Senior Director of SOX

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Overview

We are seeking an exceptional

Senior Director, Head of SOX

to lead and elevate our Sarbanes-Oxley compliance program as we continue maturing as a public company. We need a proven SOX expert with deep technical expertise—not a generalist internal audit background—to strengthen our internal controls over financial reporting (ICFR) in a highly complex technology infrastructure and business environment.

This is a transformational role requiring someone who can assess our current state, identify opportunities for enhancement, and implement sustainable improvements. As many stakeholders are still building their public company expertise, you will need to balance education and enablement with driving continued maturation of our controls framework. This role demands someone who thrives in technical complexity and can dive extraordinarily deep into complex IT General Controls (ITGCs) and IT Application Controls (ITACs).

About The Role

You will own the complete SOX compliance lifecycle—from scoping and risk assessment through testing, remediation, and continuous improvement. Given our organization's complexity and the team's evolving SOX maturity, you must be both a technical expert and an effective educator, capable of building SOX competency across finance, technology, and operations while strengthening our foundational controls.

Critical Focus Areas Include

Program enhancement and maturation

: You'll evaluate our existing SOX program, identify areas for strengthening, and implement improvements to ensure we continue building a robust, efficient compliance framework.

Deep technical expertise in ITGCs and ITACs

: You'll navigate complex technology environments, including modern cloud architectures, APIs, data pipelines, DevOps practices, and integrated systems. Surface-level understanding won't suffice—you must go into the weeds to truly understand control design and operating effectiveness.

Education And Enablement

: You'll continue developing organizational SOX capability through training programs and hands-on guidance to stakeholders building their public company expertise.

Framework optimization

: You'll refine and mature our controls framework, making it more efficient, risk-based, and scalable for our unique business model and technology stack.

You'll partner closely with executive leadership, finance, IT/Engineering, external auditors, and other key stakeholders to establish financial reporting integrity and build sustainable compliance practices.

About The Team

You'll lead and strengthen the SOX compliance function, establishing it as a trusted center of excellence. You'll work across the organization—collaborating with finance, accounting, IT, security, legal, and business operations—to embed controls thinking into how we operate. This is a high-impact, high-visibility role where your expertise will directly shape our compliance maturity and risk posture.

Key Responsibilities

SOX Program Leadership & Optimization

Lead the end-to-end SOX compliance program, driving continuous improvement and maturation

Assess and enhance our scoping methodology to ensure appropriate coverage of in-scope systems, processes, and controls

Refine process narratives, risk-control matrices, and control documentation for clarity and completeness

Execute risk assessments to validate and prioritize key financial, operational, and IT controls

Ensure compliance with Section 404(b) of SOX and PCAOB audit standards

Identify and implement efficiency opportunities while maintaining control effectiveness

IT Controls Expertise (ITGCs & ITACs)

Go exceptionally deep

into IT General Controls across access management, change management, computer operations, and program development

Assess and strengthen IT Application Controls within complex, interconnected technology environments

Evaluate controls in modern tech stacks including cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP), SaaS applications, custom-built systems, data warehouses, and integration layers

Understand technical architectures sufficiently to identify control gaps and design effective, practical controls

Partner with IT, Engineering, and Security teams to implement sustainable technology controls

Education & Organizational Development

Develop and deliver SOX training programs for employees at all levels, from executives to process owners

Create educational materials, playbooks, and resources to build SOX literacy across the organization

Serve as the go-to SOX subject matter expert, providing guidance and answering complex technical questions

Build a culture of controls awareness and compliance accountability

Testing & Remediation

Design and execute comprehensive control testing programs (design and operating effectiveness)

Identify control deficiencies, assess severity, and drive timely remediation with process owners

Document testing results, deficiencies, and management responses with precision and clarity

Track remediation efforts and validate effectiveness of corrective actions

Ensure lessons learned inform ongoing improvements

Governance & Reporting

Report regularly to the CFO, Audit Committee, and SteerCo on SOX program status, risks, and deficiencies

Prepare management's assessment of ICFR effectiveness for SEC filings

Develop executive-level dashboards and metrics to provide transparency into compliance status

Build confidence with leadership and the Audit Committee through clear, proactive communication

External Audit Management

Serve as primary liaison with external auditors (PwC) for SOX-related matters

Coordinate audit planning, walkthroughs, testing, and issue resolution with internal auditors (EY)

Provide timely, complete documentation and responses to auditor requests

Manage audit timelines and deliverables to ensure efficient, successful audits

Build strong, collaborative relationships with audit partners

Continuous Improvement & Automation

Identify opportunities to streamline controls, reduce manual effort, and improve efficiency

Leverage technology solutions (GRC platforms, automation tools, monitoring capabilities) to enhance the control environment

Assess impact of system changes, implementations, and business transformations on controls

Drive process improvements that strengthen controls while enabling business agility

Team Leadership

Lead, mentor, and develop the SOX team, providing clear direction and support

Foster a culture of excellence, continuous learning, and proactive problem-solving

Provide career development opportunities and technical training for team members

Build team capability and confidence

About You

Required Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Information Systems, or related field

CPA, CISA, or CIA certification required (CPA strongly preferred)

15+ years of progressive, hands-on SOX compliance experience, with significant time spent in technical SOX roles (not general internal audit)

Deep, demonstrable expertise in ITGCs and ITACs—you must be able to discuss technical control design and testing at a granular level

Proven track record of successfully strengthening and maturing SOX programs, particularly in complex technology environments

Experience Building Credibility And Driving Results In Dynamic, Fast-paced Organizations

Comprehensive knowledge of SOX regulations, COSO framework, PCAOB standards, and US GAAP

Proven ability to work in highly technical environments and understand complex system architectures, integrations, and data flows

Strong executive presence with ability to educate and influence stakeholders at all levels

Exceptional analytical, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills

Outstanding written and verbal communication skills—able to translate complex technical concepts for diverse audiences

Demonstrated ability to build trust quickly and establish yourself as a credible leader

Preferred Qualifications

Big Four public accounting firm experience with focus on SOX advisory or audit (Manager level or above)

Experience With Public Companies, Particularly In Technology Or Saas Environments

Advanced degree (MBA, MS in Accounting, MS in Information Systems)

Experience With Modern Erp Systems (netsuite, Oracle, Sap, Workday) And Financial Close/consolidation Tools

Familiarity with GRC platforms (AuditBoard, Workiva, ServiceNow, etc.)

Understanding of DevOps, CI/CD pipelines, cloud infrastructure, and modern software development practices

Experience In High-growth Technology, Saas, Or Fintech Environments

CRISC, CISSP, or other information security certifications demonstrating technical depth

Experience Coaching And Developing Sox Teams

What Sets The Ideal Candidate Apart

You are not a generalist—you are a

SOX technical specialist

who genuinely enjoys diving into complex control environments. You can read system architecture diagrams, understand data lineage, and assess whether a control is truly effective or just