Manager Global Risk & Controls - Chicago, IL

Manager Global Risk & Controls - Chicago, IL Role Overview The Manager of Audit Readiness, Controls, and Policy Governance plays a critical role in building and sustaining a strong, scalable, and audit‑ready organization. This role integrates external audit coordination, internal control design and oversight, and finance policy governance into a cohesive mandate aligned with SOX, COSO, GAAP, and regulatory requirements. Serving as a key partner to Controllership, IT, Internal Audit, and business leaders, this role embeds effective controls into day‑to‑day operations, ERP implementations, and business transformations, including acquisitions. The Manager acts as a trusted advisor, balancing rigor and practicality to enable growth while maintaining a well‑controlled and transparent environment. Key Responsibilities External Audit Readiness and Coordination Serve as the primary finance liaison for external auditors, owning the end‑to‑end audit readiness and coordination process. Manage and oversee audit request lists (PBCs), ensuring timely, accurate, and complete submissions from stakeholders. Provide clear status reporting, facilitate walkthroughs, and coordinate responses to audit inquiries to drive efficient audits with minimal disruption. Proactively identify and resolve potential audit issues, ensuring alignment on expectations, scope, and documentation. Internal Controls, Risk, and SOX/COSO Compliance Lead periodic risk assessments and design, document, and enhance key business and IT‑dependent controls in response to process changes, system implementations, and identified gaps. Oversee the effectiveness of application controls, including system configuration, automated calculations, access management, and system‑enforced approvals. Evaluate and monitor interface controls to ensure accuracy, completeness, timeliness, and reconciliation of data transfers across systems. Embed control ownership and accountability by partnering closely with process owners and control operators. Own remediation planning, execution tracking, and management testing to ensure timely, effective, and sustainable issue resolution. Act as the finance controls lead for ERP implementations and major system upgrades, embedding SOX and COSO‑aligned controls into process design, role design, configuration decisions, and post‑go‑live stabilization efforts. Finance Policy Governance Lead the end‑to‑end lifecycle of finance policies and procedures, from interpretation and design through approval, implementation, and ongoing maintenance. Build and maintain a centralized policy repository with version control, approval history, and clear ownership. Translate complex accounting standards, regulatory requirements, and control expectations into clear, practical guidance for global stakeholders. Drive consistency and scalability through standardized templates, structures, naming conventions, and style guides across entities and regions. Facilitate governance forums to review policy updates, interpret requirements, resolve implementation questions, and drive alignment. Manage policy exceptions, deviations, and escalations, ensuring appropriate approvals, documentation, and risk assessment. Growth, Transformation, and M&A Support Support pre‑ and post‑acquisition activities, including control gap assessments, policy alignment, and integration into the SOX and governance framework. Partner with finance and transformation leaders to assess risk and control implications of new business models, process redesigns, and strategic initiatives. What Success Looks Like External audits are well‑coordinated, efficient, and completed with strong auditor confidence and minimal rework. Controls are embedded into systems and processes, not managed as after‑the‑fact compliance activities. Finance policies are clear, current, consistently applied, and well understood across the organization. The role is viewed as a trusted advisor by finance, IT, and business leaders on risk, controls, and governance matters. Required Skills and Qualifications Education Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, or a related field. Experience 7+ years of progressive experience in financial controls, controllership, audit, or risk management within public accounting and/or complex corporate environments. Demonstrated experience supporting SOX compliance, external audits, ERP implementations, and process or system transformations. Technical and Professional Knowledge Strong understanding of SOX, COSO, GAAP, and risk assessment methodologies. Solid working knowledge of financial systems, system integrations, and technology‑enabled and automated controls. Proven ability to design, draft, and govern finance policies and procedures within a structured governance framework. Core Competencies Excellent analytical, writing, editing, and verbal communication skills. Strong project and program management capabilities with the ability to lead through influence. Sound judgment and ability to balance precision and pragmatism in complex or evolving environments. High attention to detail with a proactive, problem‑solving mindset. Preferred Certifications CPA (Certified Public Accountant) CIA (Certified Internal Auditor) CISA (Certified Information Systems Auditor) or other relevant professional certifications ADM requires the successful completion of a background check. #J-18808-Ljbffr