SOX Compliance Manager
Parker Hannifin, Cleveland, OH, United States
Overview
The SOX Compliance Manager leads the design, implementation, execution and ongoing oversight of the company’s global financial SOX program. This role owns and drives an effective internal control environment over financial reporting (ICFR) with a primary focus on business process and operational/process‑level controls across multiple regions and geographies (Americas, EMEA, APAC, and LAG). The SOX Compliance Manager coordinates annual SOX scoping and risk assessment, design/operating effectiveness testing, partners with control owners to remediate deficiencies and serves as a primary liaison with internal and external auditors. This position requires effective multi‑region coordination, time‑zone flexibility, and cross‑cultural communication to ensure standardized methodology and consistent execution while aligning, where applicable, with local statutory requirements and maintaining SEC/SOX expectations. The role operates within a regional execution model, where SOX testing is performed by peer testers within each region under a standardized global methodology and centralized program oversight.
Scope / Supervision and Interaction
Report to the Director, Enterprise Compliance. Interacts with all groups, divisions and corporate senior management globally. Partners with Accounting, Finance, Tax, Treasury, Information Technology, Legal, Human Resources, Operations Support, Shared Services, internal and external auditors, and outside consultants as required to fulfil the scope of the position.
Essential Functions
Governance and Methodology
Own and manage the global financial SOX program, including scoping, risk assessment, timelines and deliverables across corporate and division locations across the organization/regions (Americas, EMEA, APAC and LAG), aligned to management’s governance and expectations.
Maintain and enhance SOX methodologies and documentation standards for business process controls, including narratives, flowcharts and risk/control matrices (RCMs).
Drive consistent execution of SOX requirements, including multi‑region coordination to support timelines and deliverables.
In coordination with management, lead the global operating model for SOX testing executed by peer testers (planning, enablement, oversight and quality assurance) to ensure consistent application of methodology and conclusions across regions.
Control Environment
Perform global risk assessment and gap analysis of the control environment and provide the framework and annual direction to global controllership to perform testing in support of the company’s SEC and Sarbanes‑Oxley (SOX) requirements.
Uphold the global control standards to support the external auditor’s assessment in The Report of Independent Registered Accounting Firm as presented in the Annual Report.
Program Execution, Reporting & Stakeholder Management
Identify, assess and communicate control deficiencies, partner with control owners to drive timely testing and remediation, strengthen process design, and implement sustainable improvements.
Manage Sarbanes‑Oxley reporting requirements, including tracking and verification of external audit fees, management of the CCQ process and reporting results to senior management quarterly, remediation status reporting and monitoring ongoing SOX compliance.
Coordinate with Internal and External Audit on external audit fee tracking and verification, annual SOX scope, reliance strategy, testing approach and issue evaluation.
Develop and provide global training and ongoing support for peer testers and control owners, including onboarding and enablement.
Integrate acquisitions into the SOX/ICFR program, including scoping, control design remediation, day‑1 vs. day‑90 expectations and transition service agreements.
Partner with Accounting, Finance, IT and business leaders to assess process changes for SOX impacts.
Serve as primary liaison to the VP, Corporate Controller and the VP, Audit and Compliance on SOX/ICFR matters, including scoping, risk assessment, testing status, deficiency evaluation and escalation of potential control issues.
Support the broader Enterprise Compliance function on program enhancements, policy/control governance, special projects and continuous improvement.
Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business or related field. MBA preferred.
CPA, CIA or equivalent certification preferred.
10+ years in key accounting positions.
Public accounting (Big 4) experience strongly preferred.
International work experience within a global company preferred.
Travel – 20%.
Ability to work in a highly complex and technical environment under limited direction.
Understanding of SOX 404, COSO framework and GAAP.
Strong core knowledge of Accounting, Audit, Finance, Risk, Internal Controls, Compliance, Business, Legal, Governance and Statutory concepts.
Experience with operational/process‑level controls that impact financial reporting (inventory, cost accounting, production reporting, reserves/estimates, CAPEX/fixed assets).
Equal Employment Opportunity
Parker is an Equal Opportunity and Affifitive Action Employer. Employment decisions are based upon job related reasons regardless of race, ethnicity, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, gender identity, genetic information, veteran status or any other protected status. U.S. Citizenship, Permanent Residency or other appropriate status is required for certain positions.
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The SOX Compliance Manager leads the design, implementation, execution and ongoing oversight of the company’s global financial SOX program. This role owns and drives an effective internal control environment over financial reporting (ICFR) with a primary focus on business process and operational/process‑level controls across multiple regions and geographies (Americas, EMEA, APAC, and LAG). The SOX Compliance Manager coordinates annual SOX scoping and risk assessment, design/operating effectiveness testing, partners with control owners to remediate deficiencies and serves as a primary liaison with internal and external auditors. This position requires effective multi‑region coordination, time‑zone flexibility, and cross‑cultural communication to ensure standardized methodology and consistent execution while aligning, where applicable, with local statutory requirements and maintaining SEC/SOX expectations. The role operates within a regional execution model, where SOX testing is performed by peer testers within each region under a standardized global methodology and centralized program oversight.
Scope / Supervision and Interaction
Report to the Director, Enterprise Compliance. Interacts with all groups, divisions and corporate senior management globally. Partners with Accounting, Finance, Tax, Treasury, Information Technology, Legal, Human Resources, Operations Support, Shared Services, internal and external auditors, and outside consultants as required to fulfil the scope of the position.
Essential Functions
Governance and Methodology
Own and manage the global financial SOX program, including scoping, risk assessment, timelines and deliverables across corporate and division locations across the organization/regions (Americas, EMEA, APAC and LAG), aligned to management’s governance and expectations.
Maintain and enhance SOX methodologies and documentation standards for business process controls, including narratives, flowcharts and risk/control matrices (RCMs).
Drive consistent execution of SOX requirements, including multi‑region coordination to support timelines and deliverables.
In coordination with management, lead the global operating model for SOX testing executed by peer testers (planning, enablement, oversight and quality assurance) to ensure consistent application of methodology and conclusions across regions.
Control Environment
Perform global risk assessment and gap analysis of the control environment and provide the framework and annual direction to global controllership to perform testing in support of the company’s SEC and Sarbanes‑Oxley (SOX) requirements.
Uphold the global control standards to support the external auditor’s assessment in The Report of Independent Registered Accounting Firm as presented in the Annual Report.
Program Execution, Reporting & Stakeholder Management
Identify, assess and communicate control deficiencies, partner with control owners to drive timely testing and remediation, strengthen process design, and implement sustainable improvements.
Manage Sarbanes‑Oxley reporting requirements, including tracking and verification of external audit fees, management of the CCQ process and reporting results to senior management quarterly, remediation status reporting and monitoring ongoing SOX compliance.
Coordinate with Internal and External Audit on external audit fee tracking and verification, annual SOX scope, reliance strategy, testing approach and issue evaluation.
Develop and provide global training and ongoing support for peer testers and control owners, including onboarding and enablement.
Integrate acquisitions into the SOX/ICFR program, including scoping, control design remediation, day‑1 vs. day‑90 expectations and transition service agreements.
Partner with Accounting, Finance, IT and business leaders to assess process changes for SOX impacts.
Serve as primary liaison to the VP, Corporate Controller and the VP, Audit and Compliance on SOX/ICFR matters, including scoping, risk assessment, testing status, deficiency evaluation and escalation of potential control issues.
Support the broader Enterprise Compliance function on program enhancements, policy/control governance, special projects and continuous improvement.
Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business or related field. MBA preferred.
CPA, CIA or equivalent certification preferred.
10+ years in key accounting positions.
Public accounting (Big 4) experience strongly preferred.
International work experience within a global company preferred.
Travel – 20%.
Ability to work in a highly complex and technical environment under limited direction.
Understanding of SOX 404, COSO framework and GAAP.
Strong core knowledge of Accounting, Audit, Finance, Risk, Internal Controls, Compliance, Business, Legal, Governance and Statutory concepts.
Experience with operational/process‑level controls that impact financial reporting (inventory, cost accounting, production reporting, reserves/estimates, CAPEX/fixed assets).
Equal Employment Opportunity
Parker is an Equal Opportunity and Affifitive Action Employer. Employment decisions are based upon job related reasons regardless of race, ethnicity, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, gender identity, genetic information, veteran status or any other protected status. U.S. Citizenship, Permanent Residency or other appropriate status is required for certain positions.
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