What Is the Role of an Internal Control Manager?

by Neil Kokemuller, studioD Google

An internal control manager is essentially a policeman or watchdog in a company, division or department. His basic responsibilities are to develop policies and procedures, ensure their implementation and monitor compliance. In essence, the internal control manager helps keep a company from engaging in potentially illegal or unethical activities that could get it into hot water. An internal control manager typically has experience in one or more of the following: management, legal compliance, accounting and auditing.

Compliance Procedures

A primary duty of the internal control manager is to review existing accounting and financial controls and other legal compliance processes in place and make any necessary revisions or additions. In doing so, she communicates urgent changes immediately with department managers and staff. She also works with human resources to update policy manuals and other documentation to ensure immediate compliance by all staff involved. In financial services, for instance, many companies rushed to develop social media compliance policies to prevent brokers and serve reps from unwittingly providing financial advice through their accounts.

Internal Audits and Reviews

The internal control manager also conducts regular internal audits and reviews to assess the compliance of departments and individual employees. In accounting, for instance, the internal control manager reviews processes and records to see that accountants are operating in line with generally accepted accounting principles, laws, industry and company standards. The results of the reviews are shared with managers to aid in feedback, training and development to ensure greater overall compliance.

Training and Development

Another role of the control manager is to address specific training and development needs to fill compliance gaps. As a result of comparing department and employee activities to prescribed standards, the officer identifies specific gaps. He then meets or communicates with the CEO, division or department managers to advise them of necessary training to bring the company, a department or particular employees up to speed on compliance standards. New government regulations sometimes necessitate additional training.


Given his role of ensuring internal compliance, it is natural that the internal control manager commonly serves as the go-between with his company and external government and auditing agencies. He must stay on top of changes in accounting and external audit procedures to ensure his company is in compliance. He also communicates with other governmental agencies or legal professionals with insights into changing regulations, standard compliance practices and other changes that may impact the merit of current internal control policies.

About the Author


Photo Credits

  • Ryan McVay/Photodisc/Getty Images
Suggest an Article Correction