Finance Internal Controls Manager

Burnett Specialists; The Woodlands (TX); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare coverage

Retirement benefits

Job summary

Burnett Specialists seeks a Finance & Internal Controls Manager to oversee governance, controls, and operational finance across North America, Central America, and South America. You will interact with senior leadership and drive consistency in financial practices within a complex multinational environment.

The role requires Big Four background, CPA or equivalent, and strong IFRS/SOX experience. Hybrid work setup with regional travel support, reporting to Group CFO.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in accounting/finance or related field.
• CPA/ACA/ACCA or equivalent qualification preferred.
• Big Four background highly desirable.

Responsibilities

• Oversee financial governance and internal controls across international entities.
• Analyze performance, trends, and risks; provide strategic recommendations to leadership.
• Ensure compliance with IFRS, SOX-style controls and corporate policies.
• Identify process improvements, drive ERP enhancements, and automate reporting.
• Partner with executives to manage cross-border financial governance.

Skills

Executive presence

Stakeholder management

Analytical thinking

Risk assessment

Bilingual English/Spanish

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance

CPA / ACA / ACCA or equivalent

Tools

SAP

Microsoft Dynamics

Job description

Position Overview

Our client, an established multinational organization with a significant international presence, is seeking an experienced Finance & Internal Controls Manager to provide strategic oversight of financial governance, internal controls, and operational finance across multiple international business entities. Reporting directly to the Group CFO, this is a highly visible, standalone leadership position offering the opportunity to influence financial operations, strengthen governance, and drive consistency in financial controls across North America, Central America, and South America. The successful candidate will be a proactive, self-directed finance professional capable of operating independently, challenging senior stakeholders constructively, identifying financial and operational trends, and recommending improvements that enhance business performance and financial integrity. This position is ideal for an individual with a Big Four background who has transitioned into industry and is comfortable working at an executive level within a complex, multinational organization.

Key Responsibilities

Financial Governance & Internal Controls

• Provide oversight of financial governance and internal controls across multiple international business entities.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of financial controls, accounting processes, and governance frameworks.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen financial accountability, standardize processes, and implement best practices.
• Independently assess financial risks and challenge existing practices when necessary.
• Partner with senior finance and business leaders to enhance transparency, compliance, and operational effectiveness.

Financial Analysis & Business Insights

• Analyze financial performance, reporting trends, variances, and operational data across multiple entities.
• Utilize data analytics to identify anomalies, control weaknesses, emerging risks, and opportunities for improvement.
• Review monthly, quarterly, and annual financial trends and provide meaningful recommendations to leadership.
• Evaluate financial performance against budgets, forecasts, and expected business results.
• Provide strategic insights and recommendations to executive leadership.

Risk Management & Compliance

• Assess financial and operational risks across business processes and recommend appropriate mitigating controls.
• Ensure compliance with corporate financial policies, accounting standards, and governance requirements.
• Monitor internal control effectiveness and coordinate remediation of identified deficiencies.
• Support internal and external audit activities and ensure timely resolution of audit findings.
• Review financial processes related to cash management, revenue, procurement, payroll, inventory, fixed assets, and financial reporting.

Process Improvement & Operational Excellence

• Identify opportunities to improve financial processes, controls, and reporting efficiencies.
• Recommend and implement best practices across international entities.
• Support automation, ERP enhancements, and data-driven financial processes.
• Promote continuous improvement and a strong culture of financial accountability.
• Provide guidance and support to finance teams and business leaders across the organization.

Executive & International Stakeholder Management

• Serve as a trusted advisor to the Group CFO and senior leadership.
• Present financial insights, control assessments, and recommendations to executive stakeholders.
• Influence and challenge senior-level business leaders constructively.
• Build relationships across finance and operational teams in multiple countries.
• Support financial governance across entities in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Panama, Brazil, and Argentina.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related discipline.
• CPA, ACA, ACCA, or equivalent professional accounting qualification strongly preferred.
• Big Four public accounting experience highly desirable.
• 5+ years of experience in finance, internal controls, internal audit, risk management, or financial governance.
• Experience working within multinational organizations with multiple legal entities and international reporting requirements.
• Strong understanding of financial reporting, internal controls, risk management, and corporate governance.
• Experience evaluating financial processes, identifying control weaknesses, and implementing improvements.
• Demonstrated ability to interact with and influence senior executive leadership.
• Experience with IFRS, financial reporting controls, and SOX-style control environments preferred.
• Strong ERP and financial systems knowledge; SAP, Microsoft Dynamics, or similar platforms preferred.
• Advanced Excel skills and experience utilizing data analytics to evaluate financial performance and controls.
• Fluency in both English and Spanish is strongly preferred due to the international scope of the position.

Ideal Candidate Profile

• Executive presence with the ability to communicate effectively with senior leadership.
• Highly analytical with strong financial and business acumen.
• Self-motivated and comfortable operating independently in a standalone role.
• Proactive in identifying issues, opportunities, and potential risks.
• Confident challenging existing processes and influencing senior stakeholders.
• Strong judgment with a balanced, commercially minded approach to financial controls.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and relationship-building skills.
• Adaptable and comfortable working across multiple countries, cultures, and business environments.
• Strong sense of ownership, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Additional Details

Hybrid work schedule: Tuesday through Thursday onsite in The Woodlands, with Monday and Friday virtual, subject to business needs.

Approximately 10-20% regional travel throughout the Americas.

Direct reporting relationship to the Group CFO based internationally.

Executive-level exposure and significant autonomy.

• Competitive compensation package, annual performance bonus, comprehensive healthcare coverage, life insurance, paid holidays, and retirement benefits.

This is an exceptional opportunity for a finance professional seeking executive-level visibility, international exposure, and the opportunity to shape financial governance across a growing multinational organization.

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