What are the responsibilities and job description for the VP Finance (Governance, Risk, & Compliance) position at Vaco by Highspring?
COMPANY OVERVIEW:
Our client is a Fortune 500 financial services organization undergoing significant growth and transformation across its finance and technology platforms. The company fosters a collaborative, forward-thinking culture that emphasizes innovation, transparency, and continuous improvement. With strong executive support for modernization initiatives, it offers finance professionals the opportunity to drive meaningful enterprise impact within a dynamic, highly visible environment.
POSITION SUMMARY:
Our client is seeking a VP of Finance Governance to lead a team responsible for finance process, risk, and control oversight as part of the company's first-line defense framework. This individual will serve as a strategic partner to senior finance leadership, overseeing internal controls (SOX/ICFR), coordinating with external auditors, and supporting key transformation and automation initiatives across the Finance organization.
This role is ideal for a technically strong finance leader with Big 4 and public company experience who thrives in driving structure, process efficiency, and risk management in a fast-paced, evolving environment.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Provide strategic oversight for the Finance Governance team, ensuring effective documentation and evaluation of processes, risks, and controls.
- Lead coordination with external auditors and manage delivery of audit documentation, testing, and responses.
- Partner cross-functionally to assess and mitigate risks related to strategic initiatives, system changes, and process improvements.
- Oversee administration of SOX and ICFR programs, including control design, testing, and reporting.
- Evaluate and implement process enhancements that strengthen financial reporting accuracy and efficiency.
- Collaborate with Finance and Accounting leadership to ensure alignment on GAAP compliance, control frameworks, and operational effectiveness.
- Drive automation and technology adoption within Finance to enhance reporting and governance capabilities.
- Mentor and develop team members to build a strong, agile Finance Governance function.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field; CPA required.
- 8 years of progressive experience in accounting, audit, or internal controls, including time in a Big 4 environment.
- Deep understanding of U.S. GAAP, SOX, PCAOB standards, and SEC reporting requirements.
- Proven ability to lead teams, manage multiple workstreams, and partner effectively across functions.
- Experience driving process improvement, automation, and governance initiatives within large or complex organizations.
- Prior exposure to financial services, fintech, or highly regulated industries preferred.
Vaco by Highspring values a diverse workplace and strongly encourages women, people of color, LGBTQ individuals, people with disabilities, members of ethnic minorities, foreign-born residents, and veterans to apply.
Vaco by Highspring is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race (including but not limited to traits historically associated with race such as hair texture and hair style), color, sex (includes pregnancy or related conditions), religion or creed, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, status as a veteran, union membership, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, political affiliation, or any other protected characteristics as required by federal, state or local law.
Vaco by Highspring and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries are committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, Vaco by Highspring and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact HR@vaco.com .
Vaco by Highspring also wants all applicants to know their rights that workplace discrimination is illegal.
By submitting to this position, you agree that you will be giving Vaco by Highspring the exclusive right to present your as a candidate for the foregoing employment opportunity. You further agree that you have represented information about yourself accurately and have not affirmatively misrepresented your qualifications. You also agree to maintain as confidential, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any information you learn from Vaco by Highspring about the position and you will limit disclosure of information about the position only to the extent necessary to perform any obligations in furtherance of your application. In exchange, Vaco by Highspring agrees to exercise reasonable efforts to represent you through all solicitation, job screening and resume dispersal.
Vaco by Highspring and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries ("we," "our," or "Vaco by Highspring") respects your privacy and are committed to providing transparent notice of our policies.
- California residents may access Vaco by Highspring HR Notice at Collection for California Applicants and Employees here.
- Virginia residents may access our state specific policies here.
- Residents of all other states may access our policies here.
- Canadian residents may access our policies in English here and in French here.
- Residents of countries governed by GDPR may access our policies here.
Determining compensation for this role (and others) at Vaco by Highspring depends upon a wide array of factors including but not limited to:
- the individual's skill sets, experience and training;
- licensure and certification requirements;
- office location and other geographic considerations;
- other business and organizational needs.
With that said, as required by local law, Vaco by Highspring believes that the following salary range referenced above reasonably estimates the base compensation for an individual hired into this position in geographies that require salary range disclosure. The individual may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses.
