Finance SOX Lead
We are seeking an experienced Finance SOX Lead to join a growing global specialist insurance and reinsurance business, supporting the design, implementation and ongoing enhancement of its finance SOX control environment.
This is a hands-on role offering the opportunity to take ownership of day-to-day SOX activities, strengthen financial controls and work closely with senior stakeholders across Finance, Technology, Risk, Internal Audit and External Audit.
The role will focus approximately 75% on SOX-related activity and 25% on wider Finance support, including statutory accounts preparation and other financial reporting processes.
The successful candidate will bring strong technical expertise in SOX compliance, a thorough understanding of financial reporting controls, and a pragmatic, delivery-focused approach to ensuring the control framework remains robust, effective and audit-ready.
Key Responsibilities
- Act as the Finance SOX Subject Matter Expert, providing leadership and oversight across the finance control framework, including business process controls, entity-level controls, IT-dependent manual controls, IT Application Controls (ITACs) and Information Produced by the Entity (IPE).
- Own and maintain SOX control documentation, including risk and control matrices, process narratives, flowcharts, control attributes and evidence requirements.
- Administer finance SOX controls within the GRC system, managing control updates, risk assessments, evidence, deficiencies and remediation tracking.
- Coordinate SOX walkthroughs, control testing and audit activities, acting as the primary Finance point of contact for internal and external stakeholders.
- Perform regular testing of SOX controls to assess operating effectiveness, identify exceptions and ensure issues are addressed promptly.
- Work with Finance process owners to ensure controls are appropriately designed, consistently operated and supported by complete, accurate and timely evidence.
- Assess and manage control deficiencies, including root cause analysis, impact assessment, remediation planning and validation of completed actions.
- Support the development and maintenance of finance process documentation, end-user computing (EUC) documentation and control checklists.
- Provide regular updates to senior stakeholders on SOX implementation progress, testing results, control effectiveness, remediation activity and emerging risks.
- Support wider Finance activities as required, including statutory accounts preparation, financial reporting and ad hoc finance projects.
- Identify opportunities to simplify processes, strengthen the control environment and improve the efficiency and consistency of financial reporting.
Candidate Requirements
We are looking for a qualified finance professional with substantial experience in SOX compliance and financial controls within a complex organisation.
Essential experience and qualifications:
- Fully qualified ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent, with a minimum of three years’ post-qualification experience.
- Extensive experience with SOX Section 404 requirements, covering control design, implementation, operation, testing, evidence and deficiency management.
- Strong understanding of financial reporting processes, associated risks and internal controls.
- Knowledge of recognised internal control frameworks, particularly COSO, and the ability to apply SOX methodology in a practical finance environment.
- Proven experience coordinating control remediation and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to work effectively across Finance, Technology, Risk, Internal Audit and External Audit.
- Experience operating in a large-scale, multi-system or global organisation.
- A background in finance controls, SOX, external audit, internal audit or financial reporting, ideally gained within a Big Four firm or large enterprise.
- A proactive, hands-on approach, with the ability to take ownership, manage competing priorities and deliver with minimal supervision.
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