Sox Compliance and Financial Controls Lead

**LOCATION: LONDON, ONTARIO**

VersaBank is an inclusive, entrepreneurial, Schedule 1 Chartered Bank with over $4.3 billion in assets and growing. As Canada’s most innovative bank, VersaBank operates as a branchless financial institution that obtains its deposits and provides most of its loans and leases electronically, with innovative deposit and lending solutions for financial intermediaries that allow them to excel in their core businesses.

We are currently looking to add a **SOX Compliance and Financial Controls Lead** to our Finance Team. This role is located in London, Ontario and will work out of our VICE office location.

The SOX Compliance and Financial Controls Lead will be responsible to lead, define, and support the Bank’s control objectives and monitoring compliance efforts. Within the Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) requirements this role will assess the efficiency and effectiveness of the Bank’s operations, evaluate findings, and provide recommendations as well as performing data analytics, and reporting results.

As a pivotal role in safeguarding the Bank’s financial operations the Compliance and Controls Lead will drive continuous process improvements and work closely with the Bank’s stakeholders on the implementation, execution and compliance with entity level controls.

Primary Responsibilities include:
**SOX Compliance**:

- Oversee the design, implementation, and monitoring of SOX-compliant internal controls over financial reporting.
- Conduct periodic testing and assessment of controls, documenting findings and action plans.
- Collaborate with process owners to address deficiencies and enhance control effectiveness.
- Ensure compliance with SOX documentation requirements, including control matrices, process flows, and risk assessments.

**Reconciliation Review**:

- Oversee the preparation and review of balance sheet reconciliations, ensuring accuracy, completeness, and timely resolution of discrepancies.
- Ensure proper documentation and follow-up of reconciling items in key accounts.
- Identify trends or recurring issues in reconciliations and collaborate with stakeholders to implement corrective actions.
- Develop and maintain reconciliation policies and procedures to ensure compliance with organizational and regulatory requirements.

**Financial Controls**:

- Establish and maintain a robust internal control environment to mitigate risks and ensure compliance with organizational policies.
- Conduct regular reviews of financial policies and procedures, recommending updates as needed.
- Monitor key control activities and ensure consistency across all financial operations.
- Provide training and guidance to staff on internal controls and financial compliance.

**Business Partnering**:

- Act as a strategic business partner to cross-functional teams, providing financial insights to support business decisions.
- Collaborate with department heads to develop and monitor budgets, forecasts, and financial performance metrics.
- Provide actionable recommendations to senior management based on financial analysis and trends.
- Support key business initiatives by identifying financial risks and opportunities.

**Process Improvement**:

- Ensure alignment between financial objectives and business strategies to drive long-term growth and efficiency.
- Liaise with IT and other departments to implement automated solutions for financial reporting and control processes.
- Drive continuous process improvements by identifying and addressing inefficiencies in reporting and compliance workflows.

Qualifications:

- Bachelor’s degree in accounting, Finance, or a related field
- CPA/CMA/CA preferred.
- 7+ years of experience in financial reporting, audit, or internal controls, with at least 2 years in a managerial role.
- Expertise in SOX compliance, financial control frameworks, and reconciliation processes.
- Hands-on experience with financial systems (SAGE experience strongly preferred) and ERP tools (e.g., SAP, Oracle, or similar).
- Comprehensive understanding of GAAP/IFRS.
- Proficiency in financial analysis, consolidation, and reporting tools.
- Strong knowledge of risk management and internal control systems.
- Public accounting or Big Four audit experience is a strong advantage.
- Excellent leadership and stakeholder management skills.
- Strategic thinker with strong analytical and problem-solving abilities
- Exceptional attention to detail and organizational skills.
- Effective verbal and written communication skills.

We offer excellent career advancement opportunities, an informal, positive work environment, and a very competitive compensation package that includes base salary, an outstanding benefit package, tuition refund program, pension supplement, fitness club membership and participation in an attractive incentive award program.

**Application Procedure**:
We thank you for taking the time to apply. Please be advised that only those applicants selected for an interview will be contacted.