Corporate Audit Manager

CORE RESPONSIBILITIES AND TASKS

Oversee the execution to the annual Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) compliance program / Manage the execution of annual financial statement audit by partnering with external auditors

• Partner with external auditors to effectively design and assess controls as needed. Oversee and general review of documentation specific to key financial business processes
• Oversee the completion and general review of direct assistance work (substantive testing and business process walkthroughs), including coordination of deadlines with external auditors and business personnel
• Assist audit team when working with external auditors and management to resolve identified issues, including seeing through concluded action plan
• Stay up to date on current guidance and methodologies
• Implement best practices to streamline approach to reduce costs and improve efficiencies
• Assist with audit initiatives surrounding system implementations / conversions throughout the region

Oversee the planning and execution of domestic audits of Sherwin-Williams Plants, Distribution Centers and Enterprise-wide business processes, including changes to key business processes through Enterprise-wide transformation initiatives (i.e., system implementations/conversions, other process changes)

• Provide guidance to the team when completing site risk assessment and audit program for executed audits. Continue to drive efficiencies by providing input to audit team preparing audit procedures
  
  
  
  • Identify opportunities to act as a consultant to the audit client, while strengthening the overall control environment, and working to provide value-add / cost-saving findings
  • Assist the team in creating audit programs for ad-hoc operational projects and communicate assessment of risk to the Audit Senior Manager and/or Audit Director as part of audit planning process to ensure approach is thoughtful and risk based. Own takeaways from planning discussions to ensure changes to approach are included within execution of audit procedures
  • Manage the execution of ad-hoc operational projects completed by the team and own follow up of review questions identified throughout the audit fieldwork
  • Assist team on concluding on financial impact of identified observations and confirm any corrections recorded by Management. Manage any follow up necessary to finalize the audit report and related action plans identified by Management. Ensure timely completion of audit report for Senior Manager and Director review.
  
  
• Manage the planning, execution of fieldwork, and coordination of final report for assigned audits.
• Effectively demonstrate an understanding of business processes, evaluation of observations identified, and communicate accordingly to the Senior Manager and Director for assigned audits
• Participate in pre-close and closing conference meetings for assigned audits to discuss observations identified, and manage team to ensure audit remediation is obtained
• Demonstrate a thorough understanding of complex accounting and auditing concepts and apply them to SW audits
• Stay up to date on emerging risks to the organization, such as Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG), and proactively work with Management to understand existing processes and consult on opportunities to enhance the control environment
• Partner with the IT Audit team and obtain an understanding around key components of Enterprise-wide transformation initiatives (i.e., System implementations/conversions) including taking ownership of the relationship with business partners for key business process changes and controls in the new environment. With IT Audit support, understand data conversion activities occurring as part of these initiatives.

Audit Analysis Support:

• Support the audit analysis function by identifying new opportunities to leverage data to streamline the audit process and review risks more holistically across the organization
• Bring training and awareness to the financial audit team on how to utilize available reporting dashboards
• Identify responsible owners to proactively monitor existing dashboards and perform follow-up procedures based on risk

Manage, train, and develop direct team of auditors:

• Supervise daily work of Lead, Senior and/or Corporate auditors
• Develop the team through coaching and mentoring. Prepare annual reviews for 4-6 direct reports
• Provide continuous on the job coaching and feedback to individuals on the audit team / Empower individuals to be active participants in key discussions
• Encourage best practices with communication to management including increased fact-to-face conversations to drive efficiencies/build relationships
• Manage fieldwork, inform superiors of the audit engagement status, and manage performance for projects assigned
• Foster an efficient, innovative, and team-oriented work environment / Encourage common practices amongst the team
• Use technology and resources to continually learn/share knowledge with team

Departmental Planning:

• Assist the Director with preparing budgets for EY work and other audit projects, as well as executing team goals
• Provide input and participate in annual Risk Assessment and annual audit plan developed by leveraging available systems and data to support the audit plan
• Proactively interact with key management to gather information, resolve audit-related problems, and make recommendations for business and process improvements
• Participate in recruiting efforts as needed

Personal Career Development:

• Develop and maintain productive working relationships with company personnel, assess audit clients' satisfaction and proactively maintain contact with the audit client throughout the year
• Develop and communicate an understanding of SW's divisions and IT applications and actively seek/encourage the team to contribute ideas and identify opportunities for improvement
• Adhere to the highest degree of professional standards and strict confidentiality
• Attend professional development and training sessions on a regular basis to obtain continuing professional education credits in line with department established metrics

General Responsibilities and Tasks:

• Coordinate and perform annual physical inventories observation of designated facilities
• Participate in special request reviews involving all aspects of an audit.
• Research unique situations and determine logical conclusions during the audit. Ensure that these conclusions are supported by thoroughly documented workpapers and well written audit exceptions.
• Provide assistance and perform other related ad hoc audit activities (including IT Audit Activities), as requested by Audit Leadership

Participate in special assignments as deemed necessary by Director, Corporate Audit, VP, Corporate Audit and Loss Prevention, management and/or the Audit Committee.

Because this role involves access to confidential financial information, the Company has determined that a review of criminal history is necessary to protect the business and its operations and reputation and to provide similar protections for its clients and potential investments.

POSITION REQUIREMENTS

FORMAL EDUCATION:

Required:

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance

Preferred:

• Advanced degrees or certifications (MBA, CPA, CIA, CISA, etc)

KNOWLEDGE & EXPERIENCE:

Required:

• 6 to 10 years of prior audit experience (strong preference of experience with Big 4 audit firm or public company internal audit team)
• Advanced understanding of general accounting, SOX, COSO, IIAS, US GAAP/IFRS and manufacturing/retail industry
• Experience in leading SOX testing and audit related projects
• Experience of managing audit projects and working directly with external auditors and management resolving issues and improving processes Excellent written and verbal communications, with the effective use of active listening and interviewing skills
• Advanced problem-solving skills
• Adaptability and flexibility
• Creativity
• Strong time management and organizational skills
• Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office tools (Teams, Sharepoint, Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Ability to travel up to 10% of time (domestic)
• Confidence and assertiveness to interact independently with business management and external auditors on a regular basis
• Excellent project management skills
• Ability to manage multiple projects and competing priorities in a rapidly growing, interactive, results-based team environment
• Interest in working on strategic initiatives in a collaborative environment
• Experience with supervision within team environment including willingness to proactively coach/provide real time feedback

TECHNICAL/SKILL REQUIREMENTS:

Required:

• Excellent written and verbal communications, with the effective use of active listening and interviewing skills
• Advanced problem solving skills
• Adaptability and flexibility
• Creativity
• Strong time management and organizational skills
• Intermediate knowledge of Microsoft Office tools (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Confidence and assertiveness to interact independently with business management and external auditors on a regular basis
• Excellent project management skills
• Ability to manage multiple projects and competing priorities in a rapidly growing, interactive, results-based team environment
• Interest in working on strategic initiatives in a collaborative environment
• Self-directed, comfortable working independently and without daily supervision

Travel: 10%