Interim SOX & Internal Controls Manager

Interim SOX & Internal Controls Manager

Location: South Staffordshire
Duration: 6 months
Rate: -600/650 per day, depending on experience
Working pattern: 3 days on site, two days at home (must be accessible via daily commute).

The Opportunity

We are supporting a leading manufacturing business with annual revenues of approximately -1 billion through a significant period of SOX and internal controls activity.

The organisation is seeking an experienced interim SOX / Internal Controls candidate to support the development, enhancement and formalisation of process documentation, control narratives, policies and related internal control documentation across the business.

This is a hands-on role for an experienced controls professional who can quickly understand complex business processes, work with senior stakeholders and control owners, and translate operational activity into clear, robust and auditable documentation.

The role is particularly suited to someone with a background in SOX, internal controls, internal audit, risk assurance or Big Four advisory.

Key Responsibilities

• Document and enhance business processes relevant to the SOX and internal control environment.
• Prepare and maintain process narratives, control descriptions, risk and control matrices and supporting documentation.
• Review existing policies, procedures and control documentation and identify areas requiring clarification, strengthening or formalisation.
• Draft and update policies and procedures relating to financial reporting and internal control activities.
• Work with process and control owners across Finance and the wider business to ensure documentation accurately reflects how controls operate in practice.
• Assess whether documented controls are appropriately designed to address identified financial reporting risks.
• Identify gaps, inconsistencies and weaknesses in existing documentation and recommend appropriate improvements.
• Support the mapping of risks, controls, processes and supporting evidence.
• Engage with internal audit, external audit and other assurance stakeholders as required.
• Support the preparation of documentation for SOX management assessment and audit purposes.
• Track documentation and remediation activity to ensure deliverables are completed within agreed timescales.
• Ensure documentation is clear, consistent, appropriately evidenced and capable of standing up to internal and external scrutiny.

Candidate Background

We are specifically interested in candidates from one or more of the following backgrounds:

Internal Controls / SOX

• Direct experience working within a SOX, ICFR or internal controls environment.
• Experience documenting controls, processes and financial reporting risks.
• Experience preparing or maintaining Risk and Control Matrices and process narratives.

Internal Audit (with Sox)

• Experience in internal audit, particularly where this has involved evaluating control design, documenting processes and assessing control effectiveness.
• Experience working with senior stakeholders and control owners to remediate control weaknesses.

Risk Assurance / Controls Advisory (with Sox)

• Experience in risk assurance, controls advisory or similar professional services environments.
• Strong experience of working with multiple business functions to document and assess control environments.

Big Four or Similar Professional Services

• Previous experience with a Big Four firm or equivalent professional services organisation in audit, SOX, internal controls, risk assurance or related advisory work.
• Candidates who have subsequently moved into industry-based controls roles are particularly welcome.

Essential Experience

• Strong practical experience of SOX and/or internal controls documentation.
• Demonstrable experience writing process narratives, control descriptions, policies and procedures.
• Experience working within a complex, multi-site or multinational organisation.
• Strong understanding of financial reporting risks and the control environment.
• Ability to work independently and make progress quickly in an interim environment.
• Excellent written communication and documentation skills.
• Ability to engage effectively with Finance, Operations, IT and senior stakeholders.
• Experience operating in a large, complex corporate environment.

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