements.
- Policy Governance: Own and maintain the organization’s risk management and internal control policies, providing input to related governance policies and ensuring their effective implementation through training and stakeholder engagement.
- Committee Administration: Administer the Global Risk Committee (GRC), coordinating its activities and ensuring proper documentation and follow-up of key actions.
- Process Assessment: Review and assess the overall performance of risk management processes, identifying areas for enhancement.
- Governance Improvement: Recommend and implement improvements to internal controls, governance frameworks, and risk management practices.
- Special Audits: Conduct special audits and reviews as requested by the Audit Committee or the Board of Directors to address specific risk or control concerns.
19. Internal Controls Manager Duties and Roles
- Control Framework Management: Design, implement, and monitor the company’s internal control framework to ensure a strong governance and compliance structure.
- Process Collaboration: Partner with business process owners to develop, maintain, and strengthen efficient and effective controls across all departments.
- Control Documentation: Create and maintain comprehensive control documentation, including process flowcharts and risk and control matrices, covering both financial reporting and IT environments.
- Control Assessment: Lead internal control assessments to evaluate business and technology risks, identify mitigating controls, and recommend improvements to enhance the control environment.
- Framework Reporting: Report on the internal control framework, implementation progress, and identified deficiencies to ensure proper communication, documentation, and escalation to process owners and senior leadership.
- Policy Development: Collaborate with process owners to develop and refine policies and procedures that enhance internal control effectiveness, compliance, and operational efficiency while mitigating fraud risk.
- Process Validation: Conduct regular meetings and walkthroughs with process owners to validate process changes, update narratives, and assess for control gaps or weaknesses.
- Training Advisory: Advise business and process owners on training needs to ensure alignment with compliance standards, and develop educational materials on internal control objectives, risk management, and methodologies.
- Functional Support: Support key business functions, including finance, accounting, HR, IT, security, and legal, in updating policy manuals and ensuring staff compliance.
- Regulatory Awareness: Stay informed about developments in accounting standards, regulatory requirements, and audit trends to maintain the relevance and strength of the internal control framework.
- Audit Coordination: Facilitate coordination between control owners and external auditors, ensuring timely communication, consideration, and resolution of all audit-related risks and findings.
20. Internal Controls Manager Roles and Responsibilities
- Risk Mapping: Enrich and lead the risk mapping process at multiple organizational levels to identify, evaluate, and prioritize key risks.
- Control Framework Design: Design, implement, and document a practical and effective internal control framework tailored to the organization’s operational and compliance needs.
- Training Delivery: Provide education and training to global and regional teams to ensure understanding and adoption of the internal control framework.
- Policy Development: Develop and formalize policies and procedures to strengthen internal controls, enhance compliance, and improve operational efficiency.
- Control Monitoring: Implement a structured system for monitoring the internal control environment, defining and leading the related processes.
- Self-Assessment Coordination: Design, launch, and coordinate control self-assessment exercises to promote accountability and continuous improvement.
- Framework Reporting: Deliver timely and comprehensive reports on the internal control framework and identified deficiencies, ensuring clear communication, documentation, and escalation to relevant stakeholders, including senior leadership.
- Remediation Management: Develop and oversee action plans to address and resolve control deficiencies, monitoring progress to ensure timely remediation.
- Process Collaboration: Collaborate with business and process owners to implement and track remediation activities resulting from internal control assessments, ensuring sustainable improvement.
- Process Automation: Promote standardization and automation of internal control processes, applying best practices and innovative technologies to enhance control design, documentation, and review efficiency.
- Organizational Awareness: Develop and deliver regular training programs and supporting materials to build organizational awareness of internal control objectives, methodologies, and risk management principles.
21. Internal Controls Manager Functions
- Control Oversight: Provide oversight to ensure that operational management sustains a strong and effective control environment across all business functions.
- Framework Support: Support business operations under the lead country framework, ensuring consistency and compliance with group standards.
- Financial Reporting Advisory: Serve as a subject matter expert on internal control over financial reporting, offering professional guidance to internal stakeholders.
- Process Walkthroughs: Conduct and support process walkthroughs to identify control gaps and recommend improvements to enhance risk management and control execution.
- Control Evaluation: Evaluate and strengthen the control environment and operational efficiency across entities, ensuring adherence to corporate policies and procedures.
- Control Design Enhancement: Drive the implementation of process and control design enhancements to standardize, simplify, and rationalize the internal control framework.
- Control Culture Promotion: Promote awareness of the importance of a strong internal control culture, reinforcing accountability to uphold the organization’s reputation as a trusted and respected business partner.
- Methodology Implementation: Assist in implementing both local and group-wide methodological updates, encouraging the use of technology and automation to optimize processes and controls.
- Remediation Oversight: Oversee the deficiency assessment and remediation process by working closely with process and control owners to define corrective actions and ensure sustainable solutions.
- Root Cause Analysis: Analyze the root causes of control deficiencies and guide management in developing effective and timely remediation plans.
- Control Training: Provide periodic training and support to process owners, control owners, and performers to reinforce understanding of internal control responsibilities and expectations.
- Segregation of Duties Management: Ensure robust segregation of duties (SoD) across IT systems in collaboration with business and IT teams, assess potential conflicts, and design appropriate mitigating controls where conflicts cannot be avoided.
22. Internal Controls Manager Accountabilities
- Audit Management: Perform and oversee the full audit cycle, including risk assessment, control evaluation, and management of operational effectiveness, financial accuracy, and compliance with applicable regulations and directives.
- Governance Advisory: Advise senior management and the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors on audit findings, internal control matters, and governance issues.
- Control Framework Development: Develop and maintain a comprehensive internal control framework to strengthen the organization’s risk management and compliance posture.
- Advisory Support: Serve as an objective advisor to internal teams on control-related matters, guiding process improvement and compliance best practices.
- Risk Mitigation: Identify control weaknesses and operational inefficiencies, recommending corrective and cost-effective risk mitigation measures.
- Audit Execution: Supervise and conduct independent audits in accordance with approved schedules to evaluate control effectiveness, financial record accuracy, and operational efficiency.
- Audit Reporting: Prepare and present timely and insightful reports summarizing audit findings, control issues, and management recommendations.
- External Audit Support: Support external audit processes by ensuring all auditor requests are addressed accurately and on schedule.
- Follow-Up Audits: Conduct follow-up audits to confirm that management’s corrective actions have been effectively implemented.
- Process Improvement: Lead initiatives to standardize, streamline, and automate control activities, promoting continuous improvement across the organization.
- Training and Awareness: Stay current on emerging audit and control best practices, fostering continuous learning, and providing internal control awareness and training for managers.
- Issue Escalation: Escalate exceptional issues to executive management and the board, ensuring timely and transparent communication.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Collaborate closely with finance, tax, and human resources teams on joint deliverables such as external audits and tax compliance reviews to ensure timely completion.
- Safety Compliance: Ensure strict adherence to safety protocols and standards within factory operations.
23. Senior Internal Controls Manager Details
- Process Improvement: Create value for the finance organization by designing and implementing efficient solutions that enhance operational effectiveness, ensure compliance with company policies, and minimize the risk of material financial reporting misstatements.
- SOX Administration: Administer the quarterly and annual Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) certification process, ensuring accuracy, completeness, and timely execution.
- Committee Representation: Represent the internal controls function in Audit and Risk Committee meetings, providing insights on control effectiveness and risk mitigation.
- Project Participation: Participate in system implementations and business projects with internal control or SOX implications to ensure appropriate control design and compliance integration.
- Control Collaboration: Collaborate with management and business process owners to identify, embed, test, and maintain effective key controls within operational processes.
- Remediation Oversight: Monitor remediation activities for deficient controls, guiding process owners to ensure timely and sustainable resolution.
- Root Cause Analysis: Perform root cause analyses and design practical and efficient remediation plans to strengthen the control environment.
- Audit Coordination: Work closely with control and process owners to address audit findings and ensure corrective actions are completed promptly.
- Reporting and Communication: Prepare and contribute to periodic reports for senior management and other stakeholders, summarizing key findings, progress, and risk updates.
- Framework Enhancement: Continuously identify opportunities to improve efficiency and enhance the internal control framework.
- Stakeholder Engagement: Foster strong relationships with finance leadership, process owners, internal audit, and other key stakeholders to align priorities and focus on high-risk areas.
- Compliance Solutions: Develop and implement pragmatic solutions to address internal control compliance challenges and improve business processes.
- Business Partnership: Act as a trusted business partner by driving change, supporting process improvement initiatives, and promoting a culture of accountability and control excellence.
24. Internal Controls Manager Job Summary
- Audit Liaison: Liaise with external auditors to ensure an efficient financial audit process, including compliance and FCPA requirements.
- IFRS Transition: Lead the transition to full IFRS and PCAOB standards to prepare the organization for IPO readiness.
- Process Optimization: Optimize finance processes through digitization and automation while identifying opportunities for continuous improvement across business operations.
- Governance Framework: Redesign the corporate governance framework, focusing on corporate policy drafting, delegation of authority, segregation of duties, RASCI matrices, and compliance investigations.
- System Implementation: Lead ERP and other system implementation projects, supporting all finance IT activities in coordination with internal IT teams and external contractors.
- SOX Documentation: Develop, implement, and update SOX documentation, including narratives, flowcharts, risk control matrices (RCMs), and control descriptions.
- Control Testing: Execute the design and testing of control environment components to ensure SOX compliance, covering risk assessment, scoping, controls testing, gap analysis, and remediation.
- Advisory Support: Provide guidance and research support to internal teams addressing control deficiencies or significant process changes, assessing impacts on people, processes, and technology.
- Risk Mitigation: Ensure that action plans to mitigate risks are clearly defined, reviewed, and executed with appropriate ownership.
- Process Evaluation: Evaluate process efficiency and recommend control improvements to safeguard company operations.
- Leadership Coordination: Coordinate and guide functional leaders in maintaining a secure and compliant business environment.
- Policy Compliance: Promote adherence to company policies and accounting principles, including IFRS and local statutory standards.
- Executive Reporting: Regularly share updates with the CFO on risks, process improvements, and results, and present the company’s control framework to executive leadership and the board.
25. Internal Controls Manager Responsibilities
- Audit Management: Manage and perform annual and quarterly internal control audit procedures across all operational areas.
- Quality Assurance: Support and drive quality control throughout the internal control audit process by assisting with planning, scoping, and testing to ensure deliverables are completed within budget and timelines.
- Risk Identification: Identify and define control gaps, risks, and issues on time while maintaining thorough documentation of internal control processes and procedures.
- Audit Documentation: Prepare ICFR audit work papers and substantiate conclusions with supporting evidence related to control findings.
- Remediation Recommendations: Develop and communicate recommendations for remediating control deficiencies and improving internal control procedures, ensuring alignment with professional standards, U.S. GAAP, and international frameworks.
- Review Coordination: Lead and coordinate the internal control review process to enhance audit quality and compliance.
- Continuous Improvement: Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives that reduce ICFR compliance costs while effectively managing risks.
- Impact Assessment: Collaborate with functional business areas to assess the impact of new accounting standards, system implementations, and process improvements on internal controls.
- Remediation Oversight: Work closely with business and process owners to implement and monitor remediation plans resulting from control assessments, ensuring corrective actions are completed effectively.
- Consultant Management: Assist in managing co-sourced consultants engaged in the internal control compliance program.
- Audit Coordination: Coordinate with consultants and external auditors to support ICFR and statutory audits, ensuring timely access to up-to-date internal control documentation.
- Reporting and Communication: Deliver accurate and timely reporting on the internal control framework and deficiencies, ensuring clear communication and escalation to management and senior leadership.
26. Internal Controls Manager Duties
- Policy Development: Develop and implement local policies, or adapt global policies, to ensure alignment with organizational and regulatory requirements.
- Control Framework Management: Establish and maintain a robust internal control framework to ensure effective governance and operational control.
- Risk Assessment: Prepare and regularly update risk assessments for all company processes to identify and mitigate potential risks.
- Control Design: Design and oversee detective, preventive, and corrective controls based on the risk and control matrix to minimize losses.
- Internal Audits: Coordinate and perform internal control audits and supervisions (self, cross, and operative) according to the corporate controller’s annual calendar.
- Financial Oversight: Oversee treasury management, budget control, accounts payable and receivable, payroll, tax compliance, fixed assets, inventory, costing, and financial reporting control activities.
- Control Certification: Issue quarterly control certificates, obtain required approvals, and archive documents for audit purposes.
- Account Reconciliation: Review monthly account integrations and reconciliations to ensure accuracy of company names, dates, outstanding items, and amounts against the trial balance.
- Reporting Management: Upload monthly reconciliations and reports to the corporate controllership SharePoint, ensuring all accounts with balances are properly included.
- Issue Resolution: Follow up on penalties or discrepancies with responsible departments to ensure resolution.
- Due Diligence Management: Administer the LexisNexis platform to conduct due diligence on vendors, customers, and other third parties according to company policies.
- Process Monitoring: Monitor cash deposit and purchasing processes through the Qlik Sense tool to ensure compliance and transparency.
- Compliance Training: Deliver compliance training to management and employees covering integrity, anti-money laundering, antitrust, and data protection (GDPR).
- Journal Validation: Review and validate manual journal entries in Qlik Sense to ensure accuracy of postings in Oracle Cloud GL.
27. Internal Controls Manager Job Description
- Control Leadership: Lead the internal control mission across all business areas.
- Function Oversight: Organize and supervise the internal control function across all operating countries.
- Policy Development: Contribute to the development of internal control policies to ensure they are relevant to the organization’s operational environment.
- SOP Implementation: Participate actively in the development and implementation of standard operating procedures (SOPs) to ensure compliance with global policies and local regulations.
- Authority Management: Review and maintain the segregation of duties and delegation of authorities matrix.
- Policy Compliance: Ensure adherence to established financial policies and procedures.
- Process Improvement: Identify and propose enhancements to business processes to strengthen operational efficiency and compliance.
- Crisis Management: Ensure crisis management documentation is regularly updated and effectively communicated throughout the organization.
- Risk Advisory: Monitor and advise management on minimizing risks associated with weak internal controls.
- Audit Support: Assist local markets during internal and external audit processes.
28. Internal Controls Manager Overview
- Audit Follow-up: Review audit management letter responses to confirm that recommendations are properly implemented.
- Action Plan Management: Follow up on audit action plans to ensure the timely resolution of all identified issues.
- Business Continuity: Coordinate and oversee the business continuity plan to ensure organizational readiness.
- Risk Assessment: Regularly update the risk assessment by reviewing and maintaining the operational major risk matrix.
- Risk Monitoring: Monitor and update risk assessment action plans and the organizational risk map.
- Data Protection Compliance: Ensure compliance with data protection regulations, including GDPR or local privacy laws, by leading the data protection community and providing regular regulatory updates.
- Regulatory Management: Manage the operational impacts of regulatory updates in close collaboration with the data protection network.
- Compliance Training: Identify non-compliance cases, guide corrective actions, and conduct awareness and training sessions.
- Project Initiatives: Initiate ad hoc projects to support business objectives.
- Process Improvement: Collaborate with finance and accounting teams on process implementation, improvement, and change management initiatives.
29. Internal Controls Manager Details and Accountabilities
- Control Transformation: Participate in the transformation of the internal control function by supporting the implementation of ICFR (Internal Control over Financial Reporting) and SOX (Sarbanes-Oxley Act) compliance initiatives across the organization.
- SOX Strategy Execution: Support the execution of the SOX strategy, including annual scoping, planning, and coordination with key stakeholders.
- Audit Alignment: Contribute to the annual scoping exercise and align early with external auditors to ensure comprehensive coverage.
- Risk Assessment: Perform risk assessments and define appropriate mitigation activities related to internal controls.
- Program Management: Drive key program objectives by adhering to the annual SOX calendar and ensuring the timely completion of deliverables.
- Reporting Support: Assist in preparing periodic SOX 404 reports for senior management and the audit committee.
- Self-Assessment Management: Ensure timely completion of quarterly self-assessments and sub-certification processes.
- Process Documentation: Enhance understanding and documentation of end-to-end processes through walkthroughs and design assessments.
- Remediation Implementation: Collaborate with process and control owners to develop and implement remediation plans for identified control deficiencies.
- Change Management: Partner with process owners to evaluate and incorporate the impact of system, configuration, business, or process changes on the SOX program.
30. Internal Controls Manager Additional Details
- Policy Development: Assist in the development and implementation of internal control policies and procedures to strengthen the control environment.
- Global Projects: Participate in global projects aimed at improving the overall control and compliance framework.
- Training Leadership: Lead internal control training sessions and provide ongoing guidance to promote awareness and compliance.
- SOX Tool Management: Maintain the global SOX tool and ensure it is up to date and effectively utilized.
- Control Testing: Perform management testing of controls to assess their operational effectiveness.
- Audit Coordination: Work closely with internal and external auditors during testing, ensuring timely resolution of identified control failures and efficient coordination of SOX-related activities.
- IT Control Collaboration: Collaborate with the IT organization on IT General Controls (ITGC) and Segregation of Duties (SoD) to maintain a secure and compliant environment.
- Cross-Functional Engagement: Engage closely with regional and group finance, as well as key departments such as Legal and IT, to ensure alignment and effective execution of internal control initiatives.
- Process Implementation: Translate best practices and operational knowledge into implementable models, processes, and procedures.
- Fraud Investigation: Investigate potential internal fraud or errors, including unverified balance sheet accounts, third-party cost reconciliations, and the validity of vendor or technology agreements.
- Process Automation: Promote standardization and automation of control processes, applying best practices and leveraging technology to improve control design, testing, and documentation efficiency.
- Awareness Training: Develop and deliver regular training sessions and educational materials to business partners to build awareness and understanding of internal control objectives, risks, and methodologies.
31. Internal Controls Manager Essential Functions
- Risk Management: Review and update risk matrices, perform subsequent testing, and issue adequate reporting to the Group in line with management’s expectations.
- Access Control: Review system access rights and segregation of duties to ensure appropriate mitigations are in place.
- IT Process Optimization: Analyze and optimize IT processes, and define and design an IT Controls framework based on recognized international standards (e.g., ISO27001, COBIT5).
- Audit Coordination: Act as the main contact point for external auditors, including audit preparation, coordination, and responses.
- Compliance Support: Support management in ad hoc initiatives aimed at strengthening compliance efforts and implementing new tools.
- Documentation Management: Document processes, procedures, and user guides, ensuring clear communication across teams.
- Internal Control Reporting: Ensure that local internal control system (ICS) reporting aligns with Group expectations in terms of methodology and quality.
- Best Practice Sharing: Promote the sharing of internal control best practices across the organization.
- Audit Relationship Management: Support markets in managing relationships with internal auditors and provide expertise in resolving identified issues.
- Issue Resolution: Follow up on uncovered issues, analyze deficiencies, and support the implementation of corrective actions.
32. Internal Controls Manager Role Purpose
- Process Review: Review existing processes and controls for any gaps and opportunities for improvement, as well as standardization across relevant regions.
- Risk Assessment: Identify and evaluate risks and design corresponding control activities to maintain a robust controls environment.
- Process Testing: Conduct process tests to ensure adherence to processes and controls documented in the SOPs.
- Risk Alignment: Assess whether existing processes and controls are in line with the business’s risk appetite.
- Continuous Improvement: Manage continuous improvement projects involving new policies, processes, and systems.
- SOP Management: Create, update, and standardize SOPs that document the business policies, processes, and internal controls, and validate SOPs with relevant stakeholders.
- Remediation Planning: Develop remediation plans for any findings or control gaps from the process tests and internal or external audits.
- Stakeholder Communication: Communicate and obtain alignment on the remediation plan from all relevant stakeholders promptly.
- Status Reporting: Provide periodic status reporting of the remediation actions and projects to relevant stakeholders.
- Report Preparation: Support in the preparation of internal and external reports.
- Training Delivery: Provide training and guidance to functional stakeholders to drive behavioral alignment and adherence to the objectives of internal controls.
- Team Coaching: Provide clear coaching and guidance to direct reports.
33. Internal Controls Manager General Responsibilities
- Governance Collaboration: Understand and collaborate with financial and operational processes and systems to ensure strong governance and control.
- Integration Support: Support the effective integration of newly acquired entities into the Regional Internal Controls system to maintain consistency and compliance.
- Activity Coordination: Coordinate with Headquarters and Regional Internal Controls Leadership to plan, execute, and report the results of internal control activities within the Region.
- Control Evaluation: Evaluate the design and operational effectiveness of business controls and provide well-reasoned recommendations to management to address identified control gaps.
- System Enhancement: Partner with Headquarters and other compliance teams to assess and enhance the internal controls system across the Region.
- Advisory Expertise: Utilize subject matter expertise to serve as a consultant and advisor for assigned cycles, providing timely responses and guidance to control owners and leadership.
- Testing Coordination: Coordinate the planning and execution of design and operating effectiveness testing of business controls, including recruiting peer testers from other company functions.
- Methodology Development: Collaborate closely with the Regional Internal Controls Headquarters and other regional groups to develop an efficient and effective testing methodology and scope.
34. Internal Controls Manager Key Accountabilities
- Subject Matter Expertise: Serve as the local subject matter expert (SME) for internal control and SOX-related matters within the organization.
- Change Monitoring: Monitor the status of change initiatives and assess their impact on controls within a rapidly evolving shared services environment.
- Control Implementation: Lead efforts to identify, design, and implement effective internal controls that align with business objectives and compliance requirements.
- Management Consultation: Consult with and assist management in updating and implementing controls to ensure their adequacy, efficiency, and alignment with best practices.
- Remediation Advisory: Advise management on control remediation requirements and proactively track remediation progress through to completion.
- Process Enhancement: Identify and evaluate opportunities to enhance the effectiveness of internal control execution and audit processes.
- Control Testing: Perform and document walkthroughs and control testing under the management SOX testing program.
- Deficiency Assessment: Assist in evaluating and documenting the severity of control deficiencies, including likelihood and magnitude assessments.
- Training Development: Contribute to the development of training materials and deliver internal control and SOX compliance training to increase awareness and promote adherence.
- Audit Liaison: Act as the primary point of contact for internal and external audit teams regarding internal control discussions, findings, and remediation efforts.
35. Internal Controls Manager Roles and Details
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Develop strong cross-functional relationships to fully understand the business and identify opportunities to mitigate compliance risks.
- Compliance Leadership: Provide thought leadership and act as a subject matter expert in designing and implementing processes that minimize compliance risks while ensuring operational efficiency.
- Stakeholder Alignment: Build collaborative relationships with Sales, Finance, Legal, IT, and Commercial Operations teams to drive alignment and accountability.
- Process Monitoring: Collaborate with business process owners to monitor changes in business operations, processes, and systems to ensure timely updates of documentation, including SOPs and work instructions.
- Compliance Gap Analysis: Identify compliance gaps within commercial practices and partner with business teams to develop and execute corrective action plans.
- Compliance Training: Deliver training programs to promote a culture of compliance and foster stronger commercial practices across the organization.
- Documentation Management: Develop and maintain a centralized repository for all process documentation to ensure accessibility and version control.
- Process Review Planning: Create and manage an annual review plan to assess alignment with documented processes and identify potential control or compliance gaps.
- Remediation Implementation: Work with business owners to develop and implement remediation plans addressing identified deficiencies.
- Leadership Engagement: Engage regularly with all levels of management and senior leadership, internally and externally, to support continuous compliance improvement and risk mitigation.
36. Internal Controls Manager Responsibilities and Key Tasks
- Risk Assessment: Perform comprehensive risk assessments and advisory projects across financial, operational, IT, and compliance areas.
- Project Planning: Develop project plans that clearly define objectives, scope, and timelines for internal control and advisory initiatives.
- Project Execution: Execute projects efficiently while ensuring deliverables align with business priorities and risk management goals.
- Stakeholder Facilitation: Facilitate discussions with stakeholders to identify issues, assess risks, and develop actionable solutions.
- Team Leadership: Coordinate and lead cross-functional teams to build consensus on control improvements and process enhancements.
- Risk Mitigation: Verify that all identified risks are appropriately mitigated and documented through effective follow-up.
- Control Solutions: Propose pragmatic and sustainable control solutions.
- Risk Culture Promotion: Promote a culture of proactive risk management and collaboration across global teams.
37. Internal Controls Manager Duties and Roles
- Framework Implementation: Lead the assessment, development, and implementation of the Internal Control Framework to ensure operational consistency and efficiency.
- Policy Improvement: Maintain and continuously improve internal control policies to promote productivity and compliance across all processes.
- Operational Collaboration: Collaborate with Business Units and Corporate Support Services to embed control practices into day-to-day operations.
- Policy Compliance: Ensure that established policies are effectively followed and deliver the intended risk mitigation outcomes.
- Monitoring Management: Design and manage the Internal Controls Monitoring Deck to provide transparent visibility of compliance performance.
- Performance Improvement: Use monitoring results to drive stewardship, accountability, and continuous improvement across the organization.
- Audit Partnership: Partner with Internal Audit to address control gaps identified during audit reviews.
- Corrective Implementation: Implement sustainable corrective measures that prevent the recurrence of identified weaknesses.
- Financial Risk Assessment: Support management in identifying and assessing financial risks that could impact business integrity.
- Action Tracking: Track and monitor corrective actions to ensure timely and effective mitigation of financial risks.
- Control Awareness: Engage process owners through training sessions, interviews, and discussions to enhance internal control awareness.
- Documentation Oversight: Oversee the documentation and review of policies, guidelines, and project-related processes to ensure strong compliance and operational integrity.
38. Internal Controls Manager Roles and Responsibilities
- Risk Assessment Delivery: Drive and deliver the Enterprise Risk and Internal Control Assessment in line with requirements for the assigned regions, including the test of design and test of efficiency.
- Remediation Planning: Partner with local management to perform related tests of design and efficiency, and to develop remediation action plans.
- Progress Reporting: Provide progress updates to Senior Management and Internal Audit on the completion of testing activities and the status of remediation efforts against established target dates.
- Issue Resolution: Proactively identify and address any potential obstacles to ensure the timely and high-quality delivery of the Enterprise Risk and Internal Control Assessment.
- Audit Execution: Lead and perform operational and financial audits under the supervision of Internal Audit and in accordance with departmental standards.
- Findings Reporting: Identify and report findings and related risks to auditees and Senior Management, and develop practical, actionable recommendations for improvement.
- Business Understanding: Develop a broad understanding of the business and its associated risks by engaging and partnering with key stakeholders.
- Audit Support: Assist Internal Audit management in executing the annual risk assessment process, developing audit plans, and supporting other key initiatives and special projects.
39. Internal Controls Manager Details
- Risk Ownership: Ensure operational managers take ownership of risk and control responsibilities by providing support and guidance for process improvement, including follow-up on pending action plans.
- Control Accountability: Hold service delivery teams accountable for the consistent execution of daily controls.
- Control Inventory Management: Develop and maintain a comprehensive controls inventory, collaborating with the Risk function.
- Risk Mapping: Ensure controls are properly scored and accurately mapped to risks within each department’s Risk and Control Assessment (RCA).
- Process Optimization: Design and optimize internal control processes, including establishing universal controls that prevent and detect errors across all service delivery teams.
- Documentation Maintenance: Drive continuous updates of process documentation, including service delivery procedures, flowcharts, narratives, and risk/control matrices, to reflect current practices and standards.
- Control Gap Assessment: Assess control gaps, recommend practical solutions, and work with senior leaders to implement process improvement initiatives that address identified weaknesses.
- Committee Reporting: Prepare and present reports and presentations for the Risk Committee, highlighting control deficiencies, remediation progress, and control enhancement needs.
- Operational Liaison: Serve as the primary point of contact for operational issues, collaborating across teams to investigate, resolve, and document findings within the Risk Management System.
40. Internal Controls Manager Responsibilities
- SOX Execution: Assist in the execution of SOX activities managed by the Global Controllership team, including planning, scoping, control, and process documentation updates, and control rationalization.
- Control Design Assessment: Identify key processes and assess the design of key controls to ensure management has appropriate internal controls in place.
- Documentation Review: Review updates to control documentation to confirm that process flowcharts and controls are current and aligned with internal control standards.
- Control Guidance: Guide senior management, process owners, and control owners on internal control matters, including control design, documentation requirements, and compliance expectations.
- Awareness Building: Work with senior management, process owners, and control owners to raise awareness of their responsibility for maintaining effective internal controls.
- Change Impact Evaluation: Partner with the business to evaluate the impact of new acquisitions, system implementations or upgrades, organizational changes, and other significant operational changes on the control environment.
- Deficiency Management: Assist in evaluating, monitoring, and reporting control deficiencies, coordinating with management to ensure timely and effective remediation.
- Certification Support: Participate in the quarterly Section 302 certification process to support management’s internal control assertions.
- Audit Liaison: Liaise with Internal Audit and External Auditors regarding SOX scoping, internal control changes, and the status of control deficiencies.
41. Internal Controls Manager Duties
- Control Expertise: Act as the subject matter expert for the internal controls environment.
- Business Understanding: Obtain a thorough understanding of the company, general ledger, and financial reporting structure to accommodate and implement control changes effectively.
- Control Program Design: Collaborate with process owners, internal control consultants, and external auditors to design, develop, and document an efficient controls program that mitigates risks and remediates identified gaps.
- Environmental Adaptation: Interpret changes in the external environment that may affect internal control over financial reporting and ensure necessary updates are made.
- Corrective Action Reporting: Partner with management to develop formal written reports communicating corrective action plans based on internal and external assessments, and perform follow-ups to ensure timely execution.
- Control Auditing: Gather and analyze testing evidence to conduct audits of control processes and provide practical, value-driven recommendations for improvement.
- Control Education: Work closely with business process owners responsible for control design and operating effectiveness, educating them on control requirements and SOX compliance expectations.
- Program Management: Plan and lead periodic updates of the internal controls program, including conducting an annual assessment with senior leadership.
- Stakeholder Relationship: Build and maintain strong relationships with business process owners and senior management to promote a culture of accountability and compliance.
- Strategic Support: Assist and participate in strategic initiatives, ad hoc projects, and analytical reviews to support continuous improvement of the internal control framework.
42. Internal Controls Manager Job Summary
- Program Management: Manage the implementation and execution of the Global Internal Control Program.
- Policy Compliance: Review and promote compliance with policies designed to mitigate risk.
- Process Improvement: Collaborate with executives to develop process improvement initiatives and eliminate control risks within business units.
- SoD Analysis: Implement segregation of duties (SoD) analysis processes to strengthen internal control integrity.
- Fraud Reporting: Administer Fraud and Disclosure Reporting documentation for all entities, ensuring timely submission to the Global Controlling team.
- Audit Coordination: Coordinate with internal and external auditors to maintain effective communication, maximize reliance on management’s work, respond to review comments, and ensure resolution of issues identified during testing.
- Framework Enhancement: Drive continuous improvement within the existing control framework and promote an internal control model that can be replicated across all business units.
- Documentation Maintenance: Continuously update process documentation, including flowcharts, narratives, and risk/control matrices.
- Acquisition Integration: Support acquisition integrations to ensure the Internal Controls Program is effectively implemented across new operations.
- Operational Support: Assist the Finance Operations team with ad hoc projects.
43. Internal Controls Manager Accountabilities
- SOX Compliance: Drive compliance with global SOX programs by maintaining best-in-class documentation of the company’s internal control environment.
- Risk Identification: Identify risk areas, process risk points, control gaps, and develop remediation or mitigation plans.
- Testing Coordination: Coordinate internal resources to ensure timely testing, proper documentation of results, and prompt resolution of identified issues.
- Stakeholder Partnership: Build strong relationships with business partners and act as a trusted advisor in maintaining control and process documentation, including policies, procedures, flowcharts, narratives, and control matrices.
- Reporting and Communication: Document and report internal control testing results and remedial actions to senior management, clearly communicating control gaps and deficiencies to process owners and business leaders.
- Process Improvement: Continuously pursue process improvements to uphold SOX compliance requirements and remain informed about emerging developments in SOX legislation, the COSO framework, and PCAOB standards.
- Audit Collaboration: Collaborate with internal and external auditors to support audit execution and ensure efficient resolution of identified findings.
- IT Compliance: Work closely with IT management to assess key financial systems for compliance and to lead change management initiatives that strengthen the internal control environment.
- Audit Execution: Design and execute operational audit programs, including process walkthroughs, interviews, and testing procedures to evaluate the design and operational effectiveness of key controls.
- Framework Enhancement: Identify and implement opportunities to enhance the internal control framework, driving greater efficiency, risk mitigation, and business value.
44. Internal Controls Manager Functions
- Audit Relationship Management: Manage relationships with outsourced internal audit firms and external financial statement auditors, overseeing timelines, coordinating information requests, and ensuring the timely delivery of all audit-related materials.
- System Administration: Administer and maintain the BlackLine application used for financial close reconciliation, internal control execution, and process documentation.
- Reporting Oversight: Generate and distribute status reports from BlackLine throughout the financial close process to help department managers track progress and monitor completion of key activities.
- SLA Management: Manage service level agreement (SLA) relationships with sub-advised affiliated funds, ensuring adherence to compliance and performance standards.
- Control Monitoring: Continuously monitor and update internal control risk and control matrices, along with supporting documentation, to identify weaknesses and enhance the overall control framework.
- Process Design: Design and implement new processes and controls to address identified gaps, improve operational efficiency, and strengthen compliance.
- Deficiency Remediation: Assist in assessing, remediating, and tracking the resolution of control deficiencies to maintain an effective internal control environment.
- Special Assignments: Perform additional internal control operations and special assignments as directed by management.
- Problem Solving: Exercise sound judgment and problem-solving skills when addressing issues that arise during internal control or accounting activities.
- Process Optimization: Recognize interdependencies within accounting processes and recommend adjustments to the Financial Close Calendar to prevent scheduling conflicts and ensure process efficiency.
45. Internal Controls Manager Job Description
- Data Analysis: Focus on analyzing and interpreting transaction data to identify potentially suspicious or high-risk orders.
- Risk Framework Development: Develop and implement a comprehensive compliance and risk management framework, incorporating robust internal controls and Know Your Customer (KYC) standards for dealers and business partners.
- Policy Management: Establish, communicate, and maintain policies, systems, and controls to ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations while mitigating operational and fraud risks.
- Control Monitoring: Monitor adherence to control procedures and policies across Retail, Operations, Finance, HR, and Sales in accordance with established SOPs, manuals, and guidelines.
- Compliance Oversight: Oversee staff compliance with all internal policies, systems, and controls through ad hoc reviews or in response to external regulatory or audit requests.
- Policy Enhancement: Continuously review and update policies, systems, and control procedures to ensure they remain effective and aligned with current risks and business practices.
- Risk Advisory: Advise management, business units, and support functions on risk management, fraud prevention, and compliance to strengthen operations and minimize exposure.
- Training Management: Manage day-to-day internal control activities and conduct regular training sessions to promote awareness, understanding, and compliance across the organization.
- Control Improvement: Identify weaknesses in control design or execution, recommend corrective actions to the Executive Team, and support remediation in partnership with risk owners and enterprise risk management.
- Knowledge Documentation: Document best practices, key learnings, and success stories to drive continuous improvement and institutional learning.
- Representation: Represent the Internal Controls function in internal and external working groups to promote alignment, collaboration, and consistent implementation of control standards.
- Stakeholder Coordination: Liaise with shareholder internal control teams to ensure consistency in approach, governance, and compliance across all control-related activities.
46. Internal Controls Manager Overview
- Framework Development: Support the Director of Internal Controls in developing and maintaining the Internal Controls Framework, translating control objectives into actionable control procedures.
- Process Integration: Work with business units and functional teams to embed internal controls into process documentation, such as process flows, standard operating procedures, and working instructions, while implementing best practices in control standards, ways of working, and automation.
- Control Implementation: Develop and implement internal controls across assigned businesses, functions, and strategic initiatives to enhance compliance and operational efficiency.
- Continuous Improvement: Execute key priorities in collaboration with business stakeholders and process owners to drive continuous improvement and strengthen control effectiveness.
- Roadmap Alignment: Establish and align on roadmaps to address identified priority areas and close existing control gaps.
- Progress Monitoring: Monitor the preparation of gap analyses and roadmap progress across business units and functions, providing guidance and support to those lagging.
- Self-Assessment Oversight: Lead and collaborate both within and outside the Internal Controls team to design, implement, and oversee self-assessment programs, ensuring timely monitoring and completion of action plans.
- Tool Implementation: Work with team members to implement necessary tools and processes for maintaining the internal controls framework and related documentation.
- Change Management: Participate in and lead change management, communication, and training initiatives to promote awareness, understanding, and adoption of internal controls across the organization.
47. Internal Controls Manager Details and Accountabilities
- Framework Monitoring: Directly support multiple businesses across the region to monitor the proper implementation, execution, and documentation of the company’s internal control framework, ensuring compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
- Stakeholder Collaboration: Establish effective working relationships with key internal stakeholders, management, and internal/external auditors, collaborate to resolve issues, and implement efficient control solutions while maintaining independence and objectivity as part of the second line of defense.
- Issue Reporting: Support quarterly reviews to identify and aggregate control-related issues within scope and report to executive leadership on the severity of deficiencies and coordinated remediation plans.
- Risk Assessment: Participate in the financial reporting risk assessment process to identify key risks of misstatement, determine materiality, allocate controls across businesses, and report on any gaps identified in control coverage.
- Audit Support: Act as a key stakeholder for external audits and advise the business on risk and control-related matters to meet PCAOB auditing requirements.
- Change Advisory: Engage proactively with management to act as a “change agent” and advisor on risk and control concepts during major strategic initiatives involving people, processes, or technology.
- Business Integration: Lead control onboarding and integration of newly acquired businesses, including SOX readiness assessments and compliance training.
- Process Standardization: Support the Internal Controls Director in identifying opportunities to improve and standardize processes and controls across the organization, both regionally and globally.
- Testing Liaison: Partner with team members and stakeholders as a liaison for the management testing program, evaluating testing results, and overall work quality.
- Control Review: Plan and perform independent control reviews to assess whether controls are effectively designed and operating as intended to mitigate financial reporting risks.
- Remediation Management: Coordinate action plan management to ensure timely remediation of identified deficiencies and control gaps.
- Training Delivery: Conduct periodic training sessions to enhance awareness of internal controls, SOX requirements, and audit expectations across the organization.
48. Internal Controls Manager Tasks
- Risk Assessment: Develop company-wide and business process-specific risk assessments to evaluate and address any potential impact on the control environment.
- Control Design: Assist in the design and implementation of efficient and effective controls across the organization to strengthen compliance and operational integrity.
- Documentation Preparation: Prepare documentation such as process flowcharts, narratives, and risk and control matrices, and perform evaluations of control effectiveness.
- Risk Evaluation: Identify and assess business and technology risks, the internal controls that mitigate those risks, and opportunities for control enhancement and implementation.
- Analytical Thinking: Apply problem-solving and critical thinking skills to identify internal control deficiencies, assess their risk implications, and draw appropriate conclusions.
- Decision Support: Actively engage in decision-making with process owners, providing meaningful insights while understanding the broader organizational impact of decisions.
- Reporting and Communication: Ensure that observations and recommendations are clear, concise, actionable, and well-documented, with an established process for communication and clearance.
- Stakeholder Collaboration: Build and maintain strong working relationships with process owners by delivering high-quality outputs and providing tools and templates that help them achieve their objectives effectively.
- Process Review: Conduct regular meetings and walkthroughs with process owners to ensure process changes are documented and assessed for potential control gaps.
- Training Support: Support process owners through training, process reviews, and expert guidance to promote continuous improvement.
- Regulatory Awareness: Stay current on changes in regulatory guidance, industry best practices, and external audit focus areas to ensure ongoing compliance.
- Compliance Engagement: Actively build and manage relationships with stakeholders across the organization to promote awareness and adherence to compliance initiatives.
- Audit Coordination: Facilitate communication and requests between control owners and external auditors to ensure timely coordination.
- Project Assistance: Assist in ad hoc projects and initiatives to support internal control and compliance objectives.
49. Internal Controls Manager Additional Details
- ICFR Compliance: Support the end-to-end Internal Controls over Financial Reporting (ICFR) compliance for the company, including Business Process Controls, IT General Controls (ITGC), and Entity Level Controls (ELC), to ensure Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) compliance.
- Control Expertise: Serve as a subject matter expert on internal controls, SOX compliance, and risk management.
- Risk Scoping: Conduct risk assessments using qualitative and quantitative factors to determine the annual SOX scope, including key systems.
- Process Walkthroughs: Lead process walkthrough meetings and create, maintain, and update process flow diagrams, narratives, and Risk Control Matrices (RCMs).
- Stakeholder Engagement: Develop strong relationships with process owners and provide subject matter expertise in the design, implementation, and enhancement of controls.
- Testing Management: Manage and coordinate the annual controls testing plan, including testing of key controls, review of key reports, automated controls, and SOC reports.
- Deficiency Management: Review and assess control deficiencies, develop remediation plans, and evaluate the adequacy of mitigating controls.
- Process Automation: Improve automation of control certifications and testing processes through the use of tools such as AuditBoard.
- Results Reporting: Prepare and report results from the Internal Control Questionnaire (ICQ) and control testing activities.
- Policy Enhancement: Make recommendations for accounting policy updates and enhancements.
- Disclosure Management: Manage quarterly and annual SOX 302 and 404 disclosure processes to ensure compliance and completeness.
- Audit Reporting: Prepare and deliver reports on SOX scoping, testing status, observations, and remediation progress for stakeholders, including process owners, management, leadership, and the Audit Committee.
50. Internal Controls Manager Roles
- Control Environment Oversight: Ensure through training programs, Controls Self-Assessments, and collaboration with Internal and External Auditors that the company’s internal control environment is properly established and operating effectively.
- Audit Supervision: Supervise and perform financial, operational, and compliance audits to evaluate control effectiveness and identify improvement opportunities.
- Policy Development: Develop policies and audit plans by performing annual risk assessments and working with department heads to ensure enforcement of established policies and procedures.
- Control Evaluation: Collaborate with business process owners to understand and evaluate internal control design, modifying controls to ensure all processes affecting financial reporting are properly managed and documented.
- Audit Documentation: Document, summarize, and discuss audit results with process owners to agree on management’s responses and remediation actions when deficiencies are identified.
- Control Testing: Determine the effectiveness of the control structure through detailed substantive testing.
- Audit Communication: Communicate areas for improvement or concerns regarding the internal control structure clearly and efficiently through verbal and written reports.
- Performance Monitoring: Monitor and analyze project performance, explaining actual versus budget variances for time spent on individual projects.
- Policy Adherence: Adhere to all company policies, procedures, and compliance requirements.
- Safety Compliance: Ensure personal behaviors and work practices align with company safety standards and promote a culture of safety and accountability.
- Safety Leadership: Take responsibility for the safety of self and others, including employees, vendors, and visitors.
- Risk Prevention: Provide visible leadership engagement, maintain awareness of workplace conditions, and take appropriate safety precautions to prevent risks.
- Safe Work Practices: Avoid shortcuts or unsafe practices and work proactively with others to ensure safety compliance.
- Incident Reporting: Report all incidents promptly and ensure they are properly investigated in accordance with company procedures.
51. Internal Controls Manager Essential Functions
- SOX Oversight: Provide oversight for the entire SOX process, including planning, scoping, control design, and support for deficiency remediation.
- Documentation Management: Prepare and maintain SOX documentation such as narratives, flowcharts, control descriptions, and control testing records.
- Program Optimization: Continuously improve the SOX program through optimization and automation to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.
- Risk Identification: Understand business risks and challenges, identifying opportunities for process improvement and control enhancement.
- Transformation Support: Support the implementation of transformational changes to ensure the department and company are prepared for an IPO.
- Stakeholder Collaboration: Build strong relationships with business partners and act as a trusted advisor to maintain and update process documentation, including policies, procedures, narratives, and control matrices.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Demonstrate the ability to collaborate productively with stakeholders across all levels of the organization.
- Audit Coordination: Coordinate and work closely with internal and external auditors to facilitate efficient audits of internal controls.
- Team Management: Manage internal staff and third-party providers to complete SOX documentation and control testing across various business processes.
- Training Development: Develop and deliver training for staff, IT, and business teams on topics such as SOX documentation, access controls, reconciliations, close checklists, SOX compliance, and SOC reporting.
- System Administration: Administer SOX software and maintain internal control documentation to ensure data integrity and accuracy.
- Continuous Improvement: Promote a culture of continuous improvement, driving change and innovation within the department.
- IPO Readiness: Prepare the department for IPO readiness by improving processes, sourcing and implementing technology solutions, and ensuring appropriate staffing and expertise.
- Deficiency Remediation: Remediate control deficiencies promptly and effectively.
- Strategic Support: Assist SOX leadership with special projects and initiatives to strengthen the control environment and support strategic objectives.
Relevant Information