Internal Controls Manager

UHY-US; Birmingham (AL); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

UHY-US is seeking an Internal Controls Manager in Birmingham, AL. The role leads SOX program governance, controls documentation, and risk assessment across multiple business cycles while coordinating with external auditors and internal teams.

The ideal candidate brings 7+ years in internal controls or SOX, CPA, and strong experience with Workiva, ITGCs, and process documentation. This role offers onsite or remote options with a focus on IPO readiness and compliance excellence.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field required; master's degree or MBA preferred.
• 7+ years of progressive experience in internal controls, SOX compliance, or external audit.
• CPA required; CIA preferred. Candidates without a certification may be considered with 10+ years of directly relevant experience.
• Experience at a Big 4 or large regional accounting firm strongly preferred, particularly in assurance or advisory with substantial SOX exposure.
• Demonstrated experience managing the full SOX lifecycle, from scoping and walkthroughs through design and operating effectiveness testing, deficiency evaluation, remediation, and management reporting.
• Pre-IPO SOX implementation or year-one SOX program experience highly preferred.
• Experience working with external auditors on public company SOX programs or IPO readiness initiatives.
• Strong knowledge of PCAOB auditing standards, the COSO 2013 Internal Control framework, and SEC reporting requirements.
• Hands-on Workiva GRC experience strongly preferred, including platform configuration, administration, and control documentation.
• Workday Financials experience is a strong plus, particularly familiarity with IT general controls, user access, change management, and segregation of duties.
• BlackLine experience is a plus.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and Microsoft 365; AI-assisted documentation and productivity tools are beneficial.
• Experience in a high-growth, multi-site, distributed, or private equity-backed organization preferred.
• Excellent written communication skills for control narratives, RCMs, and executive reporting.
• Strong stakeholder management across Finance, Accounting, IT, Legal, and Operations.
• Ability to communicate SOX requirements to non-technical audiences.
• Highly organized, analytical, and detail-oriented with multiple deadlines and remediation initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Own governance, risk, and compliance platform administration (Workiva).
• Configure control owner workflows, testing assignments, remediation tracking, and SOX status dashboards.
• Maintain risk/control matrices (RCMs), narratives, control documentation, and evidence libraries.
• Lead walkthroughs across revenue, payroll, procurement, fixed assets, financial close, ITGCs.
• Interview process owners to document control activities and assess design.
• Manage annual SOX testing program: scoping, testing, remediation, retesting.
• Coordinate with external auditors and SOX advisors; handle evidence requests and issues.
• Evaluate deficiencies and monitor remediation actions to completion.
• Support annual internal control assessment and quarterly certifications.
• Coordinate co-sourced internal audit testing, scope, and reviews.
• Monitor emerging risks from acquisitions, system changes, and new accounting standards.
• Develop and deliver SOX awareness and training for control owners.

Skills

SOX compliance

Internal controls

Audit coordination

GRC platforms

Microsoft Excel

Stakeholder management

Education

CPA

Bachelor's degree in Accounting/Finance

MBA preferred

Tools

Workiva

Microsoft 365

RCMs documentation

Job description

A great UHY client is seeking an Internal Controls Manager. The ideal candidate will have 7+ years of progressive SOX and internal controls experience, a strong background in public accounting or external audit, and experience managing the full SOX lifecycle, ideally in a pre-IPO or public company environment.

The Internal Controls Manager role is a direct hire position. This is 5 days a week onsite in Birmingham, AL or remote.

Internal Controls Manager Responsibilities

• Own the administration and ongoing development of the organization's governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) platform, including Workiva.
• Configure and maintain control owner workflows, evidence requests, testing assignments, remediation tracking, and SOX status dashboards.
• Maintain risk and control matrices (RCMs), process narratives, control documentation, and evidence libraries as business processes, systems, and risks evolve.
• Lead control walkthroughs across key business cycles, including revenue, payroll, procurement, fixed assets, financial close, entity-level controls, and IT general controls.
• Interview process owners across Finance, Accounting, IT, Legal, and Operations to document control activities and assess control design.
• Manage the annual SOX testing program, including scoping, design effectiveness testing, operating effectiveness testing, remediation, and retesting.
• Coordinate with external auditors and SOX advisors, including walkthrough scheduling, evidence requests, PBC lists, and issue resolution.
• Evaluate control deficiencies, coordinate remediation plans, and monitor corrective actions through completion.
• Support management's annual internal control assessment and quarterly executive certifications, including coordination of management sub-certifications.
• Coordinate co-sourced internal audit activities, including testing scope, reliance strategies, and review of work products.
• Monitor emerging risks related to acquisitions, system implementations, personnel changes, and new accounting standards, updating controls and testing procedures as needed.
• Develop and deliver SOX awareness and training for control owners, including documentation, evidence retention, and deficiency escalation.
• Establish documentation standards for control narratives, RCMs, workpapers, and testing evidence, ensuring appropriate review and quality.
• Partner with accounting and finance transformation teams on policy documentation, process redesign, system implementations, and IPO readiness.
• Prepare quarterly SOX status reporting for senior leadership and governance committees, including testing progress, deficiencies, and remediation timelines.
• Identify opportunities to improve internal controls, standardize processes, and leverage technology and AI-assisted tools while maintaining appropriate quality reviews.

Internal Controls Manager Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field required; master's degree or MBA preferred.
• 7+ years of progressive experience in internal controls, SOX compliance, or external audit.
• CPA required; CIA preferred. Candidates without a certification may be considered with 10+ years of directly relevant experience.
• Experience at a Big 4 or large regional accounting firm strongly preferred, particularly in assurance or advisory with substantial SOX exposure.
• Demonstrated experience managing the full SOX lifecycle, from scoping and walkthroughs through design and operating effectiveness testing, deficiency evaluation, remediation, and management reporting.
• Pre-IPO SOX implementation or year-one SOX program experience highly preferred.
• Experience working with external auditors on public company SOX programs or IPO readiness initiatives.
• Strong knowledge of PCAOB auditing standards, the COSO 2013 Internal Control framework, and SEC reporting requirements.
• Hands-on Workiva GRC experience strongly preferred, including platform configuration, administration, and control documentation.
• Workday Financials experience is a strong plus, particularly familiarity with IT general controls, user access, change management, and segregation of duties.
• BlackLine experience is a plus.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and Microsoft 365; experience with AI-assisted documentation and productivity tools is beneficial.
• Experience in a high-growth, multi-site, distributed, or private equity-backed organization preferred.
• Excellent written communication skills, including the ability to prepare clear control narratives, RCMs, workpapers, and executive-level reporting.
• Strong stakeholder management skills and the ability to influence process owners across Finance, Accounting, IT, Legal, and Operations.
• Ability to communicate SOX requirements and control expectations to non-technical audiences.
• Highly organized, analytical, and detail-oriented, with the ability to manage multiple deadlines and remediation initiatives.
• Comfortable operating in a fast-moving environment with evolving processes, ambiguity, and changing business needs.

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