SOX Program Coordinator

At Customers Bank, we believe in working hard, working smart, working together to deliver memorable customer experiences and having fun. Our vision, mission, and values guide us along our path to achieve excellence. Passion, attitude, creativity, integrity, alignment, and execution are cornerstones of our behaviors. They define who we are as an organization and as individuals. Everyone is encouraged to have personal development plans. By doing so, our team members are on their way to achieve their highest potential and be successful in their personal and professional lives.

Work Location: Hybrid in the West Reading, PA office coming into the office at least 3-days per week with Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday being the set in office days. If within a 50-mile radius of the Customers Bank location, the expectation is to be hybrid.

Who is Customers Bank?

Founded in 2009, Customers Bank is a super-community bank with over $22 billion in assets. We believe in dedicated personal service for the businesses, professionals, individuals, and families we work with.

We get you further, faster.

Focused on you: We provide every customer with a single point of contact. A dedicated team member who’s committed to meeting your needs today and tomorrow.

On the leading edge: We’re innovating with the latest tools and technology so we can react to market conditions quicker and help you get ahead.

Proven reliability: We always ground our innovation in our deep experience and strong financial foundation, so we’re a partner you can trust.

What you’ll do:

The SOX Program Coordinator will play a pivotal role in ensuring the effectiveness and efficiency of internal controls over financial reporting (ICFR) at Customers Bank (“Bank”). As the primary liaison between management and key stakeholders, the SOX Program Coordinator will partner with the Bank’s external advisory service providers and will serve as the Bank’s subject matter expert and lead contributor in aspects of the compliance program from planning, risk assessments, execution, and reporting phases. 

This is a highly visible role reporting under the direction of the Chief Accounting Officer. This position will be based on our corporate offices at West Reading, PA. A three-day office work and periodic travels within our regional footprint for business-related activities are expected. 

The key responsibilities of this position include, but are not limited to:

Enterprise-wide SOX Risk Assessment – Assist the external advisory service firm and/or project lead the efforts in the identification and assessment of enterprise-wide risks that could result to material misstatements in the Bank’s financial reporting processes.

• Assist and/or lead periodic discussions with executive management and business unit leadership to identify and assess management’s objectives and strategic initiatives for the year, including management’s expectations and changes to risk tolerance levels.
• Conduct interviews, surveys, and other information-gathering measures to understand and evaluate other relevant or emerging risks.
• Coordinate, review, and evaluate the results of risk assessment procedures performed by other assurance and risk management functions within the organization.
• Perform an in-depth analysis of financial, operational, and compliance data, and partner with the advisory service providers to develop the annual SOX risk assessment.
• Prepare and communicate the risk assessment results with key stakeholders effectively through the use of data visualization tools.
• Maintain and manage the risk and control universe to reflect the current control environment.

Program Planning – Partner with the advisory service providers in the development, approval, deployment and communication of the annual SOX program, such as determining the appropriate scope, thresholds, timeline, deliverables, test design, opening meetings, among other planning activities. 

Program Execution – Coordinate and assist in various capacities in the execution of planned procedures to evaluate the design and operating effectiveness of the Bank’s internal controls over financial reporting.

• Review process narratives, conduct process walkthroughs and review supporting internal control documentation, as assigned.
• Evaluate the design and operating effectiveness of internal controls, as assigned.
• Lead the discussions among the control and process owners covering the results of testing, including the ratings of exceptions noted and control deficiencies identified by the SOX team and other assurance functions, as applicable.
• Collaborate with the process owners in outlining achievable measures to remediate the control deficiencies identified.
• Assist in the detail review of workpapers, as assigned.

Reporting – Work with the advisory service firm and the CAO in communicating the program progress and testing results to leadership teams in a timely manner.

• Track and manage the remediation of control deficiencies; lead the follow-up and escalation process on past due remediation action plans.
• Assist in the preparation and review of the quarterly presentation materials for the SOX committee, executive leadership, and audit committee meetings.
• Assist in the Quarterly SOX 302 Certification process.

Governance, Risk & Compliance

• Assist in the analysis and in the communication of internal control implications arising from strategic business decisions, complex banking transactions, operational or policy changes within the organization.
• Contribute to the internal control rationalization process and identify opportunities to optimize controls through automation or consolidation.

Project Management

• Partner with stakeholders and advisory service providers in the preparation and review of progress reports; lead the monthly SOX meetings.
• Assist in managing engagements with external advisory service providers to ensure that critical compliance activities and associated deliverables are completed within established timelines.
• Provide assistance to on-going accounting and finance transformation projects.

What do you need?

• Seasoned compliance professional with over ten years of combined experience in administering SOX compliance and risk management.
• Minimum 5 years of Big Four assurance public accounting experience, required.
• Minimum 5 years of corporate advisory and risk management compliance experience in a supervisory/leadership role, required.
• Subject matter expertise in SOX 404 compliance program, risk management, and governance, risk and compliance (GRC) for publicly traded banking or financial services entities, required.
• In-depth knowledge on the IT General Controls and IT Application Controls.
• Effective project management, planning and organization skills, required.
• Proven leadership skills demonstrating strong judgment, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain cross-functional working relationships, and capability to thrive in a hands-on and fast-paced environment with competing priorities.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Prior advisory experience on a SOX-readiness or GRC restructuring project, in a supervisory capacity, is a plus.
• Strong knowledge of GAAP and Regulatory Reporting
• Strong analytical skills
• Detail oriented
• Continuous improvement mindset
• Advanced proficiencies in PowerPoint, Excel, Tableau, Qlik or other data analytic and data visualization software, is a plus.
• Proficiencies in ERP systems such as Workday, is a plus.

Education & Certifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, required.
• Certified Public Accountant, required.

• Certified Internal Auditor, Certified Fraud Examiner, Certified Information System Auditor is a plus, but not required.

Technology Skills:

• Microsoft Office Suite – proficient/expert level

Customers Bank is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.

We also provide “reasonable accommodations”, upon request, to qualified individuals with disabilities, in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and applicable state and local laws. 

Diversity Statement:

At Customers Bank, we believe in working smart, working together, and having fun while delivering innovative solutions and memorable experiences for our customers. We are committed to the continual advancement of a culture which reflects the value we place on diversity, equity, and inclusion. We honor the diverse experiences, perspectives, and identities of our team members, and we recognize that it is their passion, creativity, and integrity that drives our success. Step into your future with us! Let’s take on tomorrow.