Senior Director – Financial Controls

At Elanco (NYSE: ELAN) – it all starts with animals!

As a global leader in animal health, we are dedicated to innovation and delivering products and services to prevent and treat disease in farm animals and pets. We’re driven by our vision of ‘Food and Companionship Enriching Life’ and our approach to sustainability – the Elanco Healthy Purpose™ – to advance the health of animals, people, the planet and our enterprise.

At Elanco, we pride ourselves on fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment. We believe that diversity is the driving force behind innovation, creativity, and overall business success. Here, you’ll be part of a company that values and champions new ways of thinking, work with dynamic individuals, and acquire new skills and experiences that will propel your career to new heights.

Making animals’ lives better makes life better – join our team today!

Your Role:

The Financial Controls Organization Senior Director is responsible for the development and oversight of the Global Sarbanes-Oxley (SOx) Compliance Program and providing internal control consultation.  These responsibilities include establishing and maintaining the requirements of the Global SOx Compliance Program; determining annual SOx scope; performing management’s annual assessment of internal control effectiveness, evaluating and integrating the SOx impact of significant corporate activities (acquisitions, divestitures, system integrations, etc.); monitoring the SOx readiness, identifying and managing key relationships with process owners, Corporate Audit Services (CAS), IT, Ernst & Young (EY), Elanco’s Audit Committee and third party service providers to influence and drive key decisions and solutions.  In addition, this role may be responsible for special projects occasionally.

Your Responsibilities:

Development and Oversight of the Global SOx Compliance Program:

• Develop and implement the annual project plan, including determining annual SOx testing scope, processes and materiality.
• Lead monthly SOx Steering Committee meetings and Financial Controls Organization (FCO)/CAS/EY Coordination meetings.
• Escalate issues appropriately to CAO (Chief Accounting Officer), General Auditor, CFO (Chief Financial Officer) and the SOx Steering Committee.
• Liaise with internal stakeholders, external auditors, CAS Coordinators and SOx IT Coordinator to coordinate program efficiently and resolve issues timely.
• Coordinate and influence CAS and EY on testing scope and approach and resolution of issues.
• Provide SOx and internal control consultation on changes to controls (new, redesign, gaps, etc.).
• Innovate the controls program to optimize efficiency and risk coverage.
• Address questions from stakeholders (see list below).
• Identify, lead and implement process improvement initiatives.
• Conduct SOx and internal control presentations and training.
• Document management’s assessment of internal control effectiveness, as required by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

Provide SOx and Internal Control Consulting:

• Consult on SOx and internal controls, including issue identification and resolution, deficiency remediation, deficiency impact assessment, etc.
• Consult on impact of organization decisions to the SOx program (acquisitions, divestitures, system implementations, etc.).
• Serve as subject-matter expert on the PCAOB rules relating to the audit attestation on internal controls.
• Monitor direction of PCAOB proposals and prepare PCAOB comment letters articulating Elanco’s concerns of any proposed relevant standards.
• Assist in evaluation of certain global, regional and local third-party service providers, including initial due diligence and annual evaluation of internal controls and internal control reports (i.e., SOC 1, SSAE No. 18).
• Review and ensure all global EY management letter comments (relating to local statutory audits) are identified with action plans.

Build Strong Working Relationships with Key Stakeholders:

• CAS (Coordinators for Business & IT) and SOx IT Coordinator.
• SOx Process Owners and Local Coordinators.
• Global Process Owners (Order-to-Cash, Purchase-to-Pay, Record-to-Report, Fixed Assets, Manufacturing).
• Shared Services Center Leadership and Regional Controllers including TCS Leadership.
• IT & ERP Security.
• External Audit Team (Partner, Senior Manager, and other levels).

Lead a Team:

• This position currently has three direct reports.
• Candidate must be able to manage and lead a team, provide timely feedback and enhance team members’ skills.
• Evaluate program requirements and ensure cost-efficient, sustainable resourcing models are in place.

Other Special Projects:

• Assist with local GAAP/IFRS (i.e., IFRS implementation) or accounting and reporting issues with affiliates and EY (or other external auditor).
• Network with other companies to benchmark and share best practices relating to SOx.
• Determine scope and develop procedures for affiliate and shared service center assessments (that includes internal controls) on a rotational basis (in coordination with shared service center leaders, Regional Controllers, and areas Controllers).
• Consult on financial compliance topics as part of special projects within the organization.
• Various other special projects.

What You Need to Succeed (minimum qualifications):

• Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting
• Required Experience: CPA or Chartered Accountant, 8+ years work experience, and 4+ years public accounting experience.

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What Will Give You the Competitive Edge (preferred qualifications):

• Financial processes (examples:  O2C, P2P, RTR, Treasury, Manufacturing).
• SAP or other ERP system.
• Implementation of SOx.
• Qualified candidates must be legally authorized to be employed in the United States. Elanco does not anticipate providing sponsorship for employment visa status (e.g., H-1B or TN status) for this employment position.

Other information:

• Location: This position is located at Elanco Global Headquarters, Greenfield, Indiana.  Elanco Global Headquarters will move to Indianapolis, Indiana during the first half of 2025. (Hybrid)
• Travel: Domestic and international travel of less than 10%

Elanco is an EEO/Affirmative Action Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, protected veteran status, disability or any other legally protected status