Director Internal Control

Blommer Chocolate Careers•Chicago, IL

9h•$190,000 - $205,000

About The Position

Blommer has been providing delicious, high-quality chocolate and cocoa products to customers since 1939. Built as a family business, we are continuing to grow and are looking for motivated and reliable associates to help in our mission of Bringing Chocolate to Life! Essential Duties and Responsibilities: Internal Control Framework: Design, implement, and continuously improve internal controls tailored to food manufacturing operations, including financial reporting, production processes, procurement, vendor management, and raw material approvals, inventory and yield controls while also collaborating with the VP IT and the Head of Quality with respect to IT systems and access management controls and quality and food safety documentation controls, respectively. Partner with the regulatory team to ensure controls reflect regulatory requirements. Develop and maintain comprehensive documentation of job flows, process maps, and control points for all critical activities. Ensure controls are integrated into ERP systems and operational workflows. J-SOX Compliance: Develop and maintain documentation of key controls in accordance with J-SOX requirements. Coordinate annual J-SOX scoping, risk assessment, and control mapping. Oversee testing of key controls and remediation of deficiencies. Liaise with external auditors and parent company on J-SOX compliance matters. Risk Assessment & Mitigation: Partner with the Risk Management Committee to identify and assess risks related to operational (including, but not limited to, production and supply chain), financial reporting, and compliance risks. Develop mitigation strategies for operational disruptions, quality issues, and compliance risks. Communicate control gaps and risk trends to the Risk Management Committee. Internal Audit Develop the risk-based internal audit plan in coordination with Fuji ADT team Conduct operational, financial, and compliance audits of: Manufacturing plants Supply chain and logistics Corporate functions Prepare reports that clearly state findings, root causes, severity, and remediation recommendations Fraud Prevention & Detection Implement controls and monitoring systems to detect and prevent: Procurement/card misuse Inventory shrink or yield manipulation Expense report abuse Vendor conflicts of interest Conduct targeted investigations when red flags arise Work with Legal/HR on investigative protocols Policy & Compliance Oversight: Ensure adherence to internal policies, industry standards, and applicable regulations (e.g., environmental, health & safety, ISO standards). Maintain documentation and communicate updates to plant managers and corporate teams. Monitoring & Reporting: Conduct periodic reviews of plant-level controls, including cycle counts, material usage, and cost accounting processes. Report findings and recommendations to senior management and operational leadership. Process Improvement: Collaborate with Operations, Supply Chain, and Finance to identify high-risk or inefficient processes and update documentation accordingly. Use audit findings to drive sustainable improvements in: Throughput and yield accuracy Inventory management Production scheduling Vendor management processes Implement KPI dashboards for controls and audit metrics Support lean manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives without compromising compliance. Team Leadership: Lead and develop a team of internal control professionals. Provide regular updates to the CEO, SVP Finance, COO and executive leadership. Promote a culture of accountability and risk awareness throughout the organization. Note: The employer reserves the right to change or assign other duties to this position Physical Requirements: In the Corporate office as well as plants based on tasks Travel Required, up to 30% Safety, Quality and Hygiene Requirements: Maintain compliance with all company policies, procedures and code of conduct Key Competencies: Strategic thinking and business acumen. Leadership and team development. Collaboration and influencing skills. Integrity and ethical judgment. Continuous improvement mindset. Results orientation and accountability. Skills and Work Experience Requirements: Experience: Minimum 10 years of experience in internal controls, audit, or risk management, preferably in a manufacturing environment. Experience working in a multinational or matrixed organization is an advantage. Strong understanding of cost accounting, inventory management, and production processes. Strong background in process documentation, workflow mapping, and ERP systems. Skills: Knowledge of internal control principles and risk management practices in manufacturing. Familiarity with ERP systems (SAP, Oracle, etc.) and manufacturing compliance standards. Strong writing and verbal communication skills with management and employees in the Corporate and Operation functions. Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills. Education: Bachelor’s degree in accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or related field. Professional certifications (CPA, CIA, CISA) preferred but not mandatory. Career Progression: Employees are encouraged to express interest in internal career opportunities throughout Blommer Expectations for promotion or job role change are driven by proficiency and performance in current role Career progression would align to other finance roles within Blommer Pay Range: $190K-$205K Benefits : Blommer understands that our employees are our biggest assets. With this in mind we offer a generous benefits package. Health, Dental & Vision- eligibility begins day 1 of hire! 401(K) Pet insurance Tuition reimbursement Blommer Chocolate Company provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training. Note to External Recruiters / Search Firms : Blommer Chocolate Company does not accept unsolicited resumes and will not pay for any placement resulting from the receipt of an unsolicited resume. Any unsolicited resumes received will not be considered as a valid submission.

Requirements

Minimum 10 years of experience in internal controls, audit, or risk management, preferably in a manufacturing environment.
Strong understanding of cost accounting, inventory management, and production processes.
Strong background in process documentation, workflow mapping, and ERP systems.
Knowledge of internal control principles and risk management practices in manufacturing.
Familiarity with ERP systems (SAP, Oracle, etc.) and manufacturing compliance standards.
Strong writing and verbal communication skills with management and employees in the Corporate and Operation functions.
Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.
Bachelor’s degree in accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or related field.

Nice To Haves

Experience working in a multinational or matrixed organization is an advantage.
Professional certifications (CPA, CIA, CISA) preferred but not mandatory.

Responsibilities

Internal Control Framework: Design, implement, and continuously improve internal controls tailored to food manufacturing operations, including financial reporting, production processes, procurement, vendor management, and raw material approvals, inventory and yield controls while also collaborating with the VP IT and the Head of Quality with respect to IT systems and access management controls and quality and food safety documentation controls, respectively.
Partner with the regulatory team to ensure controls reflect regulatory requirements.
Develop and maintain comprehensive documentation of job flows, process maps, and control points for all critical activities.
Ensure controls are integrated into ERP systems and operational workflows.
J-SOX Compliance: Develop and maintain documentation of key controls in accordance with J-SOX requirements.
Coordinate annual J-SOX scoping, risk assessment, and control mapping.
Oversee testing of key controls and remediation of deficiencies.
Liaise with external auditors and parent company on J-SOX compliance matters.
Risk Assessment & Mitigation: Partner with the Risk Management Committee to identify and assess risks related to operational (including, but not limited to, production and supply chain), financial reporting, and compliance risks.
Develop mitigation strategies for operational disruptions, quality issues, and compliance risks.
Communicate control gaps and risk trends to the Risk Management Committee.
Internal Audit Develop the risk-based internal audit plan in coordination with Fuji ADT team Conduct operational, financial, and compliance audits of: Manufacturing plants Supply chain and logistics Corporate functions Prepare reports that clearly state findings, root causes, severity, and remediation recommendations
Fraud Prevention & Detection Implement controls and monitoring systems to detect and prevent: Procurement/card misuse Inventory shrink or yield manipulation Expense report abuse Vendor conflicts of interest Conduct targeted investigations when red flags arise Work with Legal/HR on investigative protocols
Policy & Compliance Oversight: Ensure adherence to internal policies, industry standards, and applicable regulations (e.g., environmental, health & safety, ISO standards).
Maintain documentation and communicate updates to plant managers and corporate teams.
Monitoring & Reporting: Conduct periodic reviews of plant-level controls, including cycle counts, material usage, and cost accounting processes.
Report findings and recommendations to senior management and operational leadership.
Process Improvement: Collaborate with Operations, Supply Chain, and Finance to identify high-risk or inefficient processes and update documentation accordingly.
Use audit findings to drive sustainable improvements in: Throughput and yield accuracy Inventory management Production scheduling Vendor management processes Implement KPI dashboards for controls and audit metrics Support lean manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives without compromising compliance.
Team Leadership: Lead and develop a team of internal control professionals.
Provide regular updates to the CEO, SVP Finance, COO and executive leadership.
Promote a culture of accountability and risk awareness throughout the organization.