Internal Audit Senior Manager

Internal Audit Senior Manager

Location:

Northbrook, IL, US, 60062

Stepan Company is seeking an experienced and motivated Internal Audit Senior Manager to join our Internal Audit function. This role plays a critical part in strengthening Stepan’s governance, risk management, and internal control framework. The Internal Audit Senior Manager will collaborate closely with the Internal Audit leadership to plan, execute, and report on high impact financial, operational, compliance, and IT audit engagements—including oversight of the Company’s Sarbanes Oxley (SOX) program.

This role requires strong leadership, project management, communication, and analytical skills, with the ability to work confidently with stakeholders including executive leadership across various functions of the organization.

The Senior Manager, Internal Audit will serve as a member of the Stepan Global Internal Audit team and will report to the Global Head of Internal Audit. As a member of the Global Audit Leadership team, you will help shape the function’s strategy, strengthen risk management capabilities, and lead assurance and advisory initiatives across the enterprise.

• Lead periodic risk assessments and design, document, and enhance key business and IT-dependent controls in response to process changes, system implementations, and identified gaps.
• Support completion of the Company’s enterprise wide annual risk assessment.
• Assist in developing the annual Internal Audit plan based on risk profiles, strategic priorities, and emerging risks.
• Lead in the development and execution of Audit plans providing assurance over prioritized financial, strategic, regulatory, market, and operational and financial risks.
• Provide input into the Global Audit function organizational design, including the identification of core capability, capacity, and strategic co-sourcing management.
• Contribute to the ongoing optimization of Global Audit Policies and Procedures, including alignment with IIA professional standards.
• Provide clear status reporting, facilitate walkthroughs, and coordinate responses to audit inquiries to drive efficient audits with minimal disruption.
• Oversee remediation verification and ensure timely closure of action plans.
• Develop Global Audit strategic initiatives and ensure alignment with Global Audit Policies and Procedures.
• Lead day to day management of the Company’s Sarbanes Oxley (SOX)/COSO compliance program.
• Review and evaluate the design and operating effectiveness of internal controls, including Business process controls (BPC), Automated controls, IT General Controls (ITGCs)
• Review staff testing and documentation for completeness and quality.
• Coordinate with external auditors and third party consultants; ensure timely exchange of information and resolution of issues.
• Lead cross functional operational audit engagements from planning through reporting, including scoping, risk assessment, testing, and development of recommendations.
• Utilize strong project management capabilities to deliver audits on time and in alignment with Internal Audit standards.
• Draft high quality internal audit reports to clearly articulate issues, root causes, and risk implications.
• Present audit results and recommendations to process owners, management, and leadership in a clear and concise manner.
• Support the preparation of quarterly Audit Committee materials.
• Coach, mentor, and develop Internal Audit staff, fostering a collaborative, growth-oriented team culture.

• 7+ years of progressive experience in financial controls, audit, or risk management within public accounting and/or complex corporate environments.
• 2+ years of people management.
• Strong understanding of professional audit standards, COSO and risk assessment practices.
• Excellent understanding of internal controls, testing methodologies, and reporting requirements and standards.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and modern audit tools.
• Project management experience and ability to apply auditing protocols, lead groups of people, and effect change in a matrix organization by influencing stakeholders
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to travel 10–20%,…