Internal Controls Specialist

Mawer Investment Management; Toronto; On-site; CAD 112,000 - 135,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Retirement planning assistance

Learning stipend

Parental leave top-up

Employee Matching Program

Job summary

Mawer Investment Management is seeking a qualified internal controls professional to lead and strengthen our internal control framework. You will oversee SOC1 readiness, coordinate audits, and collaborate with business leaders to reduce risk and enhance governance.

The role requires 4+ years in internal audit, COSO knowledge, and strong analytical abilities. Located in Canada, this position offers a competitive salary and a hybrid work environment.

Qualifications

• University degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field; MBA/CPA/CFA preferred.
• Minimum 4+ years in internal audit and internal controls in financial services.
• Experience with SOC1 examinations, COSO, and IT general controls.
• Strong understanding of regulatory environments and risk management.
• Excellent analytical, organizational, and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead internal control reviews evaluating design and operating effectiveness.
• Oversee SOC1 program and manage auditor walkthroughs and testing.
• Collaborate with leaders to improve governance and efficiency.
• Prepare management reports with root cause and remediation guidance.
• Monitor remediation actions and track progress with stakeholders.
• Develop risk-based review plans and scope internal control reviews.

Skills

Internal audit

Internal controls

COSO framework

SOC1 examinations

IT general controls

Risk-based auditing

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Presentation skills

Stakeholder management

Education

University degree in Accounting, Finance, or Business Administration

MBA / CPA / CFA preferred

Tools

SOC1 readiness

COSO

IT general controls

Risk-based auditing

Job description

Be Boring. Make Money.™ is our investment approach, but we are anything but dull. We are a diverse, passionate team united by our commitment to provide our clients with financial peace of mind and our desire to create one of the best companies in the world.

A career with us will be demanding; however, the experience will also be dynamic, supportive, intellectually stimulating, and above all, meaningful. We take pride in doing things a little differently than other investment firms. Innovative ideas, diverse opinions and experiences, and teamwork are expected and rewarded regardless of title or tenure.

Dedicated to our people, we have consistently been recognized as a preferred employer, receiving awards such as Canada’s Top 100 Employers (2026), Alberta Top Employers (2026), and Canada’s Top Small & Medium Employer (2025).

Full Time

Location: Toronto, ON or Calgary, AB

Vacancy Status: Existing Role

Salary Range: $112,000-$135,000/year

The Opportunity

Mawer is committed to effective operational excellence and our clients expect it. This role will be instrumental in leading and strengthening Mawer's internal control framework by evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of controls across the organization.

In this role you will lead our internal control reviews, oversee the firm's SOC 1 program, assess third-party assurance reports, and work collaboratively with business leaders to identify opportunities to enhance governance, operational efficiency, and risk management.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Develop risk-based review plans by identifying key risks, control objectives, and the scope of internal control reviews.
• Plan and execute internal control reviews to evaluate the design and operating effectiveness of financial, operational, and technology controls.
• Perform control testing and operational reviews, documenting observations and recommending practical improvements to internal controls and business processes.
• Assess key control activities, including authorization controls, segregation of duties, system access controls, reconciliations, and monitoring activities.
• Evaluate business processes to identify control gaps, operational inefficiencies, and opportunities to reduce risk.
• Identify opportunities to improve the efficiency, automation, and maturity of Mawer's internal control framework, including the annual SOC1 program.
• Prepare management reports summarizing observations, root causes, risk implications, and recommendations.
• Partner with business leaders to develop practical remediation plans and provide guidance on control enhancements.
• Monitor the implementation of corrective actions and report on remediation progress to management.

SOC 1 Program

• Lead Mawer's annual SOC1 readiness activities, including reviewing and updating control descriptions.
• Manage the end-to-end annual SOC1 examination, including coordinating evidence requests, facilitating auditor walkthroughs and testing, and serving as the primary liaison between external auditors and internal stakeholders.
• Track control deficiencies, observations, and remediation activities to ensure management and operational leaders resolve and remediate effectively.
• Assist process owners in understanding SOC control requirements and promoting the benefits of consistent control execution across the organization.

Desired Qualifications

• University degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related discipline. Professional designation such as MBA, CPA or CFA is preferred.
• 4+ years of experience in internal audit and internal controls, experience in operational risk management would also be an asset.
• Experience with SOC1 examinations, internal control frameworks (COSO), IT general controls, and risk-based auditing.
• Strong understanding of financial services, investment management, operations and regulatory environments.
• Excellent analytical, organizational, communication and presentation skills, with strong problem-solving abilities, attention to detail, and a results-oriented mindset.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a collaborative, deadline-driven environment, and build effective working relationships across the organization.

Why Mawer?

• Directly contribute to the firm’s growth as a global, independent investment manager.
• Learn and work within a high-performing team that has consistently delivered exceptional long-term investment results and high levels of client satisfaction.
• Be a part of a meritocracy in which the quality of ideas supersedes hierarchy; where every role is valued, and every voice heard. At Mawer, talented team members can progress quickly, regardless of tenure or experience.
• Our unique culture, which is integral to who we are and (we think) a competitive advantage. Our culture is shaped by our core values (integrity, putting clients’ interests first, excellence, teamwork, and long-term thinking) and key behaviours (curiosity, candour, accountability, and appreciation), which are much more than words on a page. They guide the way we operate, make decisions, and communicate every day.
• We offer a flexible work environment with a blended workplace approach tailored to the unique needs of each department and team. This allows employees to seamlessly combine in-person and remote work experiences, fostering collaboration, promoting work-life integration, and empowering our team members to thrive in a dynamic, interconnected professional setting.

Our Benefits and Perks Include:

• Comprehensive health and wellness benefits
• Retirement planning assistance, including RSP contributions
• Annual learning stipend
• Parental leave top-up
• Significant community investment contribution via our Employee Matching Program

All candidates must be eligible to work in Canada.

At Mawer, we are committed to fostering a culture of diversity and inclusion. We strive to attract, hire, develop, and retain the best people from a wide variety of backgrounds/experiences and create an environment where unique ideas and perspectives are heard and valued. We believe a diverse and inclusive culture fuels innovation and enables more effective decision-making across the firm, helping to improve investment performance, strengthen client partnerships, and create more value for all stakeholders: clients, employees, owners, and society.

We administer all practices and programs without discrimination and strive to provide equal access to employment. A Human Resources representative will work with applicants who request accommodation or special assistance during the application process. If you need accommodation or assistance, please contact us at [e-mail].

Our processes are people-driven. We may use technology for scheduling, communication and screening but we do not use AI for candidate assessment, or selection; those decisions are made by our team.

About Mawer

Established in 1974, Mawer Investment Management Ltd. is an independent firm that provides world‑class, global investment management services to a broad range of institutional and individual clients. We are proud of our reputation as one of Canada’s most respected investment management firms and strive to earn such respect by continually delivering long‑term investment excellence, developing strong client partnerships, and living our core values.

No telephone inquiries please.

We thank all applicants and advise that only those selected for an interview will be contacted.