The Senior Internal Audit Manager plays a key role in strengthening Sweetgreen’s internal control environment, risk management practices, and governance processes. This role will be the head of the company’s SOX compliance program and will lead the execution of a risk-based internal audit plan that supports strong controls, operational resilience, and strategic decision-making. The position partners closely with Finance, Legal, IT, Operations, and external stakeholders to ensure Sweetgreen maintains a scalable and effective control environment. This role is based four days per week in our Los Angeles Support Center.

Key Responsibilities

SOX Program Ownership

Lead Sweetgreen’s SOX compliance program, including annual planning, scoping, risk assessment, testing, documentation, and reporting.

Coordinate with internal teams, co-sourced providers, and external auditors to ensure an efficient, well-managed program.

Review testing workpapers to confirm quality, completeness, and alignment with SOX and PCAOB expectations.

Monitor, track, and validate remediation efforts, working with process owners to address root causes and enhance long-term control effectiveness.

Audit Planning & Execution

Contribute to and help develop the annual internal audit plan based on enterprise risk assessments, operational priorities, and emerging trends.

Plan and execute financial, operational, IT, and compliance audits in accordance with professional standards and internal methodologies.

Provide meaningful insights and updates for Audit Committee materials, including audit results, trends, and emerging risks.

Risk & Control Advisory

Partner with senior leaders to evaluate risks, enhance processes, and strengthen internal controls.

Identify opportunities to modernize and improve the control environment using automation, analytics, workflow tools, and AI-enabled solutions.

Support enterprise risk management activities and other special projects as business needs evolve.

Advise leadership on regulatory changes, emerging cybersecurity risks, and internal control best practices.

Reporting & Stakeholder Engagement

Communicate audit findings, recommendations, and progress updates to senior leadership and the Audit Committee.

Build strong, collaborative relationships across Finance, Legal, IT, and Operations to ensure alignment and timely issue resolution.

Coordinate with external auditors to facilitate effective and transparent information sharing.

Qualifications

5+ years of experience in Big Four public accounting.

BA/BS degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or related field.

CPA, CIA, CISA, or similar certification required (only listed once for clarity).

Strong knowledge of COSO, SOX, PCAOB standards, and governance and internal control regulations.

Working understanding of entity-level controls, process-level controls, IT general controls, and application controls.

Experience with ERP or enterprise system implementations and familiarity with data analytics or automation tools.

Ability to manage multiple audits and projects independently in a fast-paced, evolving environment.

Excellent communication and relationship-building skills, with the ability to influence stakeholders without direct authority.

What you'll get:

• Highly competitive pay + bonus plan

• Three different medical plans to suit your and your family's needs

• Dental and Vision insurance

• Flexible PTO plan

• 401k program

• Employee HSA and FSA

• Complimentary greens

• An opportunity to make a real impact on the people around you, both by growing them and by connecting them to real food

• To live the sweetlife and celebrate your passion + purpose

• A collaborative team of people who live our core values and have your back

• A clear career path with opportunities for development, both personally and professionally

• Free sweetgreen swag

Come join the sweetlife!

About sweetgreen

sweetgreen is on a mission to build healthier communities by connecting people to real food. We passionately believe that real food should be convenient and accessible to everyone. Every day in each sweetgreen, our 3,500 team members make food from scratch, using fresh ingredients and produce delivered that morning. And in our local communities, we’re committed to leaving people better than we found them. We’re in the business of feeding people, and we’re out to change what that means.

sweetgreen provides equal opportunities for everyone that works for us and everyone that applies to join our team, without regard to sex or gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, any service, past, present, or future, in the uniformed services of the United States (military or veteran status), or any other consideration protected by federal, state, or local law.

sweetgreen participates in the federal government's E-Verify program to determine employment eligibility. To learn more about the E-Verify program, please click here.

Salary range for this role:Starting salary range based on experience**$140,000—$160,000 USD**

Sweetgreen provides equal opportunities for all employees and applicants, without regard to sex or gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, race (including traits historically associated with race, such as hair texture and protective hairstyles), religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, any service in the uniformed services of the United States, or any other consideration protected by federal, state, or local law.

California residents: Review our applicant privacy notice HERE.

sweetgreen participates in the federal government's E-Verify program to determine employment eligibility. To learn more about the E-Verify program, please click here.