Sox Auditor

Our client is a global Pharmaceutical company who is looking to recruit a Sox Auditor on a contract basis.  In this role, you will support the team to deliver the day to day operations of the function to ensure that SOX Compliance is achieved, through the following:

• Understand the affiliates’ business and evaluate their control environment and specific risks to support risk based SOX scoping.
• Perform audit testing at affiliate locations and regional head office.
• Apply judgement, solve problems and propose remediation plans as appropriate to deliver SOX compliance.
• Promote the sharing of best-practice financial processes and controls across the affiliates and with other regions.
• Contribute to regional and global process and control improvement projects (e.g. automated controls; enhanced risk analysis; global ITGC processes and controls; fraud mitigation).

Core deliverables for this role include:

• Prepare Test Plans for the test period covering OE, Roll Forward & Remediation/Retesting.
• Ensure planned visits are communicated in advance and confirm the availability of affiliate staff and test evidence.
• Support the maintenance of the Documentation Suites and ensure changes resulting from testing and remediation activities are promptly reflected.
• Perform walkthrough testing of new controls.
• Execute test scripts for key controls in accordance with the company’s test methodology.
• Provide explanations as required for test conclusions where significant judgement has been applied.
• Develop timely Remediation Action Plans with the affiliates for key controls which have failed testing.
• Perform assessments of failed controls and prepare Deficiency Evaluations as appropriate.
• Upload test results and evidence to the testing database on a timely and accurate basis.
• Maintain a test plan status schedule.
• Ensure the Director of Financial Compliance is kept informed of progress and issues.
• Provide timely responses to questions or concerns raised by the external auditors over test results.
• Act as a “go to” resource for risk management and control advice for the affiliate finance teams.
• Encourage sharing of process best practice across affiliates and support harmonisation activities.
• Project support for all projects associated with financial risk and control.
• Potential involvement in combined audits including commercial, fraud and bribery and operational risks in addition to financial reporting.

Sox Auditor - required qualifications, skills and experience:

• Graduate qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CPA...)
• A background of risk focussed controls based audits within major multinational companies
• SOX  or J-SOX audit experience – including documentation, testing, remediation and process improvement
• Able to plan and prioritise a heavy workload in a deadline driven environment
• Interpersonal savvy – able to build constructive and effective relationships
• High attention to detail. Composed under pressure
• Drive and perseverance to achieve results
• Pragmatic problem solver – able to apply balanced judgement
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Team player
• Comfortable around higher management –  effective presentation and negotiating skills
• Sensitive to cross cultural issues
• Language skills an advantage but not essential (especially Russian!)
• FMCG or Pharmaceutical sector experience an advantage but not essential