Summary:

    Ensures the effectiveness of internal controls in compliance with corporate objectives and government standards such as the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX) or the 8th Company Law Directive. Reviews, evaluates, develops, implements, maintains, and verifies internal and business controls for processes, systems, financial statements, journals, and reports in accordance with internal auditing and government-mandated standards. Identifies internal control gaps in business procedures, processes or systems and initiates appropriate remedial action. Ensures that documentation for all processes across the organization is reviewed and updated periodically. May coordinate with external auditors to prepare the attestation of management assessment on internal controls in accordance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Responsibilities are within the Audit and Financial/Business Controls Function as a generalist or in a combination of disciplines. Very experienced and/or qualified professional. Requires in-depth conceptual and practical knowledge in own job discipline and basic knowledge of related job disciplines. Demonstrates mastery of concepts and procedures in a specialism. Solves complex problems. Works independently, receives minimal guidance. May lead projects or project steps within a broader project or may have accountability for on-going activities or objectives. Acts as a resource for colleagues with less experience.

Accountabilities:

• This role takes the lead in planning, coordinating, executing, reporting and close-out on the annual SOX management testing for STM (Scientific, Technical & Medical) division’s financial controls. This is executed in close cooperation with control owners and operators as well as liaison, as required, with the external auditors (EY) and RELX Internal Audit and Assurance (IAA)

• The individual will also be expected to contribute the wider Controls agenda including support to control design, scoping, deficiency evaluation & re-testing activities as well to continuous improvement to the internal control framework

• 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 following 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

• Lead 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

• Assist in evaluating deficiencies, preparing remediation plans, and coordinating the re-testing process to ensure that controls are operating effectively after remediation

• Support and organize training and awareness programs for controls. Ensure that relevant stakeholders are educated on SOX compliance and internal controls, promoting a culture of compliance throughout the organization

• Participate in scoping and readiness exercises related to the One Fusion project, ensuring that the necessary controls are implemented for SOX compliance

• 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

Job Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting or a related field or professional accounting qualification

• 5-6 years of relevant experience in financial reporting processes, internal controls, audit, compliance, or a similar field

• 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
  
   

Please refer to job description.