POSITION SUMMARY

This role will serve as a senior individual contributor responsible for optimizing and modernizing operational controls within the Provider Experience and Operations (PX&O) function. The role focuses on embedding strong control design into business modernization initiatives and advancing the use of automated and data-enabled controls to reduce operational risk and control failures.

The individual will act as a controls subject‑matter expert (SME), partnering closely with operations, technology, and risk teams to identify key risk points, assess current‑state manual control processes, and define future‑state control requirements. The role is responsible for identifying and driving opportunities to transition manual controls into automated or data‑enabled control capabilities, enabling scalable, sustainable control solutions aligned with SOX and SOC expectations.

Candidates who reside within 50 miles of the following locations will be required to perform onsite 3 days per week: Bloomfield, CT; Chattanooga, TN; Denver, CO; St. Louis, MO; and Scottsdale, AZ.    

Role Objectives

The Controls Optimization & Automation Lead will execute responsibilities across two primary lenses:

Controls by Design in Business Modernization

• Embed as a controls SME within key initiatives modernizing key PX&O operational processes
• Identify key risk points and control objectives within future-state process and system designs
• Define and document future-state control requirements, with an emphasis on preventive and automated controls
• Influence design decisions to reduce reliance on manual or detective controls
• Partner with cross functional teams and suppliers to validate that controls are appropriately designed
• Facilitate control testing to confirm controls are implemented as intended
• Ensure control design aligns with SOX, SOC, and internal risk management expectations

Current State Control Automation & Monitoring Enablement

• Develop and maintain a prioritized backlog of control automation and monitoring opportunities
• Translate control failures, audit findings, and risk themes into actionable automation use cases
• Partner with data, analytics, and technology teams to enable automated controls and monitoring capabilities
• Support the shift away from manual sampling toward scalable, data-enabled controls
• Track and report on control optimization outcomes and risk reduction impact

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as a trusted advisor to operational and technology leaders on control design and optimization
• Act as a bridge between risk/control requirements and technical implementation teams
• Support audit readiness through strong control design, documentation, and validation
• Promote a proactive, forward-looking approach to operational risk management
• Contribute to the evolution of PX&O’s control framework and operating model

Key Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Business, Risk Management, Information Systems, or related field preferred.
• CISA certification preferred.
• 5+ years of Big 4 audit experience preferred, or 8+ years with other relevant risk and controls experience.
• Experience in healthcare operations or payer-provider environments strongly preferred.
• Experience managing SOX/SOC audit coordination and external auditor relationships.
• Deep knowledge of SOX, SOC 1, SOC 2, and technology risk management frameworks.
• Proven ability to embed control requirements into system and process design.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Demonstrated ability to drive issue escalation and resolution across complex programs.

If you will be working at home occasionally or permanently, the internet connection must be obtained through a cable broadband or fiber optic internet service provider with speeds of at least 10Mbps download/5Mbps upload.

For this position, we anticipate offering an annual salary of 111,800 - 186,300 USD / yearly, depending on relevant factors, including experience and geographic location.

This role is also anticipated to be eligible to participate in an annual bonus plan.

At The Cigna Group, you’ll enjoy a comprehensive range of benefits, with a focus on supporting your whole health. Starting on day one of your employment, you’ll be offered several health-related benefits including medical, vision, dental, and well-being and behavioral health programs. We also offer 401(k), company paid life insurance, tuition reimbursement, a minimum of 18 days of paid time off per year and paid holidays. For more details on our employee benefits programs, .