Manager, Internal Controls

Legence; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Legence is seeking a Manager, Internal Controls to own and strengthen the company’s control environment, ensuring financial integrity and regulatory compliance. The role leads design, testing, implementation, and ongoing evaluation of internal controls for SOX compliance and partners with business units to drive improvements.

Reporting to the Director, Internal Controls, the role serves as a bridge between business units, co-sourced partners, and external auditors, driving governance initiatives

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in internal audit, risk management, or controls at a public company.
• Proficient working knowledge of SOX 404 requirements, COSO framework, and internal control methodologies.
• Experience working with ERP systems and understanding of key financial and operational business processes.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to assess risk and translate findings into practical solutions.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to communicate control requirements clearly to non-accounting operational leaders.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design, documentation, and testing of ICFR across financial reporting.
• Maintain and update control documentation across key financial and operational cycles.
• Plan and execute the annual controls testing calendar and evidence collection.
• Support rollout of new or updated controls tied to system implementations or M&A.
• Identify and remediate control gaps and oversee action plans through closure.
• Monitor Segregation of Duties and ITGCs across ERP platforms.
• Deliver periodic reporting and dashboards on testing status and remediation progress.
• Provide training to control owners on internal control concepts and testing expectations.

Skills

SOX compliance

COSO framework

Analytical thinking

Communication

Leadership

Project management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting/Finance

CPA or equivalent certification

Tools

ERP systems

Process mapping tools

Job description

Position Overview

Legence is hiring a Manager, Internal Controls to own and strengthen the company’s control environment to ensure financial integrity, regulatory compliance, and operational efficiency. This role leads the design, test, implementation, and ongoing evaluation of internal controls to ensure SOX compliance. This role partners closely with business units to identify process gaps and drive practical, sustainable improvements. Reporting to the Director, Internal Controls, this role will serve as a central bridge between business unit teams, co-sourced partners, and external auditors. The Manager, Internal Controls identifies enterprise risk remediates control deficiencies, and drives governance initiatives across business processes, with a continuous improvement mindset.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design, documentation, and testing of internal controls over financial reporting (ICFR), including coordinating testing efforts with co-sourced teams and external audit partners.
• Maintain and update control documentation (e.g., risk and control matrices, narratives, process flows) across key financial and operational cycles.
• Plan and execute the annual controls testing calendar; coordinate walkthroughs, sample testing, and evidence collection with control owners across the organization.
• Support the rollout of new or updated controls tied to system implementations, process changes, M&A integrations, or other organizational changes.
• Identify and evaluate control gaps and deficiencies to assess severity and root cause, and work with control owners to develop, track, and implement action plans through closure.
• Monitor Segregation of Duties (SOD) and critical system access across ERP platforms and supporting applications; evaluate relevant ITGCs.
• Delivery periodic reporting and dashboards on control testing status, deficiencies, and remediation progress to Leadership.
• Provide training and guidance to control owners on internal control concepts, documentation standards, and testing expectations.
• Monitory changes in regulatory requirements (e.g., SOX, COSO framework updates) and assess implications for the Company’s SOX environment.

Required Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in internal audit, risk management, or controls at a public company.
• Proficient working knowledge of SOX 404 requirements, COSO framework, and internal control methodologies.
• Experience working with ERP systems and understanding of key financial and operational business processes.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to assess risk and translate findings into practical solutions.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to communicate control requirements clearly to non-accounting operational leaders.
• Attention to detail, organized and thorough with a focus on continuous improvement.
• Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, evolving environment.
• Collaborate, relationship-building approach; able to influence across business units and drive efficiency.
• Excellent organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills.

Preferred Experience

• CPA, CIA, CISA or equivalent certification.
• Direct audit or risk advisory experience within a Big 4 or national public accounting firm followed by industry transition.
• Experience managing internal controls in industries with complex operations, field services, or regulated environments.
• Background evaluating risks and integrating internal control environments for newly acquired entities or during major system migrations.
• Strategic thinker who can balance tactical execution with long-term program design.