Senior Specialist, Internal Controls

Job description

Job Family Business Control & Financial Planning About Us At Transamerica, hard work, innovative thinking, and personal accountability are qualities we honor and reward. We understand the potential of leveraging the talents of a diverse workforce. We embrace an environment where employees enjoy a balance between their careers, families, communities, and personal interests. Ultimately, we appreciate the uniqueness of a company where talented professionals work collaboratively in a positive environment — one focused on helping people look forward and plan for the best life possible while providing tools and solutions that make it easier to get there. Who We Are We believe everyone deserves to live their best life. More than a century ago, we were among the first financial services companies in America to serve everyday people from all walks of life. Today, we’re part of an international holding company, with millions of customers and thousands of employees worldwide. Our insurance, retirement, and investment solutions help people make the most of what’s important to them. We’re empowered by a vast agent network covering North America, with diversity to match. Together with our nonprofit research institute and foundation, we tune in, step up, and are a force for good — for our customers and the communities where we live, work, and play. United in our purpose, we help people create the financial freedom to live life on their terms. What We Do Transamerica is organized into three distinct businesses. These include 1) World Financial Group, including Transamerica Financial Advisors, 2) Protection Solutions and Savings & Investments, comprised of life insurance, annuities, employee benefits, retirement plans, and Transamerica Investment Solutions, and 3) Financial Assets, which includes legacy blocks of long term care, universal life, and variable and fixed annuities. These are supported by Transamerica Corporate, which includes Finance, People and Places, General Counsel, Risk, Internal Audit, Strategy and Development, and Corporate Affairs, which covers Communications, Brand, and Government and Policy Affairs. Transamerica employs nearly 7,000 people. It’s part of Aegon, an integrated, diversified, international financial services group serving approximately 23.9 million customers worldwide.* For more information, visit transamerica.com. Job Description Summary Responsible for assisting in the day-to-day execution of the Aegon Americas Sarbanes Oxley controls program within the first line of defense as well as supporting internal control leadership with the oversight of the global country unit SOX responsibilities. Responsible for assisting as a subject matter expert in the identification, assessment, oversight reporting and disclosure of all key controls across the company and to ensure the business procedures and/or financial controls are in compliance with applicable regulatory and corporate standards and practices. Develop and maintain relationships with appropriate business management and process owners, as well as risk management personnel (second line of defense). Job Description Responsibilities Assist in the effort over the evaluation and design of internal controls and make recommendations for improvement. Conduct and document financial/accounting/actuarial process flows, with a focus on internal controls and Sarbanes-Oxley compliance. Support the execution of management’s SOX risk assessment and scoping activities to ensure proper risk identification, process mapping and controls linkage for a sustainable internal control framework. Assist in leading the development and implementation of goals, policies, priorities and procedures relating to internal controls over financial reporting and SOX. Assist in preparing updates to management, including management control remediation plans. Partner and liaise with external auditors to plan and implement an assessment of the control environment, coordination of timing and execution of process walkthroughs, and a process for timely sharing of potential issues for resolution with respect to internal controls. Develop processes and policies for reporting findings. Collaborate with the first line in development of action plans to assess the adequacy of action taken by management to correct reporting deficient conditions, accepting adequate corrective action and continuing reviews with appropriate management on action considered inadequate until satisfactory resolution. Help coordinate the system to capture and track control deficiencies through all country units, as well as internal and external audit findings to resolution. Help support testing the design and operating effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting. Collaborate and assist in assessing control implications within the Issue Paper process. Support internal controls leadership on the oversight of all global country units. Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in accounting or relevant field, or equivalent work experience. Eight years of progressive experience in internal controls, audit or risk management within the financial services industry. Experience working with internal controls under Sarbanes Oxley and assessing control related risks. Ability to document and verbally communicate financial reporting processes in a clear and concise manner, including assessment of design and operating effectiveness of controls. Communication skills to educate/raise awareness of foundational elements/methodologies needed to support an internal control framework. Preferred Qualifications CPA Big 4 public accounting experience working with controls within the Sarbanes Oxley environment Recent experience with a listed U.S. company that is a domestic registrant. Working Conditions Hybrid (In Office: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays) The Salary for this position generally ranges between $112,000 - $130,000 annually. Please note that the salary range is a good faith estimate for this position