Sr Lead, Internal Controls Transformation & Operations

ICT Operations Leader

The ICT Operations Leader serves as primary operational partner to ICT Leadership, ICT Process Workstream Leaders, and ICT Technology Assurance leadership. The role coordinates closely with Finance, Internal Audit, and External Audit to drive disciplined execution, resolve issues, and influence outcomes across the enterprise SOX / ICFR program.

This role is responsible for running, scaling, and modernizing the SOX / ICFR operating model, with ownership of program operations, governance, enablement platforms, and execution discipline. The ICT Operations Leader translates strategy into a high‑performing, repeatable operating model and partners closely with stakeholders to ensure the program operates efficiently, consistently, and with increasing leverage from technology and automation.

This is a functional leadership role well‑suited for a Senior Manager with experience in public accounting, SOX advisory, or enterprise ICFR operations who is ready to transition from client service or execution into enterprise program ownership and operational leadership.

Key Responsibilities

• Enterprise SOX Program Operations & Governance
• Own day‑to‑day ICT program operations, ensuring effective execution of the SOX / ICFR program
• Execute SOX strategy under the direction of ICT leadership, translating objectives into governance structures, operating rhythms, and execution standards
• Establish and maintain functional policies, standards, templates, frameworks, methodologies, and program‑level operating procedures
• Ensure consistency, quality, and discipline across process and technology workstreams
• Program Planning, Milestones & Reporting
• Own enterprise SOX program planning and orchestration, including program‑level Gantt and milestone planning/tracking, manage cross‑workstream dependencies and critical path
• Lead program status reporting for senior leadership, including progress against plan, key risks and issues, execution capacity and trade‑offs
• Provide clear, decision‑useful visibility into program health and execution readiness
• Functional Operations Technology Ownership
• Serve as the business owner for ICT functional platforms, including AuditBoard
• Own platform strategy, configuration standards, adoption, and roadmap
• Ensure ICT tool optimization, ensuring effective support end‑to‑end SOX execution, evidence management and reporting, and integration across process and technology assurance
• Drive continuous improvement in how technology enables efficiency, consistency, and scalability
• Functional AI Integration & Enablement
• Lead ICT's functional AI integration strategy, identifying practical use cases
• Drive responsible adoption of AI to support program execution
• Ensure AI enablement is governed, explainable, aligned with internal control objectives
• Functional Budgeting & Resource Strategy
• Own ICT functional budgeting and financial management, including annual resource budget planning, forecasting and spend management, and informing trade‑off decisions across tools, co‑sourcing, and internal capacity
• Ensure functional investments are aligned to program scalability and modernization priorities
• Act as a steward of cost discipline and value realization for the function
• ICT Talent Development & Capability Building
• Own ICT talent and capability strategy, including
• Role clarity and skill expectations
• Development paths for process and technology leaders
• Succession planning and bench strength
• Build a high‑performing team that evolves from execution‑focused to judgment‑driven, compliance‑oriented to assurance‑ and risk‑oriented
• Foster a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and operational excellence
• Co‑Source & External Partner Engagement
• Support in engaging co‑sourcing and external advisory relationships, particularly to support acquisitions, integrations, surge capacity during peak periods
• Support in engaging external auditors for SOC1s
• Ensure external partners operate within ICT standards, tools, and governance expectations
• Balance internal capability building with targeted external leverage

Experience & Qualifications

Required Experience

• 10–12+ years of progressive experience in public accounting (SOX, ICFR, or advisory), and/or enterprise SOX / ICFR program leadership
• Demonstrated experience running large, complex SOX programs, establishing governance standards and integrating execution discipline, and managing multi‑workstream initiatives
• Ability to operate as a Senior Manager, exercising judgment in ambiguous, high‑visibility environments

Preferred Experience

• Experience with SOX enablement platforms (e.g., AuditBoard or similar)
• Exposure to technology‑enabled or data‑driven control environments
• Experience supporting acquisitions or large‑scale transformations
• Background in financial services, technology‑enabled services, or other complex, regulated environments

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Information Systems, or a related field
• CPA, CIA, CISA, PMP or similar certification preferred but not required