Director, SOX Compliance

About the role

<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal"><strong>Upwork Inc.'s (Nasdaq: UPWK)</strong> family of companies connects businesses with global, AI-enabled talent across every contingent work type including freelance, fractional, and payrolled. This portfolio includes the Upwork Marketplace, which connects businesses with on-demand access to highly skilled talent across the globe, and Lifted, which provides a purpose-built solution for enterprise organizations to source, contract, manage, and pay talent across the full spectrum of contingent work. From Fortune 100 enterprises to entrepreneurs, businesses rely on Upwork Inc. to find and hire expert talent, leverage AI-powered work solutions, and drive business transformation. With access to professionals spanning more than 10,000 skills across AI & machine learning, software development, sales & marketing, customer support, finance & accounting, and more, the Upwork family of companies enables businesses of all sizes to scale, innovate, and transform their workforces for the age of AI and beyond.</p> <p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal">Since its founding, Upwork Inc. The listing location is Remote.

Key facts

What you'll do

• <p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal"><strong>Upwork Inc.'s (Nasdaq: UPWK)</strong> family of companies connects businesses with global, AI-enabled talent across every contingent work type including freelance, fractional, and payrolled.
• This portfolio includes the Upwork Marketplace, which connects businesses with on-demand access to highly skilled talent across the globe, and Lifted, which provides a purpose-built solution for enterprise organizations to source, contract, manage, and pay talent across the full spectrum of contingent work.
• From Fortune 100 enterprises to entrepreneurs, businesses rely on Upwork Inc.
• to find and hire expert talent, leverage AI-powered work solutions, and drive business transformation.
• With access to professionals spanning more than 10,000 skills across AI & machine learning, software development, sales & marketing, customer support, finance & accounting, and more, the Upwork family of companies enables businesses of all sizes to scale, innovate, and transform their workforces for the age of AI and beyond.</p> <p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal">Since its founding, Upwork Inc.
• has facilitated more than $30 billion in total transactions and services as it fulfills its purpose to create opportunity in every era of work.
• Learn more about the Upwork Marketplace at <a class="underline underline underline-offset-2 decoration-1 decoration-current/40 hover:decoration-current focus:decoration-current" href="https://www.upwork.com">Upwork.com</a> and follow us on <a class="underline underline underline-offset-2 decoration-1 decoration-current/40 hover:decoration-current focus:decoration-current" href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/upwork">LinkedIn</a>, <a class="underline underline underline-offset-2 decoration-1 decoration-current/40 hover:decoration-current focus:decoration-current" href="https://www.facebook.com/upwork">Facebook</a>, <a class="underline underline underline-offset-2 decoration-1 decoration-current/40 hover:decoration-current focus:decoration-current" href="https://www.instagram.com/upwork/">Instagram</a>, <a class="underline underline underline-offset-2 decoration-1 decoration-current/40 hover:decoration-current focus:decoration-current" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@upwork">TikTok</a>, and <a class="underline underline underline-offset-2 decoration-1 decoration-current/40 hover:decoration-current focus:decoration-current" href="https://twitter.com/upwork">X</a>; and learn more about Lifted at <a class="underline underline underline-offset-2 decoration-1 decoration-current/40 hover:decoration-current focus:decoration-current" href="https://go-lifted.com">Go-Lifted</a> and follow on <a class="underline underline underline-offset-2 decoration-1 decoration-current/40 hover:decoration-current focus:decoration-current" href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/go-lifted/">LinkedIn</a>.</p> <hr class="border-border-200 border-t-0.5 my-3 mx-1.5"> <p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal">We're looking for an experienced Director, SOX Compliance to own and scale our Sarbanes-Oxley program as we continue to grow as a public company.
• You'll serve as the primary owner of our internal control over financial reporting (ICFR) framework, partnering closely with Finance, Legal, Engineering, and external auditors to keep our control environment rigorous and effective.
• You'll lead a team of SOX compliance professionals, drive continuous improvement across the program, and act as a trusted advisor to executive leadership and the Audit Committee on control-related matters.
• This is a chance to shape how compliance is embedded across the business, balancing rigor, efficiency, and pragmatic decision-making at scale.</p> <h3 class="text-text-100 mt-3 -mb-1 text-[1.125rem] font-bold">Responsibilities:</h3> <ul class="[li_&]:mb-0 [li_&]:mt-1 [li_&]:gap-1 [&:not(:last-child)_ul]:pb-1 [&:not(:last-child)_ol]:pb-1 list-disc flex flex-col gap-1 pl-8 mb-3 print:block print:space-y-1"> <li class="font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2">Own end-to-end execution of the annual SOX 404 compliance program, including scoping, risk assessment, control documentation, testing, and remediation</li> <li class="font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2">Maintain and continuously improve the ICFR framework, including the design and operating effectiveness of key controls across financial reporting processes, in alignment with COSO 2013 and PCAOB standards</li> <li class="font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2">Lead the SOX steering committee and serve as primary liaison with external auditors, presenting program status, risk findings, and remediation plans to senior leadership and the Audit Committee</li> <li class="font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2">Direct control design, testing, and remediation efforts, applying professional judgment to evaluate the significance of deficiencies in accordance with AS 2201 and SEC guidance, and use AI tools to help streamline control documentation, issue tracking, and information synthesis while carefully validating outputs for accuracy and audit readiness</li> <li class="font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2">Lead SOX integration activities for newly acquired entities, including legacy control assessment, gap analysis, and design of new controls aligned with our framework</li> <li class="font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2">Oversee IT general control scoping and testing across key financial systems, partnering with IT and Engineering to ensure appropriate coverage</li> <li class="font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2">Build, lead, and mentor a team of SOX compliance professionals, and manage co-source arrangements with third-party service providers</li> </ul> <h3 class="text-text-100 mt-3 -mb-1 text-[1.125rem] font-bold">What It Takes to Catch Our Eye:</h3> <ul class="[li_&]:mb-0 [li_&]:mt-1 [li_&]:gap-1 [&:not(:last-child)_ul]:pb-1 [&:not(:last-child)_ol]:pb-1 list-disc flex flex-col gap-1 pl-8 mb-3 print:block print:space-y-1"> <li class="font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2">10+ years of progressive experience in internal audit, SOX compliance, or external audit, including at least 3 years in a leadership role.</li> <li class="font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2">Deep expertise in SOX 404 program management, including risk assessment, control design, and operating effectiveness testing under PCAOB standards, along with strong US GAAP knowledge</li> <li class="font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2">CPA and Big 4 public accounting background are a huge plus</li> <li class="font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2">Experience at a publicly traded company navigating integrated audits with Big 4 external auditors, with demonstrated ability to communicate control findings to executive leadership</li> <li class="font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2">Comfort using AI tools

Requirements

• Learn more about the Upwork Marketplace at <a class="underline underline underline-offset-2 decoration-1 decoration-current/40 hover:decoration-current focus:decoration-current" href="https://www.upwork.com">Upwork.com</a> and follow us on <a class="underline underline underline-offset-2 decoration-1 decoration-current/40 hover:decoration-current focus:decoration-current" href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/upwork">LinkedIn</a>, <a class="underline underline underline-offset-2 decoration-1 decoration-current/40 hover:decoration-current focus:decoration-current" href="https://www.facebook.com/upwork">Facebook</a>, <a class="underline underline underline-offset-2 decoration-1 decoration-current/40 hover:decoration-current focus:decoration-current" href="https://www.instagram.com/upwork/">Instagram</a>, <a class="underline underline underline-offset-2 decoration-1 decoration-current/40 hover:decoration-current focus:decoration-current" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@upwork">TikTok</a>, and <a class="underline underline underline-offset-2 decoration-1 decoration-current/40 hover:decoration-current focus:decoration-current" href="https://twitter.com/upwork">X</a>; and learn more about Lifted at <a class="underline underline underline-offset-2 decoration-1 decoration-current/40 hover:decoration-current focus:decoration-current" href="https://go-lifted.com">Go-Lifted</a> and follow on <a class="underline underline underline-offset-2 decoration-1 decoration-current/40 hover:decoration-current focus:decoration-current" href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/go-lifted/">LinkedIn</a>.</p> <hr class="border-border-200 border-t-0.5 my-3 mx-1.5"> <p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal">We're looking for an experienced Director, SOX Compliance to own and scale our Sarbanes-Oxley program as we continue to grow as a public company.
• This is a chance to shape how compliance is embedded across the business, balancing rigor, efficiency, and pragmatic decision-making at scale.</p> <h3 class="text-text-100 mt-3 -mb-1 text-[1.125rem] font-bold">Responsibilities:</h3> <ul class="[li_&]:mb-0 [li_&]:mt-1 [li_&]:gap-1 [&:not(:last-c