Senior Analyst, Internal Audit & Finance Transformation

Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc.; St. Louis (MO); Hybrid; USD 85,000 - 115,000; Full time

Job summary

Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. is seeking a Senior Analyst to strengthen internal controls, SOX compliance, and finance transformation efforts in our St. Louis area team. You will partner across Finance, Accounting, IT, and operations to drive process improvements and automation using tools like BlackLine and Dynamics 365.

The role focuses on control testing, documentation, and collaboration with external auditors to ensure audit readiness and efficient close processes.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance or related field.
• 3+ years in public accounting, internal audit, SOX, or finance transformation.
• Experience documenting controls, narratives, flowcharts and testing workpapers.
• Proficiency in Excel and Microsoft 365 applications.
• Ability to analyze processes, identify risks, and communicate improvements.

Responsibilities

• Assess control environment and risks; determine mitigations.
• Perform risk-based control testing and document observations.
• Prepare testing workpapers and communicate results to owners and leadership.
• Create process narratives, flowcharts, risk/control matrices and documentation.
• Coordinate with external auditors and internal stakeholders on requests and remediation.
• Support SOX scope planning and annual scoping memos.
• Identify automation opportunities to improve month-end close and controls.

Skills

SOX compliance

Internal audit

Process improvement

Data analysis

Excel/Microsoft 365

Stakeholder collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance

Tools

BlackLine

Microsoft Dynamics 365

Power BI

Automation tools

Job description

Senior Analyst, Internal Audit & Finance Transformation

Job Category: Accounting/Finance

Requisition Number: SENIO010627

• Full-Time
• Hybrid

Locations

Showing 1 location

St Louis, MO 63103, USA

Description

The Senior Analyst, Internal Audit and Finance Transformation plays an important role in strengthening our finance processes, internal controls, and audit readiness. This role supports SOX compliance, operational audits, and finance transformation initiatives while helping the team make better use of tools such as BlackLine, Microsoft Dynamics 365, automation, data analytics, and AI. This role is for someone who enjoys solving problems, improving processes, and partnering across the business to make meaningful impact.

Responsibilities:

Internal Controls, SOX and Compliance

• Assess the control environment against financial reporting and operational risks and determine whether risks are appropriately mitigated.
• Execute risk-based control testing, including walkthroughs, design assessments, operating effectiveness testing, documentation of exceptions, and follow-up on remediation.Identify opportunities to improve control design, documentation, and execution.
• Prepare clear testing workpapers and communicate testing results, design observations, and control gaps to process owners and Finance leadership.
• Create and maintain process narratives, flowcharts, risk and control matrices, and other documentation used to evaluate process and control effectiveness.
• Complete preparation of the annual SOX scoping memo and related schedules documenting the company’s risk assessment and control strategy.
• Coordinate with external auditors and internal stakeholders to address audit requests, provide support, and monitor open items through resolution.

Finance Transformation and Digital Enablement

• Support more effective use of BlackLine including account reconciliations, close task management, evidence retention, controls standardization, and identification of additional modules or capabilities that can improve Finance processes.
• Partner with Finance, Accounting, and Information Technology stakeholders to improve D365 processes, workflows, reporting, data quality, and control automation.
• Identify and help implement automation opportunities that reduce manual work, improve consistency, strengthen controls, and accelerate the month-end close and recurring Finance processes.
• Promote responsible adoption of AI tools and Microsoft Copilot within Finance by identifying practical use cases, documenting requirements, supporting pilots, and helping establish appropriate controls and governance.
• Support finance transformation project plans, testing, training, change management, and post-implementation monitoring.

Operational Audits and Process Reviews

• Plan and perform risk-based operational audits and process reviews across Finance and selected business operations.
• Perform or support store audits focused on adherence to company policies, cash handling, inventory procedures, financial controls, and operational compliance.
• Participate in physical inventory observations and related audits, including evaluation of count procedures, documentation, exception follow-up, and control effectiveness.
• Perform payroll and accounts payable audits, including targeted reviews of transactions, approvals, access, supporting documentation, policy compliance, and potential duplicate or unusual activity.
• Develop practical recommendations, agree action plans with stakeholders, and track remediation through completion.

Cross-Functional Partnership and Communication

• Collaborate with Accounting, External Reporting, Tax, Treasury, Payroll, Information Technology, Human Resources, Store Operations, and other stakeholders on controls, audits, and transformation projects.
• Participate in relevant project, audit, control, and process-improvement meetings and provide concise status reporting to management.
• Prepare clear, executive-ready summaries of findings, risks, recommendations, decisions, and follow-up actions.
• Contribute to a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, automation, and well-documented processes.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance or a related field.
• Minimum of 3 years of progressive experience in public accounting, internal audit, SOX compliance, financial controls, accounting operations, finance transformation, or a related discipline.
• Experience preparing and reviewing audit or control documentation, including process narratives, flowcharts, risk and control matrices, testing workpapers, findings, and remediation plans.
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Excel and Microsoft 365 applications.
• Ability to analyze processes and data, identify risks and root causes, and communicate practical recommendations.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, work independently, meet deadlines, and collaborate across functions.

Preferred Qualifications:

• CPA, CIA, or progress toward a relevant professional certification.
• Experience with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance, BlackLine, Microsoft Power BI, Microsoft Power Platform, Microsoft Copilot, or comparable finance technology and automation tools.
• Experience with auditing, data analytics, system implementations, process automation, or finance transformation initiatives.
• Experience in a public company environment and familiarity with SOX requirements, external audit coordination, and internal control frameworks.

Behavioral Traits for Success:

• Analytical, curious, and comfortable asking thoughtful questions to understand processes and challenge assumptions.
• Able to anticipate potential issues, exercise sound judgment, and distinguish significant risks from lower-priority matters.
• Committed to accurate, timely, and well-documented work.
• Comfortable balancing structured audit requirements with pragmatic process improvement and innovation.
• Communicates complex issues in a factual, concise, and constructive manner.
• Builds productive relationships with stakeholders while maintaining appropriate objectivity and professional skepticism.
• Demonstrates initiative, adaptability, ownership, and a strong continuous-improvement mindset.
• Typical office environment with climate control and sufficient lighting, ergonomic desk/chairs

Your Performance Will Be Measured On:

Your performance will be measured by your ability to achieve annual department objectives and corporate goals which include but are not limited to the following:

• Quality, accuracy, timeliness, and clarity of audit, control, and process documentation.
• Effective completion of SOX testing, operational audits, and follow-up activities.
• Identification and implementation of practical control, automation, and process improvements.
• Contribution to measurable improvements in BlackLine, D365, automation, analytics, and responsible AI adoption.
• Responsiveness, issue resolution, project execution, and communication of complex matters.
• Stakeholder feedback, collaboration, and effective management of open actions and audit requests.
• Demonstrated commitment to compliance, professional development, and continuous improvement.

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.