Director, SOX Lifecycle & Enablement

AbbVie Inc.; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 142,000 - 269,000; Full time

Job summary

AbbVie Inc. is looking for a Director of SOX Lifecycle & Enablement to own the end-to-end SOX program across the enterprise. The role directs risk assessment, matrix governance, certification, and deficiency management while coordinating BU SOX Leads and EY involvement.

The position also drives the modernization of the program, including a shift to an analytics hub, increased automation, and an AI-enabled controls platform. Hands-on stakeholder engagement is essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Information Systems, or a related field.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in audit and internal controls with SOX leadership at a large public company.
• CPA or CIA (or equivalent certification).
• Deep working knowledge of PCAOB AS 2201, COSO 2013, SEC Sections 302/404, and deficiency evaluation.
• Experience managing external auditor relationships and defending technical positions.
• Strong executive communication and stakeholder management with senior finance leadership.

Responsibilities

• Direct the annual SOX risk assessment and scoping process, including materiality-driven scoping decisions and coordination with the external auditor on scope alignment.
• Own the enterprise risk and control matrix: rationalization, updates for business and system change, and documentation quality standards.
• Operate the 302/404 certification process, including quarterly sub-certifications and support for ICFR conclusions.
• Own enterprise deficiency management: intake, evaluation, severity assessment, aggregation analysis, remediation monitoring, and reporting for executives and Audit Committee.
• Manage EY coordination on scoping, reliance, and deficiency positions; prepare and defend management’s technical positions.
• Directly manage the U.S. advisory portfolio: control design readiness and first-line support to senior finance stakeholders.
• Escalation point for significant deficiency assessments and auditor matters across all business units.
• Supervise and develop the Senior Manager for OUS and FSS advisory portfolio.
• Coordinate the enterprise network of BU SOX Leads: cadence, forums, and deficiency/change intake across units.
• Lead training, communications, and adoption for program changes, including Workiva lifecycle and continuous monitoring outputs.
• Oversee Workiva program administration and partner with AI/Analytics Enablement on platform direction.
• Manage two direct reports and collaborate with Testing & Analytics Hub and IT SOX leaders to run an integrated program.

Skills

SOX program leadership

Executive stakeholder mgmt

Audit coordination

Regulatory frameworks

Deficiency evaluation

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or IS

CPA or CIA certification

Tools

Workiva

Job description

Company Description

About AbbVie

AbbVie's mission is to discover and deliver innovative medicines and solutions that solve serious health issues today and address the medical challenges of tomorrow. We strive to have a remarkable impact on people's lives across several key therapeutic areas including immunology, oncology and neuroscience - and products and services in our Allergan Aesthetics portfolio. For more information about AbbVie, please visit us at www.abbvie.com. Follow @abbvie on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube.

Job Description

Position Summary

The Director, SOX Lifecycle & Enablement owns the end-to-end SOX program lifecycle for the enterprise and serves as the senior deputy within the IC SOX Center of Excellence. The role directs the annual risk assessment and scoping process, the risk and control matrix, the Section 302/404 certification process, and enterprise deficiency management, and coordinates the network of Business Unit SOX Leads across the organization. The Director also directly manages the U.S. business unit advisory portfolio (Commercial, Operations, and the Accounting Center of Excellence), the program’s highest-complexity areas, operating as a player-coach.

The role is central to a multi-year modernization of the SOX program, including the transition of management testing to an internal Testing & Analytics Hub, expanded automation and continuous monitoring, and an AI-enabled controls platform. During this transition, the Director is expected to be hands-on: directly managing stakeholder relationships, deficiency evaluations, and external auditor positions while building the operating rhythm of a maturing program. The change management and enablement mandate (training, communications, and adoption across control owners and BU SOX Leads) is an explicit part of the role.

Key Responsibilities

SOX Lifecycle Ownership

• Direct the annual SOX risk assessment and scoping process, including materiality-driven scoping decisions and coordination with the external auditor on scope alignment.
• Own the enterprise risk and control matrix: rationalization, updates for business and system change (acquisitions, ERP and data programs), and documentation quality standards.
• Operate the Section 302/404 certification process, including quarterly sub-certifications and support for management’s quarterly and annual ICFR conclusions.
• Own deficiency management as an enterprise process: intake, evaluation and severity assessment, aggregation analysis, remediation monitoring, and reporting for executive management and Audit Committee materials.
• Manage external auditor (EY) coordination on scoping, reliance, and deficiency positions; prepare and defend management’s technical positions.

Business Unit Advisory

• Directly manage the U.S. advisory portfolio (Commercial, Operations, Accounting Center of Excellence): control design consultation, readiness for business and system change, and first-line support to senior finance stakeholders.
• Serve as the escalation point for significant deficiency assessments, contentious auditor matters, and issues bearing on quarterly certification conclusions across all business units.
• Supervise and develop the Senior Manager responsible for the OUS and FSS advisory portfolio.

BU SOX Leads Network

• Coordinate the enterprise network of Business Unit SOX Leads (approximately 12 business units): operating cadence, quarterly forums, standardized deficiency and change intake, and consistency of practice across units.

Change Management & Enablement

• Lead training, communications, and adoption for program changes, including the Workiva-resident lifecycle, evidence standards, and continuous monitoring outputs as they deploy.
• Oversee Workiva program administration (assessments, certifications, reporting) through the Senior Analyst, and partner with the AI & Analytics Enablement leader on platform direction.

Leadership

• Manage and develop two direct reports; contribute to talent development across the Center of Excellence.
• Partner with the Testing & Analytics Hub, AI & Analytics Enablement, and IT SOX leaders to operate an integrated program.

Qualifications

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Information Systems, or a related field.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in audit and internal controls, with significant SOX program leadership at a large public company or serving large public company clients.
• CPA or CIA (or equivalent certification).
• Deep working knowledge of PCAOB AS 2201, the COSO 2013 framework, SEC Sections 302/404, and deficiency evaluation and aggregation practice.
• Demonstrated experience managing external auditor relationships and defending technical positions.
• Strong executive communication and stakeholder management skills with senior finance leadership.

Preferred

• Big 4 experience at the Senior Manager, or Director level in audit, risk assurance, or controls advisory.
• Experience in pharmaceutical, life sciences, or other large multinational environments, including acquisition integration and ERP or data transformation programs.
• Experience with Workiva (or comparable GRC platforms) and with programs transitioning from outsourced to internal testing models, automation, or continuous monitoring.

Additional Information

Applicable only to applicants applying to a position in any location with pay disclosure requirements under state or local law:

• The compensation range described below is the range of possible base pay compensation that the Company believes in good faith it will pay for this role at the time of this posting based on the job grade for this position. Individual compensation paid within this range will depend on many factors including geographic location, and we may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range. This range may be modified in the future.
• We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including paid time off (vacation, holidays, sick), medical/dental/vision insurance and 401(k) to eligible employees.
• This job is eligible to participate in our long-term incentive programs.

Note: No amount of pay is considered to be wages or compensation until such amount is earned, vested, and determinable. The amount and availability of any bonus, commission, incentive, benefits, or any other form of compensation and benefits that are allocable to a particular employee remains in the Company's sole and absolute discretion unless and until paid and may be modified at the Company’s sole and absolute discretion, consistent with applicable law.

AbbVie is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to operating with integrity, driving innovation, transforming lives and serving our community. Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled.

US & Puerto Rico only - to learn more, visit https://www.abbvie.com/join-us/equal-employment-opportunity-employer.html

US & Puerto Rico applicants seeking a reasonable accommodation, click here to learn more:

https://www.abbvie.com/join-us/reasonable-accommodations.html

1. Travel: No

Pay Range:

$ 141500 - 268500 USD

Where We Work

Role is primarily site- or office-based but can occasionally be performed remotely. Employees who are site/office-based and can occasionally perform their role virtually work both in the office and remotely*, following the policies and regulations in place at their location. US Employees must be in the office on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday with flexibility to work remotely on Mondays and Fridays. Three days in the office is the minimum; some individuals or teams may require more in-office days due to meetings, business/project needs or their role.

AbbVie is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to operating with integrity, driving innovation, transforming lives and serving our community. Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled.

US & Puerto Rico only - to learn more, visit https://www.abbvie.com/join-us/equal-employment-opportunity-employer.html

US & Puerto Rico applicants seeking a reasonable accommodation, click here to learn more:

https://www.abbvie.com/join-us/reasonable-accommodations.html