Director, Risk Advisory

Stout Groep • Boston, MA

1d • $145,000 - $300,000

About The Position

At Stout, we’re dedicated to exceeding expectations in all we do – we call it Relentless Excellence ®. Both our client service and culture are second to none, stemming from our firmwide embrace of our core values: Positive and Team-Oriented, Accountable, Committed, Relationship-Focused, Super-Responsive, and being Great communicators. Sound like a place you can grow and succeed? Read on to learn more about an exciting opportunity to join our team. Title: Senior Manager, which is equivalent to our Senior Vice President level. Impact You’ll Make Lead Risk Advisory engagements focused on SOX 404 compliance, ICFR readiness, and controls transformation for public, pre-IPO, and private companies. Oversee risk assessment and controls evaluation performed by engagement team members; review work product for quality and consistency with Stout methodology. Lead client-facing discussions to communicate findings to senior stakeholders including CFOs, Controllers, and Audit Committees. Independently manage the full lifecycle of controls engagements—scoping, staffing, delivery, and client relationship management—with limited Director/MD oversight.

Requirements

• Deep knowledge of U.S. GAAP and financial reporting concepts, including technical accounting topics (e.g., revenue recognition, business combinations, stock-based compensation, leases) as they intersect with ICFR scope and control design.
• Demonstrated expertise in ICFR and SOX 404, with a track record of independently leading end-to-end engagements—from scoping and risk assessment through testing, deficiency evaluation, and remediation—including experience advising clients on material weakness and significant deficiency disclosures.
• Solid grounding in the COSO Internal Control—Integrated Framework and PCAOB auditing standards (including AS 2201); experience advising on the design of entity-level and process-level controls and navigating material weakness remediation strategies.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Proven ability to communicate complex technical findings to C-suite and board-level audiences; experience presenting to Audit Committees or senior finance leadership is strongly preferred.
• Track record of building and sustaining client relationships; existing referral network or demonstrated ability to originate and develop client engagements is a strong plus.
• Proven experience leveraging technology to enhance audit and controls processes, including hands-on use of GRC platforms (e.g., Workiva, AuditBoard, ServiceNow GRC); interest in contributing to the development of proprietary tools and methodologies that differentiate Stout's Risk Advisory practice.
• Highly organized with strong project and time management skills, with the ability to manage multiple concurrent engagements and client relationships effectively.
• Experience with IPO-readiness engagements, SPAC transactions, or first-time SOX 404 implementations is highly desirable.
• Collaborative leadership style with the ability to motivate and develop engagement teams while managing upward to Directors and MDs on complex, high-visibility engagements.
• Experience managing and developing engagement staff, with a commitment to mentorship and inclusive team leadership.
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Accounting.
• 8+ years of relevant professional experience, including at least 2 years at the Manager or Senior Manager level at a Big 4 or national firm with primary responsibility for SOX 404 / ICFR engagements.
• Big 4 experience strongly preferred.
• CPA license required.

Nice To Haves

• CIA or CISA credential is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the day-to-day engagement leader and primary client contact, managing communications, deliverable timelines, and team workflow across concurrent SOX 404 and controls-related engagements.
• Own engagement scoping and project planning; develop strategies tailored to client risk profiles, organizational complexity, and regulatory requirements.
• Review, finalize, and issue client deliverables—including risk-control matrices, management reports, and board/audit committee presentations—ensuring accuracy, clarity, and adherence to Stout quality standards.
• Leverage Stout's proprietary and third-party platforms—including Workiva, AuditBoard, and FloQast—and advise clients on optimizing their GRC and ERP environments (NetSuite, SAP, Oracle, Workday, Sage) to strengthen their control infrastructure.
• Translate control gap findings into actionable improvement roadmaps and provide implementation support through to resolution.
• Lead engagements for companies preparing for or recently completing an IPO or SPAC transaction, including first-time SOX 404 implementations, ICFR readiness assessments, and remediation of control environments transitioning from private to public company requirements.
• Coach and develop junior team members through real-time feedback, workpaper reviews, and structured mentorship aligned with Stout's performance framework.
• Manage shifting client-imposed deadlines with flexibility and adaptability, while effectively communicating timeline impacts and managing team capacity across concurrent engagements.
• Exhibit strong organizational skills to manage competing priorities effectively.
• Lead by example in embodying Stout’s core values—Positive and Team-Oriented, Accountable, Committed, Relationship-Focused, Super-Responsive, and Great Communicators—and actively foster a team culture that reflects these values across every engagement.
• Demonstrate a commitment to delivering Relentless Excellence® in client service and team collaboration.

Benefits

• Competitive compensation
• Benefits and wellness options tailored to support employees at every stage of life
• Flexible work schedules
• Discretionary time off policy

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior