What are the responsibilities and job description for the Director, Internal Audit/SOX position at Forward?
Position: Director, SOX Compliance
Job Description:
The Director, SOX Compliance will take a leadership role in overseeing all aspects of SOX compliance, including designing and maintaining internal controls, leading control testing efforts, and collaborating with cross-functional teams. This role requires a deep understanding of financial processes, risk assessment, and the ability to drive compliance initiatives across the organization.
Core Responsibilities & Duties:
- Lead the development and implementation of the company's SOX compliance program
- Provide guidance and direction to the SOX team, ensuring alignment with company objectives
- Stay current with evolving SOX regulations and communicate their implications to stakeholders
- Collaborate with process owners to identify and assess key controls within financial processes
- Design and document effective internal control procedures that mitigate financial reporting risks
- Develop comprehensive process narratives, flowcharts, and control matrices
- Identify, evaluate, and communicate financial reporting risks across the organization
- Partner with stakeholders to design controls that effectively mitigate identified risks
- Analyze control deficiencies and provide strategic recommendations for remediation
- Plan, coordinate, and oversee the execution of control testing to evaluate their effectiveness
- Review and analyze testing results, identifying trends and providing insights to management
- Ensure the timely resolution of control deficiencies and track remediation efforts
- Engage with internal audit teams, external auditors, and senior management during audits
- Foster strong relationships with process owners to ensure proper control execution and documentation
- Effectively communicate control deficiencies, progress, and remediation plans to stakeholders
- Identify opportunities to enhance control procedures and optimize compliance efforts
- Drive initiatives to streamline processes and enhance the efficiency of control testing
- Collaborate with IT and data analytics teams to leverage technology for control effectiveness
- Other duties as assigned
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, or a related field; relevant certifications (e.g., CPA, CIA) preferred
- 10 – 15 years of experience in SOX compliance, internal controls, or related roles
- In-depth understanding of SOX regulations, COSO framework, and internal control principles
- Strong analytical skills to assess financial data, identify trends, and evaluate risks
- Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, to convey complex concepts clearly
- Proven leadership skills, including the ability to mentor and motivate a team
- Detail-oriented with exceptional organizational and problem-solving capabilities
- Proficiency in ERP systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle) and data analytics tools is advantageous
Skills:
- Ideal candidate will possess a “can do” attitude with a “will do” work ethic
- Ability to communicate effectively with all levels of operations
- General computer skills - Microsoft Office, Outlook, AS400
- Excellent communication and problem-solving skills
Forward Air is an Equal Opportunity employer.
