Head of SOX and Internal Controls

About the role

This role is responsible for the entire SOX Business Controls Framework at Coinbase. This involves defining and maintaining the framework, ensuring its alignment with evolving business activities, new products, and regulatory expectations. The Head of SOX will also lead the annual SOX risk assessment and materiality determinations for business processes, and drive the design and implementation of key controls.

A significant part of the role involves extensive collaboration across various departments, including Finance, Operations, Compliance, and Engineering. The goal is to embed effective controls into end-to-end processes and influence product and system design to integrate controls from the outset. This position also serves as the primary liaison with internal and external auditors for SOX business process testing and evidence requests.

Success in this position means continuously improving and automating controls, reducing operational friction while maintaining effectiveness. The Head of SOX will champion data-driven monitoring and analytics to enhance control precision. This leadership role also requires providing regular updates to senior leadership and building a high-performing SOX business controls team.

The target annual base salary for this position is 216,300 CAD, excluding equity and bonus eligibility.

Skills that matter here

• SOX 404: A strong technical understanding of SOX 404 is required to lead the company's SOX program and ensure compliance.
• PCAOB standards: Familiarity with PCAOB standards is necessary for aligning the SOX program with external audit expectations.
• COSO framework: Understanding the COSO framework is essential for designing and maintaining effective internal controls.
• ERP systems: Experience with ERP systems is relevant for understanding financial and operational processes and integrating controls.
• RPA: Familiarity with Robotic Process Automation (RPA) is useful for identifying opportunities to automate controls and improve efficiency.
• data analytics: The role requires using data analytics to enhance control precision and detect issues early.

Who this role suits

• Someone with over 13 years of experience in SOX, internal controls, or risk management within public company environments.
• An individual who can lead large-scale SOX programs and manage complex cross-functional initiatives.
• A professional capable of influencing senior leaders and translating complex control concepts into clear guidance for non-experts.
• A leader who thrives in high-growth, technology-driven or financial services/crypto companies and can build high-performing teams.

From the employer

What you’ll be doing (ie. job duties):

• Own the SOX Business Controls Framework
• Define and maintain the enterprise SOX business process control framework, including scoping, risk assessment, control design standards, and documentation requirements.
• Ensure alignment of the SOX program with evolving business activities, new products, system changes, and external regulatory expectations.
• Lead End‑to‑End SOX Program for Business Processes.
• Oversee annual SOX risk assessment, scoping, and materiality determinations for business processes.
• Lead the design and implementation of key and non‑key business controls, including manual, automated, and IT‑dependent controls.
• Drive timely remediation of control deficiencies, including the design and implementation of sustainable corrective actions.
• Partner Across Finance, Operations, and Technology
• Collaborate with Controllership, FP&A, Tax, Treasury, Operations, Compliance, Legal, and Engineering to embed effective controls into end‑to‑end processes (order‑to‑cash, procure‑to‑pay, record‑to‑report, revenue, digital asset flows, etc.).
• Influence product and system design to "build in" controls and auditability from the outset, minimizing manual workarounds.
• Coordinate with Internal and External Auditors
• Serve as the primary business controls liaison with Internal Audit and external auditors for SOX business process testing, walkthroughs, and evidence requests. Align on testing strategies, reliance on management testing, and expectations for control operation and documentation.
• Drive Continuous Improvement and Automation
• Identify opportunities to streamline, standardize, and automate controls, reducing operational friction while maintaining control effectiveness. Champion data‑driven monitoring and analytics to enhance control precision and early‑issue detection.
• Leadership, Governance, and Communication
• Provide regular updates on SOX status, key risks, and remediation progress to senior leadership (e.g., CAO, CFO, Audit Committee support). Establish governance forums and routines for control owners and process owners, including training, playbooks, and guidance. Build, lead, and develop a high‑performing SOX business controls team (and/or influence a matrixed virtual team across the organization).

What we look for in you (ie. job requirements):

• 13+ years of progressive experience in SOX, internal controls, internal audit, or risk management, with significant exposure to public company environments.
• Strong technical understanding of SOX 404, PCAOB standards, COSO framework, and best practices for business process control design and testing.
• Demonstrated experience leading large‑scale SOX or controls programs and managing complex cross‑functional initiatives.
• Proven ability to work effectively with senior leaders (CFO, CAO, Controller, Head of Internal Audit, business and product leaders) and to influence without direct authority.
• Deep experience with core finance and operational processes (e.g., revenue recognition, financial reporting, procurement, disbursements, payroll, digital asset movement and safeguarding, etc.).
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to translate complex control concepts into clear, actionable guidance for non‑experts.
• Professional certification such as CPA, CA, CIA, CISA, or CRMA.
• Experience in high‑growth, technology‑driven or financial services / crypto / fintech companies.
• Familiarity with ERP systems and subledgers, workflow tools, and control automation technologies (e.g., RPA, data analytics, continuous control monitoring).
• Experience managing or implementing SOX in multi‑jurisdictional or multi‑entity global environments.
• Leadership Competencies
• Strategic mindset: Ability to design a long‑term SOX and controls roadmap that scales with the business.
• Operational excellence: Drives disciplined execution, clear accountability, and measurable outcomes.
• Change leadership: Comfortable operating in ambiguity, leading change, and building new capabilities.
• Talent builder: Attracts, develops, and retains high‑performing controls and risk talent.

Requirements:

• Demonstrates the ability to responsibly use generative AI tools and copilots (e.g., LibreChat, Gemini, Glean) in daily workflows, continuously learn as tools evolve, and apply human‑in‑the‑loop practices to deliver business‑ready outputs and drive measurable improvements in efficiency, cost, and quality.

Position ID: (P76709) Pay Transparency Notice: The target annual base salary for this position can range as detailed below. Total compensation may also include equity and bonus eligibility and benefits (including medical, dental, and vision). Annual base salary range (excluding equity and bonus): $216,300—$216,300 CAD.