Senior Specialist, Controls Assurance

The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America; Town of Bethlehem (NY); Hybrid; USD 69,000 - 113,000; Full time

Job summary

The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America is seeking a Senior Specialist, Controls Assurance to support internal control effectiveness over financial reporting and MAR/SOX compliance. This role collaborates with process owners, management, and external auditors to ensure testing, documentation, and remediation activities align with program milestones.

Location is hybrid with in-office expectations in the NY metro area; the role requires strong communication, project management, and

Qualifications

• Minimum 3+ years in internal or external audit, accounting, and/or finance, SOX/MAR.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration or MIS.
• Strong written and oral communication skills; analytical abilities.
• Strong project management skills to meet deadlines.
• Ability to collaborate across departments and manage multiple priorities.

Responsibilities

• Support annual MAR risk assessment, scoping, and planning activities.
• Execute and support MAR lifecycle testing per methodologies and timelines.
• Review risk assessment results with stakeholders and finalize MAR scope.
• Identify opportunities to use data analytics, automation, and AI to enhance MAR activities.
• Support external audit deliverables and special projects.
• Monitor testing progress and help resolve execution challenges.
• Communicate progress and results to management and stakeholders.
• Gather sub-certification deliverables for MAR attestation.

Skills

SOX controls

MAR knowledge

Communication

Project management

Regulatory knowledge

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Accounting/Finance/Business or MIS

Master’s degree or equivalent

Professional accreditations (CIA, CPA, CFE, CISA, MBA)

Tools

TeamMate+

Job description

As an individual contributor and Senior Specialist on the Controls Assurance team (within the corporate Internal Audit function), you will support the Head of Business, Controls Assurance with the assessment and execution of internal controls over financial reporting. The company complies with the NAIC Model Audit Rule (MAR), similar to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX). This entails internal controls testing and documentation, assessing the impact of control deficiencies, building relationships, and providing guidance to process and controls owners across business and functional areas, and facilitating the needed certifications/signoffs from management. In addition, you will be performing direct assistance controls testing in support of the Company’s external audit. This is a highly visible role collaborating with various levels of management and staff personnel throughout the enterprise as well as with the external audit firm.

You are A collaborative, detail-oriented audit professional with experience supporting internal control programs, including Model Audit Rule (MAR), Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX), or similar regulatory control frameworks. Knowledgeable about business processes, financial reporting risks, and related key controls, with strong organizational skills and the ability to meet program milestones and deadlines. Skilled at building trusted relationships with business partners, control owners, and audit stakeholders across a complex organization. Comfortable managing multiple priorities in a deadline-driven environment and demonstrating effective project management, communication, and problem-solving skills.

You have Required Qualifications: Minimum 3+ years of relevant experience in internal or external audit, accounting, and/or finance, Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX), Model Audit Rule. A bachelor’s degree or equivalent in relevant fields of study - Accounting, Finance, Business Administration or Management, Management Information Systems, or another related field. Strong written and oral communication skills. Sound analytical skills, with the ability to effectively analyze a process and assess risks and controls. Strong project management skills to meet established deadlines. Ability to solve problems and identify root causes of process breakdowns. Ability to collaborate with others, both inside and outside of the department, while working toward common goals and fostering understanding and agreement.

Preferred Qualifications: A master’s degree or equivalent. Experience with TeamMate+. Professional accreditations (CIA, CPA, CFE, CISA, etc.), licenses, or designations (MBA).

You will Support annual risk assessment, scoping, and planning activities

Conduct the annual risk assessment and support completion of MAR scoping and planning activities.

Review risk assessment and scoping results with stakeholders and help finalize the MAR program scope.

Identify opportunities to use data analytics, automation, and artificial intelligence to enhance scoping and planning activities.

Execute and support the annual MAR program

Execute key components of the MAR lifecycle in accordance with established methodologies, regulatory expectations, and program timelines.

Identify opportunities to apply data analytics, automation, and artificial intelligence capabilities to improve program execution.

Manage assigned responsibilities effectively and efficiently while meeting established program deadlines.

Support control owners and business testers by monitoring testing progress, answering questions, and helping resolve execution challenges.

Communicate progress, challenges, and results clearly to the Controls Assurance team management and business stakeholders.

Work with process owners to evaluate control deficiencies, develop remediation recommendations, and support preparation of deficiency documentation.

Perform follow-up activities for open deficiencies and monitor progress toward timely resolution.

Perform quality assurance reviews to help confirm testing is complete, accurate, and aligned with program methodology.

Gather sub-certification deliverables and help identify and address obstacles to MAR attestation.

Support external audit deliverables and special projects

Respond to external auditor requests in a timely, complete, and well-documented manner.

Perform assigned control testing in support of the Company’s external audit.

Participate in special projects and ad hoc control initiatives that support departmental and company objectives.

Reporting Relationship As our Senior Specialist, Controls Assurance, you will report to our Head of Business, Controls Assurance, who reports to our Head of Internal Audit, Corporate Functions & Controls Assurance.

Location Hybrid - 3 days in office located in Hudson Yards, NYC; Holmdel NJ; or Bethlehem PA. 2 days WFH.

Salary Range: $68,970.00 - $113,310.00 The salary range reflected above is a good faith estimate of base pay for the primary location of the position. The salary for this position ultimately will be determined based on the education, experience, knowledge, and abilities of the successful candidate. In addition to salary, this role may also be eligible for annual, sales, or other incentive compensation.

Our Promise At Guardian, you’ll have the support and flexibility to achieve your professional and personal goals. Through skill-building, leadership development and philanthropic opportunities, we provide opportunities to build communities and grow your career, surrounded by diverse colleagues with high ethical standards.

Inspire Well-Being As part of Guardian’s Purpose – to inspire well-being – we are committed to offering contemporary, supportive, flexible, and inclusive benefits and resources to our colleagues. Explore our company benefits at www.guardianlife.com/careers/corporate/benefits. Benefits apply to full-time eligible employees. Interns are not eligible for most Company benefits.

Equal Employment Opportunity Guardian is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to age, race, color, creed, religion, sex, affectional or sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, marital status, disability, military or veteran status, or any other classification protected by applicable law.

Accommodations Guardian is committed to providing access, equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. Guardian also provides reasonable accommodations to qualified job applicants (and employees) to accommodate the individual's known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, unless doing so would create an undue hardship. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact [e-mail]. Please note: this resource is for accommodation requests only.

Visa Sponsorship Guardian Life is not currently or in the foreseeable future sponsoring employment-based visas (e.g., such as an H-1B). In order to be a successful applicant, you must be legally authorized to work in the United States, without the need for employer sponsorship/support now or at any time in the future.

Notice Regarding Guardian’s Use of Artificial Intelligence in Recruitment As part of Guardian’s job application process, Guardian may use artificial intelligence tools (“AI Tools