SOX Control Tester

Pontoon; Gloucester; Hybrid; GBP 96,000 - 126,000; Part time

Job summary

Pontoon is seeking an experienced SOX Control Tester for a three-month contract to support a peak testing period. The role involves hands-on testing of DE and OE across financial reporting controls, with a portfolio of controls managed independently.

You will work two days per week from a client office and three days from home. Ideal candidates will have extensive SOX testing experience in regulated environments, solid ICFR knowledge, and strong stakeholder engagement skills.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated hands-on SOX testing within regulated environments.
• Strong knowledge of risk and control frameworks and ICFR.
• Experience conducting DE and OE testing and documenting results.

Responsibilities

• Deliver high-quality SOX testing following established methodologies.
• Conduct DE and OE testing of financial reporting controls.
• Execute end-to-end testing: planning, walkthroughs, sampling, evidence gathering and reporting.
• Manage a portfolio of controls with minimal oversight and on-time delivery.
• Review control evidence, identify exceptions and risk, and document conclusions.
• Assess whether controls are designed and operating effectively to mitigate risks.
• Document testing performed and rationale, ensuring clear conclusions.
• Challenge stakeholders where evidence is insufficient or weaknesses are identified.
• Escalate issues and support investigation and resolution of findings.
• Collaborate with control owners and finance teams across divisions.
• Support progress reporting and provide updates on risks and dependencies.
• Support continuous improvement using data, technology and AI-enabled assurance techniques.

Skills

SOX testing

DE testing

OE testing

ICFR

Tools

FCM

SOX Express

Job description

SOX Control Tester

Bristol, Edinburgh, Halifax, London / Hybrid

3 months contract (expected to start January 2027)

Day Rate 600 via Umbrella Company

Pontoon is an employment consultancy, we put expertise, energy, and enthusiasm into improving everyone's chance of being part of the workplace. We respect and appreciate people of all ethnicities, generations, religious beliefs, sexual orientations, gender identifies, and more. We do this by showcasing their talents, skills, and unique experience in an inclusive environment that helps them thrive.

My client powers businesses of all sizes to make, take and manage payments. They are a global leader in financial technology with unique capabilities to power omni-commerce. Whether online, in store or mobile, they are at the heart of great commerce experiences in 146 countries and across 135 currencies. They help our customers become more efficient, more secure and more successful.

The Role

Our client's Group Finance Risk team is seeking an experienced SOX Control Tester to support a critical period of SOX assurance and controls testing activity. Joining a team of dedicated testers you will play a key role in delivering assurance over financial reporting controls during a peak testing period.

This is a hands-on delivery role for an experienced SOX professional who can quickly integrate into an established testing environment and independently manage a portfolio of controls with minimal oversight. Testing methodologies, controls, and test plans are already documented within the organisation's SOX management systems, allowing successful candidates to focus on execution, issue identification and stakeholder engagement from day one.

The role offers exposure to a broad range of business areas across the organisation and provides the opportunity to work on controls supporting the financial reporting and accounts process within one of the UK's largest financial services organisations.

The position is being offered on a 3-month contract, you will be based 2 days a week at one of the above office locations with the remaining 3 days working from home. You will be required to work standard office hours however due to the nature of the role there will be some out of hours requirements.

Key Responsibilities

• Deliver high-quality SOX testing in accordance with established methodologies, standards and documentation requirements.
• Conduct Design Effectiveness (DE) and Operating Effectiveness (OE) testing across financial reporting controls.
• Execute end-to-end testing activities including planning, walkthroughs, sample selection, evidence gathering, assessment and conclusion reporting.
• Manage a portfolio of controls independently, maintaining delivery against demanding testing timelines and quality expectations.
• Review and evaluate control evidence, identifying exceptions, deficiencies, inconsistencies and potential risks.
• Assess whether controls are appropriately designed and operating effectively to mitigate identified financial reporting risks.
• Clearly document testing performed, conclusions reached and supporting rationale.
• Challenge stakeholders constructively where evidence is insufficient or control weaknesses are identified.
• Escalate issues and exceptions appropriately, supporting the investigation and resolution of findings.
• Collaborate with control owners, finance teams and business stakeholders across multiple divisions and functions.
• Contribute to testing progress reporting and provide clear updates on risks, dependencies and emerging issues.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives through the use of data, technology and emerging AI-enabled assurance techniques.

Essential Experience

• Proven experience delivering hands-on SOX testing within large corporate, banking, insurance or other highly regulated environments.
• Strong understanding of risk and control frameworks, financial reporting risks and Internal Controls over Financial Reporting (ICFR).
• Demonstrable experience conducting both Design Effectiveness (DE) and Operating Effectiveness (OE) testing.
• Ability to independently manage a significant testing workload and deliver at pace.
• Experience testing multiple controls simultaneously, often managing high volumes of testing activity within tight deadlines.
• Strong evidence assessment skills, with the ability to identify control deficiencies and challenge stakeholders appropriately.
• Excellent understanding of testing methodologies, sampling approaches and assurance documentation standards.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to operate with minimal supervision and become productive quickly within an established testing framework.
• Familiarity with SOX management platforms such as FCM, SOX Express or similar controls management systems.

We use generative AI tools to support our candidate screening process. This helps us ensure a fair, consistent, and efficient experience for all applicants. Rest assured, all final decisions are made by our hiring team, and your application will be reviewed with care and attention.