JONATHAN M. COHEN
Dallas,TX
Summary
Solutions driven internal audit and controls expert with international and “Big 4” experience / Diversified industry exposure / Focused on timely risk-remediation through process improvement, root cause analysis, understanding risk, process ownership, and effective management oversight for financial and operational success / Strong negotiator and communicator, collaborating to form consensus for cost/benefit-evaluated change / Team player and hands-on expert at planning, executing, and reporting engagement / Initiated policies, processes and procedures, monitoring compliance across decentralized operations / Solid in fast-paced, dynamic environment / Professional experience across the three lines of defense (compliance, risk management, audit,(incl. IT). Resourceful Vice President with over [Number] years of results-oriented experience in business intelligence and operations management. Culturally-sensitive and ethical professional with demonstrated success in developing and implementing optimized solutions. Versatile leader recognized for driving results in collaborative, inclusive manner.
Overview
34
34
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
VP – Financial Controls
Wells Fargo
Addison, TX
01.2022 - Current
- Managing governance and oversight in maintaining effective system of internal controls over financial reporting through COSO control testing for assurance: Directed COSO control design and operating effectiveness testing for manual and automated controls including IT controls for significant applications
- Oversaw issue management framework including escalations, timely closure, reporting and developing sustainable, smart solutions aligned with headcount and technology resource availability
- Rationalized and redesigned COSO reporting oversight process and reporting of credible challenge to executive committees and control owners, to ensure effective risk understanding and risk remediation commitments
- Assessed control deficiency severity and performing validation and sustainability testing deemed to have COSO impact after corrective action plans have been completed
- Created and delivered training program for onshore and offshore and educating lines of business on risks and control obligations and reporting
- Provided credible challenge on risk and control management to lines of business and governance functions to facilitate adequate protection against identifier process gaps.
VP - Internal Controls and Audit
The Beneficient Company Group
Dallas, TX
01.2018 - 01.2022
- Created Internal Audit and SOX function, reporting to board, financial regulators, and audit committee, from planning (objective, scope, etc.), to risk assessment and issue reporting, including Trust Operations
- Initiated issue management, reporting, and assessment process, including, tracking of issues, corrective management action plans implementation, with validating and sustainability testing
- Enterprise-wide audit areas: Trust Accounting and Operations, IT, HR, ERM, Model Rosk Management, Portfolio Monitoring, Loan Originations, Underwriting, Access Management, reporting to Audit Committee
- Trained and directed business owners in regulatory and best practice standards (PCAOB, COSO framework)
- Steered and monitored co-sourced service provide for documentation of processes and controls, Implemented new GRC tool for documenting and reporting audit and compliance projects, with dashboards, to create a heatmap for corrective and to monitor audit quality, using MS Visio, PowerPoint, Word, and Excel
- Synchronized internal and external audit testing, earning a 15% saving in hours via improved reliance strategy
- Drove process design for key financial (ICFR) and operational functions and thought leadership for key programs (ex
- Vendor risk management), negotiating audit findings and remedies with business partners
- Aligned Enterprise Risk Management with Internal Audit to steer remediation efforts with business-wide risk tolerance and helped build out ERM program from inception with accountable governance committees
- Initiated information security assurance program (incl
- Cybersecurity) for PII and NPI and vendor due diligence with SOC report analysis, user access reviews, and change management standards
- Led policies and procedures development and prepared compliance monitoring program.
Process Controls Manager (Audit, Governance, Compliance, Risk, and Controls)
GKN Aerospace
Irving, Texas
01.2016 - 01.2018
- Championed and directed timely and sustained improvement projects for financial / SOX controls, governance, US GAAP and IFRS compliance and best practice across the publicly traded group with shared service centers
- Introduced tool for monitoring controls for decentralized operations, exceeding governance and compliance expectations, and reduced delinquencies by 25% by remediating financial and compliance failure points
- Aligned Internal Audit and Enterprise Risk Management efforts, negotiating risk-mitigation action plans with senior executives in line with risk tolerance
- Introduced inventory gap analysis, annual reviews of standard costing, provisioning algorithm, and counting processes which eliminated process gaps at 70% of sites and reduced count discrepancies by 15% by value
- Provided readiness assistance for audits and examinations (both internal and external)
- Recommended effective end-to-end, robust business processes, policies, and procedures throughout the manufacturing network, worked with internal and external audit on issue validation and sustainability
- Successfully piloted financial impact assessments and automation opportunities at 75% of reporting units
- Deployed MS Visio and PowerPoint tools for project planning and reporting control gaps to governance committees, accelerating process improvements at 12 sites and a $15 million adjustment to inventory provision.
Internal Audit Manager, USA Operations
Titan America
Deerfield Beach, Florida
01.2014 - 01.2016
- Successfully managed the US Internal Audit department of an international publicly traded company, completing 100% of the annual audit plan in accordance with COSO framework and IIA methodology
- Leveraged MS Visio for audit planning, increasing productivity by 20%, and maximizing risk identification
- Re-engineered audit project deliverables model for the international Internal Audit group
- Leveraged data analytics which uncovered $200K of unverified payments and introduced a new process for purchase payments approval which virtually eliminated unsubstantiated payments incidents.
Audit Manager
Moss Levy & Hartzheim, LLP
Los Angeles, California
01.2011 - 01.2013
- Planned, performed, and executed full cycle US GAAP and GAAS audits of large public and private entities from $50 - $500 million
- Evaluated and reported on internal controls (ICFR), regulatory compliance, and presented solutions to senior management, upgrading the governance structure, with accountability, escalating as needed.
Internal Auditing / Consulting Manager
ABS NW
Liverpool, U.K.
01.2002 - 01.2011
- Managed risk-based operational, IT and US GAAP operational and financial audits with teams of 2-3 staff on concurrent assignments across multiple time zones in a cost-conscious, risk-based manner
- Introduced and monitored key SOX controls (incl
- ICFR) enhancing assurance, governance, accountability, and timelier provision of information for critical business decision-making.
Senior Accountant
Leshkowitz & Company, LLP, CPA
New York, New York
01.1995 - 01.2002
- Planned and executed U.S
- GAAP certified audits and reviews as team leader of 2-3 staff with direct reporting responsibility to partners and boards for clients with revenues of $10 million to over $100 million
- Conducted on-site reviews of European subsidiaries, reporting on internal controls and operational efficiency.
Audit Senior
Price Waterhouse
Manchester, United Kingdom
01.1990 - 01.1994
- Planned and performed statutory audits for global public and private entities with revenues of over $500 million
- Supervised audit of large multinationals with overseas subsidiaries, reported to group management, and coordinated and trained various audit teams simultaneously, resulting in cost savings of 20%.
Education
Certified as Chartered Accountant (ACA) -
Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales
01.1994
BA (Econ.) Honors, Accounting and Economics -
University of Manchester
01.1990
Skills
- Internal Audit
- External Audit
- Internal Controls
- Report Writing
- Relationship Building
- MS Office
- Negotiation
- Conflict Resolution'
Certification
- CPA (Hong Kong) 2012
- Chartered Accountant with NZICA (New Zealand) 2009
- Fellow Chartered Accountant practicing certification with ICAEW (England & Wales) 1995
Audit Tools Used
- Audit Board
- Workiva
- Teammate
- Logic Manager
Timeline
VP – Financial Controls
Wells Fargo
01.2022 - Current
VP - Internal Controls and Audit
The Beneficient Company Group
01.2018 - 01.2022
Process Controls Manager (Audit, Governance, Compliance, Risk, and Controls)
GKN Aerospace
01.2016 - 01.2018
Internal Audit Manager, USA Operations
Titan America
01.2014 - 01.2016
Audit Manager
Moss Levy & Hartzheim, LLP
01.2011 - 01.2013
Internal Auditing / Consulting Manager
ABS NW
01.2002 - 01.2011
Senior Accountant
Leshkowitz & Company, LLP, CPA
01.1995 - 01.2002
Audit Senior
Price Waterhouse
01.1990 - 01.1994
Certified as Chartered Accountant (ACA) -
Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales
BA (Econ.) Honors, Accounting and Economics -
University of Manchester