Director, Internal Controls

Aegon Global Business Solutions Center; Cedar Rapids (IA); Hybrid; USD 167,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive Pay

Bonus Potential

Medical Insurance

401k Match

Pension Plan

Job summary

Transamerica in the United States seeks a senior controls professional to lead the day-to-day SOX controls program across global units. You will coordinate with Finance, Operations and Technology to assure robust risk management and regulatory compliance.

You will drive risk assessment, controls design, reporting to executive management, and liaison with external auditors to plan, execute, and monitor remediation efforts. Hybrid work supported.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance or relevant field.
• 15 years of combined business experience.
• Seven years in managerial and leadership roles.
• In-depth knowledge of internal controls, audit or risk management in financial services.
• Ability to document and communicate financial reporting processes clearly.

Responsibilities

• Oversee evaluation and design of internal controls.
• Lead SOX risk assessment and scoping activities across global units.
• Coordinate documentation and consolidated reporting processes for internal controls.
• Prepare updates for senior management and audit committees.
• Collaborate with external auditors to plan and execute assessments.
• Develop action plans with process owners to remediate deficiencies.
• Support testing of design and operating effectiveness of controls.

Skills

Internal controls

SOX compliance

Risk management

Audit experience

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance or relevant field

15+ years experience

7 years leadership experience

Job description

Job Family Business Control & Financial Planning

About Us At Transamerica, hard work, innovative thinking, and personal accountability are qualities we honor and reward. We understand the potential of leveraging the talents of a diverse workforce. We embrace an environment where employees enjoy a balance between their careers, families, communities, and personal interests. Ultimately, we appreciate the uniqueness of a company where talented professionals work collaboratively in a positive environment — one focused on helping people look forward and plan for the best life possible while providing tools and solutions that make it easier to get there.

Who We Are

We believe everyone deserves to live their best life. More than a century ago, we were among the first financial services companies in America to serve everyday people from all walks of life. Today, we’re part of an international holding company, with millions of customers and thousands of employees worldwide. Our insurance, retirement, and investment solutions help people make the most of what’s important to them. We’re empowered by a vast agent network covering North America, with diversity to match. Together with our nonprofit research institute and foundation, we tune in, step up, and are a force for good — for our customers and the communities where we live, work, and play. United in our purpose, we help people create the financial freedom to live life on their terms.

What We Do

Transamerica is organized into three distinct businesses. These include 1) World Financial Group, including Transamerica Financial Advisors, 2) Protection Solutions and Savings & Investments, comprised of life insurance, annuities, employee benefits, retirement plans, and Transamerica Investment Solutions, and 3) Financial Assets, which includes legacy blocks of long term care, universal life, and variable and fixed annuities. These are supported by Transamerica Corporate, which includes Finance, People and Places, General Counsel, Risk, Internal Audit, Strategy and Development, and Corporate Affairs, which covers Communications, Brand, and Government and Policy Affairs. Transamerica employs nearly 7,000 people. It’s part of Aegon, an integrated, diversified, international financial services group serving approximately 23.9 million customers worldwide. For more information, visit transamerica.com.

Job Description Summary

Responsible for the day-to-day execution of the Aegon Americas Sarbanes Oxley (SOX) controls program with oversight to all global country units. Coordinates with individuals in various functions, including Finance, Operations and Technology. Responsible for the identification, assessment, oversight reporting and disclosure of all key controls and deficiencies across the company and ensures the business procedures and/or controls are in compliance with applicable regulatory and corporate standards and practices. Develops and maintains relationships with senior and executive management and process owners, as well as risk management personnel (second line of defense) and internal audit personnel (third line of defense). Serves as the lead for communication and reporting to and with Group Risk.

Job Description Responsibilities

• Oversee the evaluation and design of internal controls.
• Make recommendations for improvement and drive changes to both controls and processes.
• Oversee the documentation, timing and execution of consolidated reporting process flows, with a focus on internal controls and SOX compliance.
• Lead the execution of management’s SOX risk assessment and scoping activities related to the global SOX effort to ensure proper risk identification, process mapping and controls linkage for a sustainable internal control framework.
• Lead the development and implementation of goals, policies, priorities and procedures relating to internal controls over financial reporting and SOX.
• Prepare and present updates to senior and executive management including supporting deliverables and other tasks needed to support the audit committee’s responsibilities for controls and our external auditors as laid out in their charter.
• Partner and liaise with external auditors and external consultants to plan and implement an assessment of the control environment and the annual plan and timeline for doing so.
• Prioritize within a multi-year plan on what is most important at different stages.
• Develop processes and policies for reporting findings and lead communicator of those finding to interested parties, including FinOp and SOX/In Control Steering Committees.
• Collaborate with first line process owners in development of action plans to assess the adequacy of action taken by management to correct control deficiencies, and continuing reviews with appropriate management on action until satisfactory resolution.
• Develop and implement a system to capture and track control deficiencies through all global country units, as well as supporting driving resolution for any internal or external audit findings.
• Help support testing the design and operating effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting.
• Collaborate and assist in assessing control implications within the Issue Paper process.
• Coordinate and assist other global country units in the execution and reporting of SOX in their respective countries/units.
• Assist in the development of and collection of representation letters and certifications throughout the global country units.
• Support the efforts of the Disclosure Committee and assist in facilitating the reporting of disclosures with senior leadership.
• Help support the Audit Committee including ensuring they have all the needed information/analysis to perform their control related functions as laid out in the Audit Committee Charter.
• Help coordinate external auditor independence and ensure there is proper oversight through all country units.
• Support the maintenance of the Global SOX methodology including providing updates as needed.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance or relevant field, or equivalent work experience.
• 15 years of combined business experience.
• Seven years of experience in managerial and leadership roles.
• In-depth knowledge and hands on experience with internal controls, audit or risk management within the financial services industry.
• Ability to document and verbally communicate financial reporting processes in a clear and concise manner, including assessment of design and operating effectiveness controls.
• Communication and relationship skills to educate/raise awareness of foundational elements/methodologies needed to support an internal controls framework.
• Project management skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• CPA Big 4 public accounting experience working with controls within the Sarbanes Oxley environment.
• Recent experience with a listed U.S. company that is a domestic registrant.

Working Conditions

Hybrid (In Office: Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Thursdays)

Salary

The Salary for this position generally ranges between $167,000 - $200,000 annually. Please note that the salary range is a good faith estimate for this position and actual starting pay is determined by several factors including qualifications, experience, geography, work location designation (in-office, hybrid, remote) and operational needs. Salary may vary above and below the stated amounts, as permitted by applicable law. Additionally, this position is typically eligible for an Annual Bonus based on the Company Bonus Plan/Individual Performance and is at the Company’s discretion.

What We Offer

• Competitive Pay
• Bonus for Eligible Employees
• Benefits Package
• Pension Plan
• 401k Match
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Disability Insurance
• Medical Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Employee Discounts
• Career Training & Development Opportunities
• Health and Work/Life Balance Benefits
• Paid Time Off starting at 160 hours annually for employees in their first year of service
• Ten (10) paid holidays per year (typically mirroring the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) holidays)
• Be Well Company holistic wellness program, which includes Wellness Coaching and Reward Dollars
• Parental Leave – fifteen (15) days of paid parental leave per calendar year to eligible employees with at least one year of service at the time of birth, placement of an adopted child, or placement of a foster care child
• Adoption Assistance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Back-Up Care Program
• PTO for Volunteer Hours
• Employee Matching Gifts Program
• Employee Resource Groups
• Inclusion and Diversity Programs
• Employee Recognition Program
• Referral Bonus Programs
• Inclusion & Diversity

We believe our commitment to diversity and inclusion creates a work environment filled with exceptional individuals. We’re thrilled to have been recognized for our efforts through the Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality Index, Dave Thomas Adoption Friendly Advocate, and several Seramount lists, including the Inclusion Index, 100 Best Companies for Working Parents, Best Companies for Dads, and Top 75 Companies for Executive Women.

To foster a culture of inclusivity throughout our workforce, workplace, and marketplace, Transamerica offers a wide range of diversity and inclusion programs. This includes our company-sponsored, employee-driven Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), which are formed around a shared interest or a common characteristic of diversity. ERGs are open to all employees. They provide a supportive environment to help us better appreciate our similarities and differences and understand how they benefit us all.

Giving Back

We believe our responsibilities extend beyond our corporate walls. That’s why we created the Aegon Transamerica Foundation in 1994. Through a mix of financial grants and the volunteer efforts of our employees, the foundation supports nonprofit organizations focused on the things that matter most to our people in the communities where we live and work.

Transamerica’s Parent Company

Aegon acquired the Transamerica business in 1999. Since its start in 1844, Aegon has grown into an international company serving more than 23.9 million people across the globe. It offers investment, protection, and retirement solutions, always with a clear purpose: Helping people live their best lives. As a leading global investor and employer, the company seeks to have a positive impact by addressing critical environmental and societal issues, with a focus on climate change and inclusion and diversity. For more information, visit www.transamerica.com. As of December 31, 2023 At Transamerica, hard work, innovative thinking, and personal accountability are qualities we honor and reward. We understand the potential unleashed by leveraging the talents of a diverse workforce. We embrace an environment where employees enjoy a balance between their careers, families, communities, and personal interests. Ultimately, we appreciate the uniqueness of a company where talented professionals work collaboratively in a positive environment — one focused on helping people look forward and plan for the best life possible while providing tools and solutions that make it easier to get there.

Transamerica is a part of Aegon, an integrated, diversified, international financial services group. The Aegon companies employ over 21,500 people and have approximately 31.7 million customers. For more information, visit www.transamerica.com.