Director of SOX Accounting

Driven Brands Inc.•Charlotte, NC

4d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Director of Sarbanes‑Oxley is responsible for independent oversight of the Company’s Internal Control over Financial Reporting (ICFR) in compliance with the Sarbanes‑Oxley Act, SEC rules, and PCAOB standards. This role leads the SOX governance framework for a public company, ensuring a robust, well‑documented, and consistently executed control environment that supports management’s quarterly and annual certifications. Operating as a true second line of defense by reporting to the Chief Accounting Officer, the Director provides objective challenge to management, evaluates control design and operating effectiveness, and maintains clear independence from control ownership and execution. The role partners closely with Finance, Internal Audit, Legal, and external auditors, and regularly reports SOX status, risks, and deficiencies to the CAO.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field
CPA or CIA strongly preferred
10+ years of progressive experience in SOX, ICFR, audit, or risk management within a public company environment
Deep knowledge of Sarbanes‑Oxley, SEC reporting requirements, and PCAOB auditing standards
Demonstrated experience operating in a second line of defense or independent oversight role
Proven experience working directly with external auditors and executive leadership
Independence, objectivity, and professional skepticism
Strong judgment in deficiency evaluation and disclosure risk
Executive‑level communication
Ability to challenge constructively in a public company setting
Strategic mindset with strong execution discipline

Nice To Haves

Big 4 public accounting
Experience supporting accelerated filers or complex SEC registrants
ERP and EPM expertise (e.g., Oracle, NetSuite, FCCS, ARCS)
Experience with global operations or complex legal entity structures

Responsibilities

SOX Governance & Public Company Compliance
Own and maintain the Company’s SOX compliance framework, methodology, and annual compliance calendar aligned to SEC reporting deadlines
Establish SOX scoping, materiality thresholds, and risk assessment processes consistent with public company and PCAOB expectations
Ensure alignment with COSO 2013 principles, SEC interpretive guidance, and evolving regulatory standards
Maintain formal SOX policies, procedures, and documentation standards suitable for external auditor reliance
Independent Risk Assessment & Control Oversight
Perform annual and quarterly ICFR risk assessments covering entity‑level controls and financial controls
Review and challenge management’s identification of key risks and controls, including judgments impacting SEC filings
Independently assess control design and operating effectiveness conclusions prepared by management or third‑party providers
Evaluate and classify control deficiencies (deficiencies, significant deficiencies, material weaknesses) using SEC and PCAOB criteria
Quality Assurance
Partner with Internal Audit and Management to ensure timely remediation plans are developed, executed, and validated prior to SEC filing deadlines
Perform root cause analysis and trend reporting to reduce recurring deficiencies and audit findings
External Auditor & Audit Committee Interface
Serve as a primary SOX point of contact for business process controls with external auditors, coordinating issue resolution, and documentation requests with control owners
Lead SOX‑related communications with the CAO and CFO
Prepare materials supporting management’s quarterly and annual ICFR certifications
Proactively manage SOX risks to avoid late‑cycle audit issues that could impact filings or disclosures
Cross‑Functional Leadership & Advisory
Partner with Accounting, Financial Reporting, IT, and Compliance to promote a strong ICFR culture
Coordinate with Internal Audit to align coverage while maintaining clear separation of responsibilities
Advise management on ICFR implications of acquisitions, system implementations, reorganizations, and new accounting standards
Provide training and guidance to control owners on SOX expectations and public company accountability
Program Maturity & Continuous Improvement
Lead efforts to enhance SOX efficiency through automation, standardization, and control optimization
Support scalability of the SOX program for business growth and increasing regulatory complexity
Monitor emerging SEC, PCAOB, and SOX best practices and assess impacts to the Company
Monitor evolving business environments for changes that may impact the company's internal control framework.
Build and develop a high‑performing SOX oversight team