About the Role:We are seeking a strategic and seasoned Lead, Internal Audit and SOX Compliance to join our Finance team reporting to the Head of Internal Audit. This is a broad, high-impact role that goes well beyond traditional compliance. You will help to establish and elevate Notion's internal controls program end to end - designing the governance framework, leading our SOX lifecycle, embedding AI and automation into how we test and monitor controls, and serving as a trusted strategic advisor across the business as we scale. You will partner with leaders across Finance, IT, Engineering, Commercial, Legal, and the business units to embed sound financial controls into how Notion operates, while delivering value-added operational audits that strengthen the company. This role is ideal for someone who thinks like a builder, not just an auditor - someone who can translate complex control requirements into practical, scalable processes in a fast-moving SaaS environment with complex revenue and consumption models.
This role is based in San Francisco, USA. We work from our offices on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays (our Anchor Days) because we do our best thinking and building together in person. We're looking for someone who's excited to work alongside the team during those days.What You'll Achieve:- Lead a comprehensive, strategic governance program that evaluates Internal Controls over Financial Reporting (ICFR) against the COSO framework, ensuring the design and operating effectiveness of controls company-wide
- Drive enterprise-level risk assessment, proactively identifying emerging risks and continuously calibrating control coverage to where the business is heading, not just where it has been
- Oversee the full lifecycle of SOX documentation - scoping, narratives, risk-control matrices, walkthroughs, testing, deficiency evaluation, remediation, and reporting - and drive automation and efficiency across the program
- Act as a strategic advisor on cross-functional business transformation initiatives (new systems, new revenue streams, M&A, process redesign), ensuring sound financial controls are built in from day one
- Partner with and educate business process owners across the organization, deepening their understanding of the controls framework and building a culture of ownership and accountability
- Design and execute value-added operational audits that surface insights and drive measurable improvements beyond compliance
- Manage relationships with third-party service providers, including external auditors and co-source partners, ensuring quality and accountability.
- Provide regular reporting and insight to Finance leadership, the Audit Committee, and senior stakeholders on the health of the control environment
- Champion the adoption of AI and modern tooling to make the audit function smarter, faster, and more forward-looking
Skills You'll Need to Bring:- 8+ years of progressive internal audit experience, with a combination of Big 4 and high-growth technology company experience
- Deep understanding of PCAOB standards, SEC requirements, and the COSO framework, with hands-on ownership of SOX/ICFR programs
- Software or SaaS industry experience is a must - particularly involving complex revenue recognition or consumption-based reporting
- Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field; CIA, CPA, or equivalent certification required
- Proven success implementing AI and automation into the SOX program - from automated control testing and anomaly detection to AI-assisted documentation
- Process leadership - a track record of building functions, designing new processes and policies, and driving continuous improvement
- Strong stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to influence and educate partners across all levels of the organization
- A strategic, business-minded approach to controls - you see audit as a lever for value creation, not just a checkbox
Notion is committed to providing highly competitive cash compensation, equity, and benefits. The compensation offered for this role will be based on multiple factors such as location, the role's scope and complexity, and the candidate's experience and expertise, and may vary from the range provided below. For roles based in San Francisco, the estimated base salary range for this role is $185,000 - $220,000 per year.
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A Note on AIYou don't need deep AI expertise for every role, but we do expect every Notino to be intellectually curious, drawn to tinkering and discovery, and excited to use AI as a real collaborator in their work. For some roles, AI fluency is a core requirement - when that's the case, we'll say so explicitly in the qualifications. People who thrive here don't treat AI as a novelty. They use it to think better, and make their work easier for others to build on.
