A Day In The Life Of A SOX Manager At Stripe
A SOX manager's day at Stripe involves a hybrid work model, beginning with checking emails and Slack messages before collaborating with colleagues to identify risks and document controls; the role heavily emphasizes documentation— "if we don't document it, it didn't happen"—and working with both internal teams and external auditors to ensure compliance, with hours varying depending on deadlines and audit schedules.
Communication, Risk Management, Documentation, Teamwork, Problem-Solving
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
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Traits
Allison Minarcik
SOX Specialist
Stripe
University of Arizona, 2016
University of Arizona Masters of Accounting, 2017
Accounting
Finance (Banking, Fintech, Investing)
Finance
Took Out Loans, Worked 20+ Hours in School, Greek Life Member
Video Highlights
1. Collaboration is key: A SOX manager's day involves significant teamwork, brainstorming with colleagues to identify risks and document controls.
2. Documentation is crucial: Meticulous record-keeping is essential for both internal processes and external audits, emphasizing the importance of detailed documentation.
3. Flexibility is needed: The role demands adaptability, with hours varying based on project deadlines and audit cycles, highlighting the dynamic nature of the job
Transcript
What does a day in the life of a SOX manager look like?
A day in the life of a SOX manager begins either in the office or at home, as we're in a hybrid work environment these days. The first thing I do is check my email and my calendar for the day. My company uses Slack, so I'll check my Slack messages to get caught up.
A day in the life truly involves a lot of working with people, though there is also time to put your head down and work individually. Throughout the day, I brainstorm with different members of the company about our risks and the controls in place.
A significant part of my job is documentation. In the accounting world, we say if we don't document it, it didn't happen. So, I inquire and fact-find, but I also put together documents to prove our understanding. This documentation is for both internal use within our company and for our external auditors, so they can understand our control environment when they review our controls.
Depending on the time of year, the hours can vary. Most of the year, as a SOX manager, I probably work from 8 AM to 5 PM. However, there are busier times of the year when I might work from 8 AM to 8 PM.
This variation depends on the deadlines we're trying to meet or how busy the audit is at the time. So, again, a day in the life is like normal business hours: checking emails, messaging people, and having meetings. It's truly about figuring out the risks and controls, testing those risks and controls, and communicating that to management. I work with people a lot.