Role Summary
The Assurance & Advisory (A&A) Senior Analyst will assist in the execution of the department's plan, budget, objectives, and goals by leading and supporting advisory and assurance projects in accordance with the annual audit plan and risk strategy; driving the team through overall execution of projects from planning through final report delivery; and collaborating with team members and stakeholders to set responsibilities and manage workloads among multiple engagements. The successful candidate will combine assurance and advisory expertise with data analytics and AI-enabled approaches to enhance risk identification, control evaluation, and continuous monitoring across financial and operational processes. The successful candidate will demonstrate a proven ability working within diverse teams and simultaneous work streams on multiple projects while utilizing project management standards and performance management techniques. This role will report to the Assurance & Advisory Senior Manager within the A&A Finance pillar.
Key Responsibilities
Assurance & Advisory Execution
· Act as an independent and objective assurance and consulting professional by assessing current processes and internal controls and providing recommendations that add value and improve the organization's operations.
· Apply and leverage understanding of business processes and risk and control concepts to develop risk assessments, audit programs, and testing procedures that appropriately address identified risks and project objectives.
· Participate on multiple audit and advisory projects simultaneously ensuring each engagement is conducted in an efficient and effective manner.
· Review audit evidence and demonstrate the ability to draw appropriate conclusions regarding the effectiveness of the organization's control environment.
· Lead internal controls walkthroughs/design assessment projects to identify and assess changes to the control environments. Advise leaders and process owners to ensure risks are adequately mitigated.
· Provide independent challenges on risk identification, control design, and remediation approaches across assurance and advisory engagements.
Documentation & Quality
· Responsible for the preparation of detailed and accurate written deliverables and documentation, including audit reports (with findings, recommendations for remediation, and management responses), workpapers, narratives, control descriptions, risk & control matrices, process flowcharts.
· Perform peer reviews of workpapers to ensure that workpapers are accurate, complete, and well-documented ensuring adherence to applicable professional standards at all times.
Technology-Enabled Controls
· Assess technology-enabled controls — including IT general controls (ITGCs), application controls, and automated controls — as part of assurance and advisory engagements impacting financial reporting.
· Partner with business and IT teams to evaluate controls embedded within financial systems and system implementations (e.g., ERP, sub-ledgers, consolidation tools).
· Support assessments related to access controls, segregation of duties (SOD), and system roles/permissions, leveraging tools such as FastPath where applicable.
Analytics, AI & Continuous Monitoring
· Apply data analytics and/or AI techniques to identify anomalies, emerging risks, and trends across financial and operational processes.
· Support the design and maintenance of dashboards, reporting, and metrics that provide visibility into control effectiveness and program performance.
· Leverage governance and risk tools (e.g., Optro, FastPath, Blackline) to enhance automation, reporting, and data quality across assurance and advisory work.
· Use data-driven insights to enhance audit and advisory approaches, improve efficiency, and support risk-based decision-making.
Business Partnership, Risk and Assurance Advisory
· Partner with business units and process owners to identify, assess, and communicate risks and control gaps, leveraging data-driven, fact-based analytics to support risk-based recommendations and balance the cost/benefit of remediation and control enhancements.
· Act as a trusted advisor on risk and control matters by demonstrating end-to-end process and control perspective; staying current on emerging risks, regulatory developments, and authoritative standards (e.g., SOX, COSO, IIA Standards) relevant to Cox business units; and championing a strong control environment and risk-aware culture.
· Communicate audit results, risk insights, and control recommendations in a concise, coherent manner to business stakeholders and leadership, leveraging the templates, methodologies, tools, and technologies supporting the department's assurance and advisory portfolio.
· Contribute to the evolution of the A&A function's risk-based methodologies and audit infrastructure by evaluating alternative approaches, recommending enhancements to audit programs and tools, and supporting the department's ongoing transformation toward analytics-enabled, risk-focused assurance.
· Contribute to coaching and developing junior analysts and interns on audit methodologies, risk and control concepts, analytics techniques, and assurance execution standards.
Qualifications
Required
· Bachelor's degree in a related discipline (i.e., finance, accounting, or information systems) and 4 years' experience in a related field. The right candidate could also have a different combination, such as a master's degree and 2 years' experience; a Ph.D. and up to 1 year of experience; or 8 years' experience in a related field.
· Demonstrated analytical ability and high degree of intellectual curiosity with track record of delivered results.
· Motivated, resourceful, self-starter with strong interpersonal skills.
· Proven ability to manage multiple projects and priorities in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
· Excellent organizational skills with clear and effective written and verbal communication skills.
· Working knowledge of business risks, process improvement methodologies/tools, audit/assurance techniques/programs, creative problem-solving skills, and structuring findings/recommendations; defining project objectives, structuring work plans, and conducting fact-based analysis to develop and test hypotheses.
· Working knowledge and experience with data collection and analysis techniques; detecting and solving complex problems; conducting root cause and failure mode analysis; and applying systemic thinking to thoroughly synthesize information from different sources.
· Solid written and verbal communication and presentation skills demonstrating a consistent attention to detail; solid organization and workflow skills.
· Proficiency with data analysis and process mapping applications; Proficiency with MS Office (Excel, Word, and PowerPoint).
· Exposure to or working knowledge of technology-enabled controls (ITGCs, application controls, automated controls) and their role in financial reporting.
· Proficiency in or exposure to data analytics and/or AI tools and techniques to support continuous monitoring, risk identification, and process improvement.
· Up to 10% travel.
Preferred
· CPA, CIA, or CISA are highly preferred.
· Big 4 public accounting experience.
· SOX compliance experience.
· Experience with governance and risk tools (e.g., Optro, FastPath, Blackline).
· Experience working with ERP systems, financial applications, or IT control environments.
· Experience contributing to cross-functional initiatives or supporting development of junior team members.
Compensation:
Compensation includes a base salary in the range of $81,400.00 - $122,000.00. The base salary may vary within the anticipated base pay range based on factors such as the ultimate location of the position and the selected candidate’s knowledge, skills, and abilities. Position may be eligible for additional compensation that may include an incentive program.
Benefits:
The Company offers eligible employees the flexibility to take as much vacation with pay as they deem consistent with their duties, the company’s needs, and its obligations; seven paid holidays throughout the calendar year; and up to 160 hours of paid wellness annually for their own wellness or that of family members. Employees are also eligible for additional paid time off in the form of bereavement leave, time off to vote, jury duty leave, volunteer time off, military leave, and parental leave.
Applicants must currently be authorized to work in the United States for any employer without current or future sponsorship.
