Director, SOX & Internal Controls

WNTD; Greater London; On-site; GBP 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

WNTD is seeking a Director of SOX & Internal Controls to design a SOX 404 and ICFR programme. This role is critical as the company approaches its IPO, requiring experience in creating compliance frameworks from the ground up.

The ideal candidate has 10+ years in internal controls or auditing, including significant exposure to the Big 4. Strong communication and stakeholder management skills are essential, alongside a practical, risk-based approach.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience across SOX, internal controls, internal audit, or external audit, including significant Big 4 exposure.
• Proven experience leading SOX readiness through an IPO process, including first-year 404(b) attestation.
• Strong knowledge of COSO 2013, PCAOB AS 2201, and SEC reporting requirements.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement the company’s SOX 404(a) and 404(b) compliance programme from inception.
• Lead annual risk assessments and scoping exercises covering entities, locations, accounts, and business processes.
• Prepare quarterly and annual SOX reporting for executive leadership and Audit Committee review.

Skills

SOX readiness leadership

Internal controls expertise

Stakeholder management

Communication skills

Risk-based judgment

Education

Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CPA, CIA, or equivalent)

Tools

AuditBoard

SAP

NetSuite

ServiceNow GRC

Job description

We build and operate large-scale GPU compute infrastructure designed to power AI workloads, partnering with leading institutional capital providers and lenders. As a capital-intensive business scaling at pace, strong financial governance, disciplined cash management, and operational excellence are foundational to success.

With a planned public listing within the next 18 months, the business is preparing to operate to the standards of a publicly traded, hyperscale infrastructure company — vertically integrating power, data centres, and compute at a scale defining an entirely new industrial category.

About the Role

This is a foundational hire. We are looking for a Director of SOX & Internal Controls to design and build a SOX 404 and ICFR programme from the ground up, ready to be operational and audit-tested ahead of the company’s first full fiscal year as a publicly listed business.

This is not a maintenance role. You will own the strategy, framework, and execution of SOX readiness across a multi‑jurisdictional, capex‑heavy, fast‑moving organisation. Working closely with the CFO, Accounting leadership, IT, Legal, FP&A, and external auditors, you will scope risk, design controls, embed them into systems and processes, and ensure operating effectiveness in preparation for public company reporting requirements.

You will become the company’s subject matter expert on internal controls — trusted by the Audit Committee, respected by external auditors, and highly influential across the organisation.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and implement the company’s SOX 404(a) and 404(b) compliance programme from inception
• Define the SOX roadmap, milestones, and governance structure from IPO readiness through first-year ICFR attestation
• Lead annual risk assessments and scoping exercises covering entities, locations, accounts, and business processes
• Build and maintain an Internal Controls over Financial Reporting (ICFR) framework aligned to COSO 2013 and PCAOB AS 2201

Controls Design & Documentation

• Develop entity‑level controls, business process controls, and IT General Controls (ITGCs)
• Create process narratives, flowcharts, and Risk & Control Matrices (RCMs) across key financial cycles including capex, treasury, procure‑to‑pay, project finance, and revenue
• Partner with IT leadership to design controls around access management, change management, system operations, and programme development
• Ensure controls are embedded into ERP and business systems from the outset

Testing, Remediation & Reporting

• Design and execute testing plans for control design and operating effectiveness
• Identify and manage remediation plans for control deficiencies, including material weaknesses and significant deficiencies
• Prepare quarterly and annual SOX reporting for executive leadership and Audit Committee review
• Act as the primary liaison for external auditors on ICFR matters and coordinate the integrated audit process

Leadership & Stakeholder Management

• Build and lead the internal controls function as the business scales
• Train and support control owners across Finance, Operations, and IT
• Evaluate and implement SOX/GRC tools such as AuditBoard, Workiva, or ServiceNow GRC
• Partner with internal audit, legal, compliance, and disclosure committee functions as they evolve

Requirements

• Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CPA, CIA, or equivalent)
• 10+ years of experience across SOX, internal controls, internal audit, or external audit, including significant Big 4 exposure
• Proven experience leading SOX readiness through an IPO process, including first-year 404(b) attestation
• Strong knowledge of COSO 2013, PCAOB AS 2201, and SEC reporting requirements
• Experience with ITGCs and understanding of the relationship between IT and business process controls
• Experience operating in complex, multi‑entity and multi‑jurisdictional environments
• Strong commercial judgement with a pragmatic, risk‑based approach
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills

Nice to Have

• Experience within infrastructure, energy, data centres, real estate, or other capital‑intensive industries
• Experience supporting greenfield ERP implementations such as NetSuite, Oracle, SAP, or Workday
• Exposure to project finance, debt facilities, and lender reporting environments
• Knowledge of both IFRS and US GAAP
• Previous experience in a recently listed company within its first two years post‑IPO

What Makes This Opportunity Different

• Build from scratch: Create the SOX and controls framework from a blank sheet
• IPO‑critical role: Directly support the company’s path to public markets
• Executive visibility: Work closely with the CFO, CEO, Audit Committee, and external auditors
• High‑impact environment: Help shape governance for a hyperscale infrastructure business operating across multiple jurisdictions
• High ownership culture: Fast‑moving environment with clear accountability and the ability to influence how the business operates as a public company