Director, Controllership (SOX & ESG)

Department Overview

The Director – Controllership (SOX & ESG) is responsible for leading and advancing McDonald’s global internal control environment, ensuring a robust, scalable, and compliant SOX framework. This role serves as a strategic advisor and thought partner across Finance, Technology, Global Business Services, Global Internal Audit, Transformation teams, and Markets to strengthen governance, mitigate risk, and support enterprise-wide change initiatives.

The position plays a key leadership role in driving SOX strategy, controls modernization, governance, risk management, and continuous improvement across the organization. This includes supporting large-scale transformation programs, enhancing control design and monitoring capabilities, promoting consistency across markets, and enabling a sustainable, efficient control operating model.

In addition, the role provides controllership oversight for ESG reporting readiness, focusing on governance, controls, and regulatory compliance for emerging sustainability reporting requirements.

Duties

• Lead the global SOX and controls program, supporting management’s assessment of internal control over financial reporting and compliance with SEC requirements.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to senior finance leadership on control, governance, compliance, and financial reporting risk matters.
• Partner with Markets, Global Business Services, Technology, Internal Audit, External Audit, and Transformation teams to establish and maintain an effective and efficient control environment.
• Evaluate the control implications of major business, technology, and operating model changes, ensuring risks are identified and addressed through sound control design.
• Drive consistency and standardization of controls across markets, processes, and functions while balancing risk management with operational efficiency.
• Provide recommendations and thought leadership to improve the effectiveness, sustainability, and scalability of the control environment.
• Lead the SOX self-assessment and quality assurance program, providing independent review and challenge of control design and execution to identify improvement opportunities, promote consistency, and enhance the effectiveness of the global control environment.
• Controls Transformation & Continuous Improvement. Lead initiatives to modernize and simplify the SOX operating model through standardization, automation, analytics, and continuous monitoring capabilities.
• Audit & Remediation Oversight. Partner with Internal Audit and External Audit to coordinate controls testing, walkthroughs, audits, and deficiency evaluations.
• Capability Building & Stakeholder Engagement. Act as a global controls subject matter expert, providing training, coaching, and guidance to finance teams, control owners, and project teams.
• ESG Controllership & Reporting Readiness. Support governance, controls, and reporting readiness activities related to ESG and sustainability disclosures.
• Lead, develop, and coach an established team. Establish clear goals, priorities, and development plans while fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field
• CPA or equivalent professional accounting certification preferred
• 10+ years of progressive experience in accounting, audit, controllership, financial reporting, or internal controls.
• Big 4 public accounting experience required.
• Deep knowledge of Sarbanes-Oxley compliance, internal controls, governance frameworks, and financial reporting processes.
• Demonstrated experience leading enterprise-wide control, compliance, audit, or transformation initiatives.
• Experience partnering with senior leadership and influencing decision-making across complex organizations.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder management, and organizational change leadership skills.
• Proven ability to navigate ambiguity, prioritize effectively, and drive results through cross-functional teams.
• Experience with ERP implementations, finance transformation, shared services environments, or large-scale business transformation initiatives preferred.
• Knowledge of ESG reporting frameworks, regulatory requirements, and assurance readiness considerations preferred.

Compensation

Bonus Eligible: Yes

Long - Term Incentive: Yes

Benefits Eligible: Yes

Salary Range

The expected salary range for this role is $178,121.00 - $222,651.00 per year
 
The above represents the expected salary range for this job requisition. Ultimately, in determining your pay, we may also consider your experience, and other job-related factors.