Senior Director of SOX

Instacart

16h • $225,000 - $285,000 • Remote

About The Position

We are seeking an exceptional Senior Director, Head of SOX to lead and elevate our Sarbanes-Oxley compliance program as we continue maturing as a public company. We need a proven SOX expert with deep technical expertise—not a generalist internal audit background—to strengthen our internal controls over financial reporting (ICFR) in a highly complex technology infrastructure and business environment.
This is a transformational role requiring someone who can assess our current state, identify opportunities for enhancement, and implement sustainable improvements. As many stakeholders are still building their public company expertise, you will need to balance education and enablement with driving continued maturation of our controls framework. This role demands someone who thrives in technical complexity and can dive extraordinarily deep into complex IT General Controls (ITGCs) and IT Application Controls (ITACs).
You will own the complete SOX compliance lifecycle—from scoping and risk assessment through testing, remediation, and continuous improvement. Given our organization's complexity and the team's evolving SOX maturity, you must be both a technical expert and an effective educator, capable of building SOX competency across finance, technology, and operations while strengthening our foundational controls.
You'll lead and strengthen the SOX compliance function, establishing it as a trusted center of excellence. You'll work across the organization—collaborating with finance, accounting, IT, security, legal, and business operations—to embed controls thinking into how we operate. This is a high-impact, high-visibility role where your expertise will directly shape our compliance maturity and risk posture.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Information Systems, or related field
• CPA, CISA, or CIA certification required (CPA strongly preferred)
• 15+ years of progressive, hands-on SOX compliance experience, with significant time spent in technical SOX roles (not general internal audit)
• Deep, demonstrable expertise in ITGCs and ITACs—you must be able to discuss technical control design and testing at a granular level
• Proven track record of successfully strengthening and maturing SOX programs, particularly in complex technology environments
• Experience building credibility and driving results in dynamic, fast-paced organizations
• Comprehensive knowledge of SOX regulations, COSO framework, PCAOB standards, and US GAAP
• Proven ability to work in highly technical environments and understand complex system architectures, integrations, and data flows
• Strong executive presence with ability to educate and influence stakeholders at all levels
• Exceptional analytical, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills—able to translate complex technical concepts for diverse audiences
• Demonstrated ability to build trust quickly and establish yourself as a credible leader

Nice To Haves

• Big Four public accounting firm experience with focus on SOX advisory or audit (Manager level or above)
• Experience with public companies, particularly in technology or SaaS environments
• Advanced degree (MBA, MS in Accounting, MS in Information Systems)
• Experience with modern ERP systems (NetSuite, Oracle, SAP, Workday) and financial close/consolidation tools
• Familiarity with GRC platforms (AuditBoard, Workiva, ServiceNow, etc.)
• Understanding of DevOps, CI/CD pipelines, cloud infrastructure, and modern software development practices
• Experience in high-growth technology, SaaS, or fintech environments
• CRISC, CISSP, or other information security certifications demonstrating technical depth
• Experience coaching and developing SOX teams

Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end SOX compliance program, driving continuous improvement and maturation
• Assess and enhance our scoping methodology to ensure appropriate coverage of in-scope systems, processes, and controls
• Refine process narratives, risk-control matrices, and control documentation for clarity and completeness
• Execute risk assessments to validate and prioritize key financial, operational, and IT controls
• Ensure compliance with Section 404(b) of SOX and PCAOB audit standards
• Identify and implement efficiency opportunities while maintaining control effectiveness
• Go exceptionally deep into IT General Controls across access management, change management, computer operations, and program development
• Assess and strengthen IT Application Controls within complex, interconnected technology environments
• Evaluate controls in modern tech stacks including cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP), SaaS applications, custom-built systems, data warehouses, and integration layers
• Understand technical architectures sufficiently to identify control gaps and design effective, practical controls
• Partner with IT, Engineering, and Security teams to implement sustainable technology controls
• Develop and deliver SOX training programs for employees at all levels, from executives to process owners
• Create educational materials, playbooks, and resources to build SOX literacy across the organization
• Serve as the go-to SOX subject matter expert, providing guidance and answering complex technical questions
• Build a culture of controls awareness and compliance accountability
• Design and execute comprehensive control testing programs (design and operating effectiveness)
• Identify control deficiencies, assess severity, and drive timely remediation with process owners
• Document testing results, deficiencies, and management responses with precision and clarity
• Track remediation efforts and validate effectiveness of corrective actions
• Ensure lessons learned inform ongoing improvements
• Report regularly to the CFO, Audit Committee, and SteerCo on SOX program status, risks, and deficiencies
• Prepare management's assessment of ICFR effectiveness for SEC filings
• Develop executive-level dashboards and metrics to provide transparency into compliance status
• Build confidence with leadership and the Audit Committee through clear, proactive communication
• Serve as primary liaison with external auditors (PwC) for SOX-related matters
• Coordinate audit planning, walkthroughs, testing, and issue resolution with internal auditors (EY)
• Provide timely, complete documentation and responses to auditor requests
• Manage audit timelines and deliverables to ensure efficient, successful audits
• Build strong, collaborative relationships with audit partners
• Identify opportunities to streamline controls, reduce manual effort, and improve efficiency
• Leverage technology solutions (GRC platforms, automation tools, monitoring capabilities) to enhance the control environment
• Assess impact of system changes, implementations, and business transformations on controls
• Drive process improvements that strengthen controls while enabling business agility
• Lead, mentor, and develop the SOX team, providing clear direction and support
• Foster a culture of excellence, continuous learning, and proactive problem-solving
• Provide career development opportunities and technical training for team members
• Build team capability and confidence

Benefits

• Offers may vary based on many factors, such as candidate experience and skills required for the role.
• Additionally, this role is eligible for a new hire equity grant as well as annual refresh grants.
• Please read more about our benefits offerings here.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Number of Employees: 501-1,000 employees