AVP – Internal Controls

UFG Insurance

AVP of Internal Controls building and leading internal control function focusing on SOX compliance. Collaborating with teams to implement risk management and governance strategies.

Posted 5/19/2026full-timeRemote • Iowa • 🇺🇸 United StatesLead💰 $180,000 - $220,000 per yearWebsite

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Establish the vision, strategy, and roadmap for the Internal Controls department, including defining its mandate, structure, and operational procedures.
Serve as the subject matter expert on internal controls, providing guidance and education to business partners and senior management.
Develop and maintain comprehensive, risk-based SOX compliance program that meets regulatory requirements and provides assurance over the company’s internal controls over financial reporting (ICFR).
Lead walkthroughs of key business processes and collaborate with process owners across the company to design effective, preventative, and efficient controls.
Conduct comprehensive risk assessments to identify, evaluate, and prioritize financial reporting and operational risks inherent to the P&C insurance business.
Evaluate and mature the company's control environment by providing strategic risk guidance and designing mitigating controls.
Establish and monitor key risk and performance indicators to provide early identification of risk trends and potential control deficiencies.
Embed themselves in key company initiatives to provide risk and control advisory support for system upgrades and implementations.
Lead the evaluation of control deficiencies to understand root cause and impact and work with process owners to develop effective remediation plans.
Champion a continuous improvement mindset, challenging existing processes and collaborating with cross-functional teams to identify and implement efficiencies.
Evaluate controls and processes for opportunities to leverage automation and new technologies, reducing manual effort and improving control effectiveness.
Partner with management to provide value-added recommendations that address identified control weaknesses in a sustainable and effective manner.
Liaise directly with the company’s internal and external auditors, serving as the main point of contact for all SOX and internal control matters.
Report regularly to senior leadership and the Audit Committee on the status of the internal control environment, highlighting key risks and progress on remediation.
Collaborate with other governance and risk functions (e.g., Enterprise Risk Management, Compliance, Internal Audit) to ensure an integrated and holistic approach to risk management.

Requirements

What you’ll need

Bachelor’s degree in accounting, Finance or a related field preferred.
Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) or Certified Public Accountant (CPA) is strongly preferred.
12+ years of experience in internal audit, internal controls, or public accounting, preferably within the insurance or financial services industry preferred.
Proven experience designing and implementing a SOX compliance program, including leading risk assessments, control design and documentation.
Demonstrated experience in a public company environment, with a strong understanding of SEC and PCAOB regulations related to ICFR.
Experience building and managing a team, including attracting, hiring, and developing talent.
Deep knowledge of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, COSO framework, and US GAAP.
Exceptional analytical skills with the ability to identify, analyze, and interpret complex business processes and risks.
Proven ability to drive process improvements and implement automated control solutions.
Excellent communication skills, both written and oral, with the ability to effectively present complex information to all levels of the organization.
Strong leadership, interpersonal, and collaborative skills to influence change without direct authority.

Benefits

Comp & perks

Annual incentive compensation
Medical, dental, vision & life insurance
Accident, critical Illness & short-term disability insurance
Retirement plans with employer contributions
Generous time-off program
Programs designed to support the employee well-being and financial security.

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills & Tools

SOX compliancerisk assessmentscontrol designinternal controlsfinancial reportingautomation solutionsprocess improvementsCOSO frameworkUS GAAPanalytical skills

Soft Skills

communication skillsleadership skillsinterpersonal skillscollaborative skillsanalytical skillschange managementteam managementstrategic thinkingproblem-solvingcontinuous improvement

Certifications

Certified Internal Auditor (CIA)Certified Public Accountant (CPA)