Manager, SOX PMO - Business Process

An overview of this role

As Manager, SOX PMO - Business Process, you'll lead Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) compliance for assigned business processes as part of GitLab's second line. This is advisory work, not repeatable testing: you'll deeply understand how processes work, evaluate risks as the business changes, and help control owners design and remediate controls that hold up to audit. Judgment matters more than procedure. You'll form well-supported conclusions, align with control owners and Internal Audit, and defend positions to external auditors. GitLab already uses AI extensively, and the next phase brings AI agents into our SOX processes. You'll help teams adopt them with confidence, finding creative ways to enable new ways of working while maintaining compliance. You'll also partner with the information technology (IT) SOX PMO on readiness for new systems and applications. This role reports to the Senior Director, SOX PMO, within the Chief Accounting Officer's organization.

What You’ll Do

• Lead SOX compliance for assigned business processes as the second-line subject matter expert, advising control owners who own and operate the controls. Deeply understand each process, its systems and data flows, and resolve open questions and assumptions early.
• Monitor risks from new and changing processes, products, and systems. Help control owners design, strengthen, or right-size controls, and contribute to the annual SOX risk assessment and scoping.
• Evaluate control deficiencies individually and in aggregate, identify root causes, and prepare well-supported severity assessments. Work with management to develop, implement, and monitor remediation plans.
• Prepare auditor-ready technical memos on sampling methodology, scoping, and control rationalization, using independent analysis and sound conclusions. Prepare reports and presentations on SOX compliance status for leadership.
• Lead business walkthroughs and stakeholder meetings, and coordinate with Internal Audit and external auditors throughout the audit. Anticipate questions, support positions with data and judgment, and escalate risks and auditor comments promptly with a recommended path forward.
• Advise on controls for AI-enabled processes and processes that use AI agents. Find opportunities to automate SOX work using AI tools, and validate their output.
• Partner with the IT SOX PMO to assess new systems and controls, including application controls and key reports.
• Develop and maintain accurate process narratives, flowcharts, and risk and control matrices as processes change. Collaborate with Finance, Operations, Legal, Human Resources, Sales, Engineering, and IT leaders to help them design and maintain effective business controls.

What You’ll Bring

• Hands-on SOX and internal controls experience in control design, remediation, and deficiency evaluation, beyond testing alone. Experience in the software or technology industry is required; SOX PMO, Big Four risk advisory, or assurance experience is a strong plus.
• A bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field; an active Certified Public Accountant (CPA) credential (strongly preferred) or Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) credential.
• A strong understanding of SOX requirements and internal control frameworks, such as the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) framework.
• Professional judgment and skepticism: verifying facts against source documents, testing the reasonableness of data and conclusions, and recognizing missing information.
• A track record of independently solving ambiguous, novel problems, from defining an approach through overcoming obstacles and driving resolution. Curiosity to understand how processes actually work and keep learning as the business changes.
• Clear written and verbal communication, including concise, accurate, auditor-ready memos and actionable recommendations. Confidence partnering with senior stakeholders and external auditors, including working through pushback.
• A practical, innovative approach to helping the business adopt new technologies, products, and ways of working while maintaining compliance. Experience using AI tools to improve efficiency and validating their output.
• Experience with usage-based billing or AuditBoard is a plus.

About the team

The SOX PMO is part of the Chief Accounting Officer's organization. In this role, you'll advise business control owners and partner with the IT SOX PMO, Internal Audit, and external auditors to keep GitLab compliant as processes, systems, and AI use evolve. GitLab is an all-remote company, with flexibility to work from home or wherever you're most productive. You'll need to be available to collaborate with teammates during core US Pacific (PT) and Eastern (ET) business hours.

How GitLab will support you

• Benefits to support your health, finances, and well-being
• Flexible Paid Time Off
• Team Member Resource Groups
• Equity Compensation & Employee Stock Purchase Plan
• Growth and Development Fund
• Parental leave
• Home office support