Accounting Manager Enterprise SOX Optimization and Automation (Senior Advisor)

Accounting Manager (Senior Advisor), Enterprise Sox Optimization And Automation

The Cigna Group is seeking an Accounting Manager (Senior Advisor), Enterprise SOX Optimization and Automation, to support Enterprise SOX modernization and help advance a more technology-enabled, risk-focused, and scalable SOX program. This experienced individual contributor will serve as a SOX controls and automation subject matter expert, partnering across Finance, Technology, Operations, Internal Audit, and external auditors to optimize control design and enable sustainable automation and continuous monitoring capabilities.

The role will focus on SOX program technology, reporting, analytics, automated testing, continuous controls monitoring, control rationalization, process mapping, and controls advisory support for enterprise transformation initiatives. The ideal candidate brings 57 years of SOX experience, preferably through Big 4 risk consulting, and can translate complex control requirements into practical business and technology solutions.

Key Responsibilities

SOX Technology, Reporting, Analytics, and Automation

• Enhance SOX technology capabilities, including Optro (formerly AuditBoard) reporting, dashboards, analytics, automated testing, and repeatable testing routines.
• Design and support continuous controls monitoring to provide scalable, data-driven insight into control performance and risk trends.
• Translate control failures, audit findings, process pain points, and recurring manual testing into automation and monitoring use cases.
• Partner with business, data, analytics, and Technology teams to define requirements, validate data sources, and support implementation.

Control Rationalization, Optimization, and Automation

• Lead SOX control rationalization and optimization with process owners, control owners, Technology partners, Internal Audit, and external auditors.
• Assess controls to identify duplication, excessive manual effort, limited risk coverage, and opportunities to improve precision, efficiency, automation, and sustainability.
• Recommend control redesign options that reduce manual or detective controls while maintaining alignment with SOX, COSO, PCAOB, and internal expectations.
• Prepare clear documentation, decision support, and stakeholder-ready recommendations for optimization opportunities.

Process Mapping, Risk Identification, and Control Design

• Perform process mapping and analysis to identify financial reporting risks, data dependencies, system touchpoints, control points, and control design requirements.
• Develop and maintain process narratives, flowcharts, risk and control matrices, control documentation, and implementation materials.
• Advise on automated business process controls, IT-dependent or automated controls, and key report controls.
• Evaluate key reports, spreadsheets, and system-generated data used in SOX control performance.

Transformation, System Change, and Control Advisory Support

• Provide SOX impact assessments and control design advisory support for transformation projects, system implementations, process redesigns, technology enhancements, and AI adoption.
• Assess risks related to data integrity, system changes, access, interfaces, configurations, and technology-enabled financial reporting processes.
• Advise teams on integrating control requirements before go-live for new processes and technology changes.
• Support interim control design, implementation readiness, and testing considerations during phased rollouts or transition periods.

Stakeholder Influence, Guidance, and Communications

• Serve as a trusted controls advisor to Finance, Technology, and Operations stakeholders.
• Translate technical SOX requirements into practical business and technology guidance.
• Develop guidance, training, communications, templates, and playbooks to strengthen control awareness and consistency.
• Prepare executive-ready updates on modernization progress, risks, issues, automation opportunities, and expected benefits.

Qualifications

Background and Experience Required

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Information Systems, Business, Risk Management, or related field.
• 57 years of relevant SOX, internal controls, audit, risk consulting, technology risk, or controls transformation experience.
• Big 4 risk consulting, IT audit, assurance, or advisory experience strongly preferred.
• Strong knowledge of SOX, ICFR, COSO, PCAOB expectations, and control design principles.
• Hands-on experience with business process controls, ITGCs, AI controls, key report controls, documentation, testing, remediation, audit coordination, and advisory activities.
• Experience with SOX technology or GRC platforms, preferably Optro/AuditBoard or comparable tools such as Workiva.
• Experience with data analytics, reporting, dashboarding, automated testing, or control automation initiatives.
• Professional certification such as CPA, CISA, CIA, CRMA, or equivalent preferred.

Technical Competencies

• SOX risk assessment, scoping, control rationalization, optimization, and lifecycle management.
• Process mapping, narratives, data flow documentation, and RCM development.
• SOX reporting requirements, data quality, usability, and stakeholder visibility.
• Understanding of data integrity, system change, access, configuration, reporting, and interface risks impacting financial reporting.
• Data analytics and automation skills, including advanced Excel and familiarity with Power BI, Alteryx, SQL, Python, or similar tools strongly preferred.

Leadership and Professional Competencies

• Experienced individual contributor who leads through influence, expertise, sound judgment, and stakeholder partnership.
• Ability to simplify complex control concepts for technical and non-technical audiences.
• Strong executive presence, written communication, facilitation, and presentation skills.
• Critical thinking, intellectual curiosity, and ability to identify root causes, risk themes, and practical improvement opportunities.
• Strong project management discipline, with ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver high-quality work in a dynamic environment.
• Collaborative, proactive, and comfortable working through ambiguity while building cross-functional alignment.
• High attention to detail, professional skepticism, and commitment to sustainable, audit-ready outcomes.

Ideal Experience

• Implemented continuous controls monitoring, automated testing, data analytics, or technology-enabled SOX testing capabilities.
• Supported enterprise transformation, ERP, finance system, workflow, reporting, automation, or AI projects in a control advisory role.
• Prepared executive materials, business cases, and stakeholder updates related to control optimization, risk reduction, remediation, or modernization.
• Worked in a large, complex, matrixed, regulated, or publicly traded organization.
• Partnered with auditors and stakeholders to align on control design changes, testing approaches, and documentation expectations.