Oversee the internal controls framework at Elsevier, including managing risk and control matrices and ensuring proper documentation such as narrative descriptions and flowcharts for each process
Collaborate with the Head of Financial Controls to ensure that key processes are in compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) requirements, helping to maintain and strengthen the company's internal control structure.
Conduct comprehensive walkthroughs for in-scope financial processes to identify key controls for SOX purposes. Ensure that all financial statement assertions are covered, providing a complete overview of process controls.
Serve as a primary point of contact between business process and control owners, management at various levels, and both internal and external auditors to facilitate communication and compliance efforts.
Assists in the SOX compliance testing process, ensuring that testing procedures are effective in evaluating the controls. Verify that controls are performed consistently throughout the testing period and by the appropriate process owners. Evaluate whether controls are successful in preventing or detecting material misstatements.
Assist in the annual scoping exercise for SOX controls, ensuring that the right controls are identified and documented for the upcoming year's compliance cycle.
Collaborate with control owners to address any control deficiencies identified during testing. Provide guidance and support in developing remediation plans and ensure timely resolution of issues.
Support in organizing awareness programs for controls. Ensure that relevant stakeholders are educated on SOX compliance and internal controls, promoting a culture of compliance throughout the organization.
Work closely with the SOX IT General Controls (ITGC) team to identify and understand in-scope SOX IT systems and applications, ensuring that all relevant IT controls are adequately addressed in compliance efforts.
Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree in finance, accounting or a related field or professional accounting qualification.
2-3 years of relevant experience with Internal Control Testing, SOX Audit and or any relevant function (financial reporting control testing and/or IT Application Controls).
4-7 years of relevant experience in SOX Audit of ICFRs, finance and accounting (RTR, AP, Financial Reporting)
Good working knowledge of systems e.g., Excel (advanced level), PowerPoint, Hyperion, Oracle and appreciation of IT general controls.
Excellent spoken and written English.
Ability to work in multi-location/global team across several time zones.
Good stakeholder management and engagement skills.
High degree of honesty and integrity - given nature of the role, it is vital that the individual can speak up in situations where personal values are being tested and escalate rapidly when potential control issues have been uncovered.
Ability to quickly learn and apply enterprise AI tools and technologies to support technical workflows and business objectives.
