Risk and Controls Lead

Company Description We work as trusted business partners and always strive to deliver the most value and highest return on investment for our clients. We are highly trained business professionals with a strong understanding of clients' needs. We work closely with the leading staffing trade associations, training, and research organizations to ensure we are knowledgeable of the latest industry trends and technologies.

Job Description

Key Responsibilities

• SOX / ICFR Program Execution: Lead assigned SOX and ICFR reviews from planning through completion, including risk assessments, walkthroughs, controls testing, issue tracking, and reporting.
• Risk Assessment: Identify significant business processes, key controls, and changes in systems, products, or business activities that may impact financial reporting risks.
• Internal Controls Testing: Evaluate the design and operating effectiveness of key manual controls by reviewing supporting evidence, analyzing exceptions, and documenting testing conclusions.
• Process Walkthroughs: Lead walkthroughs with control owners and business stakeholders to understand processes, identify risks, and validate control activities.
• Documentation & Reporting: Prepare and update process narratives, Risk and Control Matrices (RCMs), flowcharts, control inventories, and audit-ready working papers.
• Issue Management & Remediation: Identify control deficiencies, assess potential business impact, coordinate remediation plans, and validate corrective actions.
• Stakeholder Management: Partner with Finance, Accounting, Technology, and business teams to coordinate testing activities, obtain documentation, resolve questions, and meet program deadlines.
• Audit Coordination: Serve as a key point of contact for internal and external auditors, supporting audit requests and ensuring timely delivery of required evidence.
• Management Review & Reporting: Prepare management-level updates on testing progress, control gaps, outstanding issues, risks, and remediation activities.
• Team Guidance: Provide day-to-day support and guidance to junior team members on audit methodology, controls testing, documentation, and stakeholder engagement.
• Payroll Audits: Support or conduct payroll-related audits and reviews, including evaluating processes, controls, and supporting documentation.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field.
• 5+ years of experience in internal audit, SOX testing, internal controls, financial controls, or risk management.
• Strong hands-on experience with internal audit methodologies and control testing.
• Solid understanding of SOX, ICFR, financial reporting controls, and risk assessment processes.
• Experience independently executing controls testing, conducting walkthroughs, reviewing evidence, and documenting audit findings.
• Ability to assess control design and operating effectiveness, identify exceptions, and recommend corrective actions.
• Experience with management reviews, audit documentation, and issue remediation.
• Exposure to payroll audits or payroll-related financial controls.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel.

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous experience within banking, financial services, or other regulated industries.
• Knowledge of COSO and other established internal control frameworks.
• Familiarity with automated controls, system-generated reports, interfaces, spreadsheets, and IT-dependent controls.
• Professional certifications such as CPA, CIA, CISA, ACCA, ACA, or equivalent.
• Experience with process improvement, control optimization, and control rationalization initiatives.

Position Details

• Location: Pittsburgh, PA
• Work Schedule: 4 days onsite and 1 day remote per week.
• Contract Duration: Initial 4 months.
• Opportunity: Potential extension or conversion.
• Hours: Standard business hours, approximately 8:00 AM–5:00 PM.

Interview Process

• Round 1: 30-minute Microsoft Teams interview covering the candidate's background, resume, relevant audit and controls experience, and role expectations.
• Round 2: 30-minute Microsoft Teams interview focused on technical knowledge and competency-based questions related to SOX, ICFR, internal audit, and controls testing.

Ideal Candidate Profile The ideal candidate will be a hands-on internal audit and controls professional with at least 5 years of experience in audit methodology, SOX/ICFR testing, and financial controls. Candidates with strong banking or financial services audit experience, management review exposure, payroll audit experience, and the ability to independently manage audit and controls testing workstreams will be particularly attractive. Interested candidates: Please share your updated resume and contact details so we can discuss this opportunity and the next steps.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled Benefit offerings include medical, dental, vision, term life insurance, short-term disability insurance, additional voluntary benefits, commuter benefits, and a 401K plan. Our program provides employees the flexibility to choose the type of coverage that meets their individual needs. Available paid leave may include Paid Sick Leave, where required by law; any other paid leave required by Federal, State, or local law; and Holiday pay upon meeting eligibility criteria. Disclaimer: These benefit offerings do not apply to client-recruited jobs and jobs that are direct hires to a client.

To read our Candidate Privacy Information Statement, which explains how we will use your information, please visit https://www.akkodis.com/en/privacy-policy. The Company will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records in accordance with federal, state, and local laws and/or security clearance requirements, including, as applicable:

· The California Fair Chance Act · Los Angeles City Fair Chance Ordinance · Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers · San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance. Additional Information All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.