AVP – Internal Controls

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in Iowa.

📋 Description

• Define the vision, strategy, and roadmap for the Internal Controls department, including its mandate, structure, and operational procedures.

• Act as the subject matter expert on internal controls, offering guidance and education to business partners and senior management.

• Create and sustain a comprehensive, risk-based SOX compliance program that aligns with regulatory requirements and assures the integrity of the company’s internal controls over financial reporting (ICFR).

• Lead walkthroughs of critical business processes and collaborate with process owners throughout the company to design effective, preventative, and efficient controls.

• Carry out thorough risk assessments to identify, evaluate, and prioritize financial reporting and operational risks associated with the P&C insurance business.

• Assess and enhance the company's control environment by providing strategic risk guidance and designing appropriate mitigating controls.

• Establish and track key risk and performance indicators to enable early detection of risk trends and possible control deficiencies.

• Integrate into key company initiatives to provide risk and control advisory support during system upgrades and implementations.

• Lead the assessment of control deficiencies to uncover root causes and impacts, collaborating with process owners to formulate effective remediation plans.

• Foster a culture of continuous improvement, challenging existing processes and working with cross-functional teams to identify and implement efficiencies.

• Assess controls and processes for opportunities to utilize automation and new technologies, minimizing manual effort and enhancing control effectiveness.

• Collaborate with management to deliver value-added recommendations that effectively address identified control weaknesses in a sustainable manner.

• Act as the main contact for all SOX and internal control issues, liaising directly with the company’s internal and external auditors.

• Provide regular updates to senior leadership and the Audit Committee regarding the status of the internal control environment, emphasizing key risks and progress on remediation efforts.

• Work in conjunction with other governance and risk functions (e.g., Enterprise Risk Management, Compliance, Internal Audit) to ensure a comprehensive and cohesive approach to risk management.

⛳️ Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or a related field is preferred.

• Certification as an Internal Auditor (CIA) or a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) is highly desirable.

• Over 12 years of experience in internal audit, internal controls, or public accounting, preferably within the insurance or financial services sectors.

• Demonstrated experience in designing and implementing a SOX compliance program, including leading risk assessments and control design documentation.

• Proven experience in a public company setting, with a strong understanding of SEC and PCAOB regulations pertaining to ICFR.

• Experience in building and managing a team, including recruiting, hiring, and developing talent.

• Extensive knowledge of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, COSO framework, and US GAAP.

• Outstanding analytical skills with the capacity to identify, analyze, and interpret complex business processes and risks.

• Proven capability to drive process improvements and implement automated control solutions.

• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to effectively present complex information to all organizational levels.

• Strong leadership, interpersonal, and collaborative skills to influence change without direct authority.

🏝️ Benefits

• Annual incentive compensation

• Medical, dental, vision & life insurance

• Accident, critical illness & short-term disability insurance

• Retirement plans with employer contributions

• Generous time-off program

• Programs designed to support employee well-being and financial security