Soc Program Manager Jobs in Illinois (NOW HIRING)

Location:Chicago

What this job involves:

As Manager of SOC Reporting, you'll lead JLL's Service Organization Control (SOC) audit programs, managing a portfolio of SSAE-18 SOC 1 and SOC 2 engagements that demonstrate our commitment to operational excellence and client trust. This strategic leadership role combines project management expertise with team development and stakeholder engagement, positioning you as the organizational subject matter expert on SOC compliance standards. You'll drive audit efficiency across multiple business units while mentoring staff and serving as the critical liaison between external auditors and internal control owners. This role offers the opportunity to shape audit administration methodologies, implement process innovations, and provide high-level advisory services that directly impact JLL's compliance posture and service delivery reputation.

What your day-to-day will look like:

• Managing a comprehensive portfolio of concurrent SOC 1 and SOC 2 audit engagements from strategic planning through final report issuance, ensuring all timelines and quality standards are exceeded across multiple business units.
• Coordinating audit activities by strategically scheduling engagements, optimizing resource allocation, tracking evidence requests through detailed logs, and reviewing submissions for completeness before filtering and distributing external auditor questions to appropriate teams.
• Leading and developing your audit staff by assigning responsibilities, monitoring performance, conducting evaluations, providing mentorship on audit processes, and training new team members using standardized instruction documents.
• Serving as the strategic liaison between external auditors and internal stakeholders by participating in weekly status calls, communicating audit progress and findings, escalating high-priority issues, and facilitating resolution of complex requests across organizational levels.
• Providing expert consultation and advisory services to control owners on audit requirements, reviewing control descriptions for accuracy and focus, investigating compensating controls when needed, and supporting business units developing new service offerings that require SOC reports.
• Conducting annual planning meetings with external auditors to review scope and timing, coordinating new SOC report initiation, ensuring alignment between report scope and actual services, and managing issuance of both redacted and unredacted report versions.
• Driving continuous process improvement by identifying optimization opportunities, developing audit administration methodologies and templates, managing the control testing software platform including user access and data integrity, and leading technology initiatives that enhance audit capabilities.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Accounting, Information Systems, or related field with minimum 5-7 years of progressive experience in audit, compliance, or professional services demonstrating leadership responsibilities and project management expertise.
• In-depth understanding of SOC 1 and SOC 2 audit frameworks, SSAE-18 standards, control testing methodologies, and evidence requirements with proven ability to interpret and apply audit standards across complex organizational environments.
• Demonstrated track record of successfully managing multiple concurrent projects and stakeholder relationships while maintaining exceptional attention to detail in oversight, quality assurance, and risk management activities.
• Proven leadership and team management skills with experience supervising and developing professional staff, conducting performance evaluations, and fostering collaborative environments that promote knowledge sharing and continuous improvement.
• Executive-level communication and influence skills for effectively interacting with senior leadership, external auditors, and business partners across all organizational levels, with superior written and verbal communication abilities for delivering complex audit information to diverse audiences.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (particularly Excel for data management and reporting), document management systems, and strong technical aptitude for evaluating and implementing new software platforms and running population and sample reports from various business systems.
• Deep understanding of professional standards, ethics, and regulatory requirements in audit environments with unwavering commitment to maintaining highest standards of confidentiality, data privacy, and professional integrity.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Professional certification such as CPA (Certified Public Accountant), CIA (Certified Internal Auditor), CISA (Certified Information Systems Auditor), or similar credentials demonstrating advanced audit and compliance expertise.
• Experience with audit software applications, database management systems, and advanced proficiency with cloud-based platforms and enterprise SaaS applications that support audit administration and control testing activities.
• Extensive background in professional services, financial services, or highly regulated industries with deep expertise in multiple compliance frameworks beyond SOC (such as SOX, ISO, or statutory audit requirements).
• Advanced analytical and strategic problem-solving abilities for evaluating control environments, addressing systemic issues, developing innovative solutions, and assessing technology solutions that enhance administrative capabilities.
• Knowledge of control framework design considerations, contract language interpretation as it relates to control implications, and experience coordinating cross-functional compliance initiatives across large, complex organizations.