Senior Manager NA CCOE

The North American Controls Center of Excellence (Controls CoE) is a customer-focused team that provides professional expert advice to senior management in their execution of an effective internal control strategy. The North American Controls CoE plays a key role in financial control oversight and supports various projects and initiatives to develop enhance and monitor internal control programs.
Reporting to the Senior Director Control Programs the Control Senior Manager will execute control consulting projects support external audits and regulatory examinations of the business and manage the closure process for previously identified gaps in internal doing so the candidate will have an opportunity to work with business leaders to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of internal controls and related processes. As a result this role is best suited to an internal control professional with strong relationship management customer service communication and influencing skills. The Senior manager provides leadership to a team of up to four direct reports.

Key Accountabilities:
Use appropriate judgment in dealing with unexpected issues and requests demonstrating an ability to prioritize work.
Play a role as part of the Controls CoE in achieving the goals of process improvement and best practices of internal controls and support team members to ensure timely and effective implementation of change initiatives.
Participate in discussions ask questions and ensure understanding of issues before proceeding.
Identify and recommend best practices processes and controls.
Demonstrate commitment towards continuously updating knowledge and skills while incorporating feedback.
Demonstrate a commitment to coaching and staff development.
Customer Service
Build effective relationships and establish a high level of credibility with business unit contacts and external auditors
Identify and recommend opportunities to refine Controls CoE service offerings
Identify and escalate any customer service issues received from customers

Control Consulting Projects
Schedule and participate in process walkthrough meetings with business leaders
Obtain or prepare relevant process and control documentation (risk matrices flow charts and/or narratives) as necessary
Identify and assess inherent risks and related key controls
Identify document and evaluate internal controls gaps
Draft reports that accurately and concisely present findings including practical and well-supported recommendations to improve internal controls
Identify and escalate scope schedule cost or quality issues to the Director
Participate in meetings to discuss findings with business leaders
Support Audits and Regulatory Examinations
Work with auditors and regulatory examiners to understand the scope of testing required and its impact on the business; identify any opportunities to streamline the testing approach and reduce business effort

INTERNAL
Coordinate meetings/contacts involving auditors regulatory examiners and the business (i.e. information gathering walkthrough validation and test sample collection)
Coordinate the delivery of relevant information and audit evidence to auditors and regulatory examiners
Identify and escalate any scope schedule cost or quality issues to the Senior Director
Provide senior business leaders with insightful analysis of options available to address auditor issues and recommendations
As requested advise business areas regarding audit scoping options available sources of evidence draft findings and management action plans

Qualifications (Knowledge/Skills/Competencies):
Essential:
CPA designation with 7 years of relevant experience in progressive accounting roles
Working knowledge of SOX MAR and IFRS/NAIC accounting guidelines are a plus
Strong interpersonal skills including the ability to influence management at various levels of the organization.
Strong analytical and inquiry skills to understand operational and valuation processes and controls.
Self-starter with the ability to work independently particularly in the area of using sound independent judgment problem-solving organizing planning and analytical skills.
Excellent oral and written communication skills with influencing and negotiation abilities
Proficient with MS Office (Word Excel Access PowerPoint)
Process analysis and documentation skills including flow charting

Additional Assets:
Experience applying the COSO framework to internal control assessments
Knowledge and experience from an internal/external audit role
knowledge of life and health insurance industry
Public accounting experience

About Manulife and John Hancock

Manulife Financial Corporation is a leading international financial services provider helping people make their decisions easier and lives better. To learn more about us visit is an Equal Opportunity Employer

At Manulife/John Hancock we embrace our diversity. We strive to attract develop and retain a workforce that is as diverse as the customers we serve and to foster an inclusive work environment that embraces the strength of cultures and individuals. We are committed to fair recruitment retention advancement and compensation and we administer all of our practices and programs without discrimination on the basis of race ancestry place of origin colour ethnic origin citizenship religion or religious beliefs creed sex (including pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions) sexual orientation genetic characteristics veteran status gender identity gender expression age marital status family status disability or any other ground protected by applicable law.

It is our priority to remove barriers to provide equal access to employment. A Human Resources representative will work with applicants who request a reasonable accommodation during the application process. All information shared during the accommodation request process will be stored and used in a manner that is consistent with applicable laws and Manulife/John Hancock policies. To request a reasonable accommodation in the application process contact .