Internal Controls IT Senior Manager

Zurich Insurance Group•Schaumburg, IL

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

Zurich North America is seeking an experienced Internal Controls Senior Manager to join our Risk team at our North American Headquarters in Schaumburg, Illinois. This role is responsible for providing independent risk-based assurance over Zurich's IT general controls (ITGCs), operational controls, and financial reporting controls in alignment with Zurich's Internal Control Integrated Framework (ICIF). The successful candidate will serve as a trusted advisor to business and technology leaders, helping strengthen control effectiveness, drive continuous improvement, and support regulatory, audit, and governance requirements. The position serves as the designated Internal Control Manager for ServiceNow, Zurich's information technology GRC platform, and leads oversight of the IT control environment, including testing, issue management, audit coordination, and reporting. The role partners closely with IT Governance, business stakeholders, External Audit, Group Audit, and Internal Controls leadership to ensure a sustainable and effective control framework. This is a highly visible leadership role requiring strong technical knowledge of ITGCs, risk management, audit practices, and control frameworks, combined with the ability to influence stakeholders and lead through organizational and technology transformation.

Requirements

Bachelors Degree and 7 or more years of experience in the Accounting or Finance area OR High School Diploma or Equivalent and 9 or more years of experience in the Accounting or Finance area OR Zurich Certified Insurance Apprentice including an Associate Degree and 7 or more years of experience in the Accounting or Finance area
Knowledge and experience using accounting principles
General ledger and transactional experience
Experience with General Ledger, software, financial reporting systems, Business Objects and financial query tools.

Nice To Haves

Insurance industry experience
CISA or CIA certification
4 or more years experience related to internal / external audit or control testing
Experience with GRC platforms such as ServiceNow, OpenPages/Polaris, or similar tools.

Responsibilities

Lead independent testing and review of IT general controls, automated controls, and operational controls to assess design and operating effectiveness.
Design and execute risk-based testing strategies and facilitate timely remediation of identified control deficiencies.
Serve as the designated Internal Control Manager for ServiceNow, overseeing control governance activities, issue management, control changes, and reporting.
Provide oversight and quality assurance of IT control testing performed by Internal Control Managers and Senior Analysts, ensuring adherence to ICIF requirements and testing standards.
Partner with IT Governance and business leaders to identify control weaknesses, assess emerging risks, and strengthen the control environment through preventive and automated controls.
Analyze organizational, system, and process changes to assess impacts on the control environment and determine required control enhancements.
Lead and document process walkthroughs with business and technology stakeholders to evaluate end-to-end control design and effectiveness.
Support the planning and execution of testing required for the annual financial statement audit as well as Zurich's SOC1 and SOC2 reporting obligations.
Coordinate with External Audit, Group Audit, and other assurance functions to align testing efforts, reduce duplication, and proactively address control-related risks.
Oversee IT control issues and remediation activities, including root cause analysis, action plan monitoring, and escalation of significant risks.
Generate meaningful management reporting and insights regarding IT control effectiveness, emerging trends, audit observations, and remediation progress.
Participate in enterprise transformation initiatives and technology implementations, ensuring appropriate controls are designed and embedded throughout the change lifecycle.
Build strong relationships across IT, Operations, Finance, Risk, and Compliance to maintain awareness of changing business priorities and emerging risks.
Act as an informal leader and mentor for the Internal Controls team, supporting coaching, workload prioritization, and technical development of team members.