SOX IT Controls - Transformation Manager Italian Speaking

ROLE:
SOX IT Controls - Transformation Manager (Italian Speaking)

REPORTS TO:
Head of IT Controls Transformation

LOCATION:
Leeds

Barden have been asked to act on behalf of a global technology company to lead the appointment of a 'Transformation Manager - SOX IT Controls (Italian Speaking) as they look to enhance their global finance environment.
The business needs to make it sustainable for the rapidly growing organisation to comply with US accounting and reporting rules and regulations including SOX.

"This person will take on a key role in one of the biggest finance transformation projects any company is undertaking globally in 2025.
It's a unique chance to join the Transformation programme that will have significant impact across the Division and Group function." Global ICFR Lead

This ambitious global finance transformation programme, focused on Internal Control over Financial Reporting (ICFR), will span over 3 years and will involve a team of circa 100+ people spread across three interdependent pillars, including:

1. IT controls, including supporting the new ERP implementation
2. Business controls, both at a group level and within the operating businesses
3. Modernisation initiatives for both business and IT controls, driven by technology enablement and automation (such as a GRC application).

This role will be responsible for delivering Pillar 1 above for the ICFR global finance transformation programme, as well as supporting the other finance transformation pillars (e.g.
finance ERP implementation) by providing ICFR input and insight.
They will have overall responsibility for ensuring IT controls are compliant from a SOX standpoint and working closely with the owners of the IT applications to ensure compliance.

The transformation programme goes across all facets of the business including data, systems, people, organisation design and global process owners.

ABOUT THE ROLE:

• Lead the day-to-day delivery of specific short-term transformation and long-term transformation elements of the ICFR project plan, focused on IT controls at the group and within the divisions.
  This includes IT general controls across the full spectrum of IT domains and IT automated controls.
  
• Some travel will be required as a result of recent business acquisition in Italy.
  In addition, the this role requires someone who is fluent in Italian.
  
• Where relevant, manage the external support, to deliver the specific elements of the ICFR project plan according to the planned costs and timetable.
• Contribute towards regular project management reporting to the Head of IT Controls Transformation and the Head of Business Controls Transformation.
• Highlight potential challenges or revisions necessary to scope, timetable, resources or dependencies.
  
• Identify improvement opportunities within the specific elements of the ICFR project plan that you are managing, both short-term and long-term, for example process changes or the automation of a particular control.
  
• Collaborate with Business Controls Transformation peers delivering specific business elements of the ICFR project and with the Internal Controls team, who lead management's testing activities.
  
• If necessary, prepare briefing documents for the Group's external auditors on the elements of the ICFR project plan that you are managing.
• Collaborate with the teams of other key internal stakeholders who have ownership in some or all of the ICFR project plan, to deliver the necessary transformation and address concerns they may have.
  This is likely to include teams reporting to Divisional CFOs and Divisional CIOs, and other senior members of the Group Functions such as Tax and Treasury.

ABOUT THE PERSON:

• Experience with SOX implementation or readiness programme within a large US listed organisation, through industry or consulting (i.e.
  Big 4).
• Italian speaking required for this role due to liaising with Italian business recently acquired by the business.
  
• Experience of Oracle ERP and related Oracle systems is required.
  
• Experience of delivering ICFR activities day-to-day, across at least one whole financial year cycle.
  
• Some experience of significant finance transformation activities in ICFR or with ICFR impacts, such as a GRC implementation, global process owner deployment, an ERP implementation, or technology enablement of the annual ICFR cycle, is advantageous, but not essential.
• Experience of navigating material weakness or significant deficiency remediation is advantageous, but not essential.
• PCAOB audit experience and experience in a professional services or industry role, managing IT compliance from a SOX perspective at scale.
  
• Strong project management and organisation skills, in order to be able to manage the delivery of one or several workstreams to short-term and long-term deadlines.
• Good management skills, for directing the day-to-day activities of the internal and external support.
• Strong communication skills, to be able to clearly articulate the status of work and the risks that may cause timetable or cost challenges.
• Good ICFR skills, covering IT processes, is essential.
• Able to operate in a fast-paced environment in a management role that is empowered to deliver change.

Curious? You should be.
Hit apply or contact Catherine Drysdale (***) and Catherine and her team will take things from there.
Simple.