Manager, Internal Controls

The Manager, Internal Controls plays a key role in managing the execution, quality, and ongoing effectiveness of Ontario Teachers’ internal controls over financial reporting program. This role manages the annual ICFR program cycle, including scoping, testing, certification, deficiency management, auditor coordination, and supports program reporting, while applying accounting and financial reporting judgment to support management assurance over the control environment.

Who you'll work with

Reporting to the Senior Manager, Internal Controls, the Manager works closely with Finance, Audit Services, Risk, Technology, Legal, Compliance, external auditors, and business process owners to manage ICFR program execution and help ensure control activities are completed to a high standard. The role requires regular engagement with control owners and stakeholders to assess evidence, coordinate testing and certification activities, evaluate deficiencies, manage remediation follow-up, and ensure program timelines and documentation requirements are met. The Manager also partners with the Senior Manager to identify recurring themes, execution risks, financial reporting control matters, and opportunities to improve ICFR processes and reporting.

What you'll do

• Manages and executes the annual ICFR program cycle, including planning, scoping, testing, certification, deficiency management, reporting, and documentation activities.

• Leads day-to-day ICFR testing activities, including confirming testing plans, assessing evidence quality, reviewing documentation, evaluating control design and operating effectiveness, and documenting results in accordance with program methodology.

• Prepares and helps maintain ICFR scoping analysis, risk assessments, control documentation, evidence requirements, and program timelines in alignment with financial reporting risks, materiality considerations, and governance expectations.

• Manages certification activities by preparing materials, reviewing responses, following up on exceptions, and supporting timely completion of required attestations and management sign-offs.

• Coordinates deficiency management activities, including documentation, severity assessment support, root cause analysis, remediation tracking, and escalation of significant or unresolved matters to the Senior Manager.

• Acts as a key day-to-day contact for internal and external auditors by managing requests, coordinating evidence, supporting walkthroughs and testing inquiries, and escalating auditor issues or disagreements as appropriate.

• Analyzes testing results, certification outcomes, deficiencies, process changes, and recurring issues to identify control themes and provide insights for Senior Manager review.

• Provides practical guidance to control owners on ICFR requirements, documentation standards, evidence expectations, testing observations, and remediation actions.

• Support ICFR process improvement by identifying opportunities to streamline workflows, improve documentation quality, enhance reporting, and leverage technology-enabled tools.

• Prepares clear program updates, dashboards, issue summaries, and analysis to support Senior Manager review, governance discussions, and stakeholder communications.

What you'll need

• University degree in Business, Finance, Accounting, Risk Management, Information Systems, or a related discipline.

• Professional accounting designation, CPA, is required; CIA, CISA, CRMA, or related designations are considered assets.

• Minimum 5–7 years of progressive experience in internal controls, ICFR, audit, financial reporting, public accounting, risk management, or financial services.

• Demonstrated ability to apply accounting, financial reporting, and internal control judgment to ICFR scoping, testing conclusions, certification activities, deficiency evaluation, remediation tracking, and auditor discussions.

• Practical knowledge of ICFR program management and the related activities required to support management assurance over financial reporting controls.

• Strong ability to assess control evidence, documentation quality, testing results, and recurring issues, and identify matters requiring follow-up or escalation.

•  Experience managing ICFR program documentation, reporting, issue tracking, and related governance materials to support effective program execution and oversight.

• Ability to work effectively with cross-functional stakeholders to support timely and accurate program execution.

• Ability to leverage technology, reporting tools, workflow trackers, and data analysis to improve ICFR monitoring, reporting, and program execution.

• Ability to translate day-to-day program activity into concise updates, issue summaries, and recommendations for Senior Manager review.

• High degree of professionalism, judgment, and discretion when working with sensitive financial reporting, control, audit, risk, and governance matters.

• Strong understanding of ICFR, internal control frameworks, financial reporting controls, financial statement risk, documentation standards, testing methodologies, certification processes, and audit requirements.

• Experience working with control owners, auditors, and cross-functional stakeholders to gather evidence, resolve issues, and meet program timelines.

• Strong organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple deliverables and competing deadlines.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to summarize issues clearly for stakeholders and senior reviewers.

• Strong sense of ownership and accountability, with the ability to work independently, deliver high-quality work, follow through on commitments, and escalate issues appropriately.