SOX Consultant- 6 Month Contract- Hybrid in Reading- Inside IR35

We are seeking an experienced SoX Consultant to support a major enterprise programme focused on strengthening governance, risk management, and compliance frameworks.

This role offers the opportunity to work within a complex corporate environment, helping to ensure compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) regulations through the assessment, testing, and improvement of internal controls over financial reporting. You will work closely with stakeholders, auditors, and technical teams to identify control gaps, enhance governance processes, and support critical audit activities.

Key Responsibilities:

• Draft and maintain governance policies and processes required to support the organisation's SOX compliance framework
• Review enterprise systems and corporate applications to verify the existence and effectiveness of SOX controls
• Assess and validate evidence collected for internal control testing
• Conduct risk assessments across financial reporting and IT environments
• Evaluate and test IT General Controls (ITGCs) and application controls
• Work collaboratively with internal and external auditors during audit cycles
• Identify control deficiencies and support remediation planning
• Document processes, controls, and risk frameworks in line with compliance requirements
• Recommend improvements to strengthen governance and control environments
• Support continuous improvement initiatives across compliance functions

Essential Skills & Experience:

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field
• Strong understanding of SOX compliance and Internal Controls over Financial Reporting (ICFR)
• Proven experience in ITGC and application control testing
• Strong knowledge of risk assessment, control design, and compliance documentation
• Experience working directly with auditors and supporting audit processes
• Minimum 5 years' experience working with SOX controls
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and communication skills

Desirable Skills:

• Experience with ERP platforms such as SAP or Oracle
• Knowledge of automation tools for control monitoring and testing
• Professional certifications such as CISA, CPA, CIA, or equivalent
• Experience in process improvement and remediation planning
• Exposure to large-scale enterprise transformation environments