SOX & Financial Controls Lead

Apollo; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual leave 31 days

Non-contributory pension

Private medical insurance

Discretionary bonus

Job summary

Apollo, a Skyward Group company, seeks an experienced leader to own and shape the SOX and Internal Controls over Financial Reporting programme, building a sustainable, Apollo‑owned operating model across Finance and Technology with external auditors. You will partner with control owners, set standards, oversee testing, remediating deficiencies and report to senior management.

This is a visible, high‑impact role that blends technical rigour with pragmatic governance to protect the business while

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in SOX, ICFR, financial controls or related audit.
• Ability to challenge senior stakeholders and simplify complex issues.
• Experience transitioning a programme to BAU with regulatory expectations.
• Insurance or financial services experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Own and continuously improve Apollo's ICFR framework and annual SOX programme.
• Lead the transition from implementation into a sustainable Apollo-owned operating model.
• Plan and oversee the annual SOX lifecycle across all in-scope business and technology processes.
• Set control standards and maintain risk and control matrices, evidence requirements and supporting documentation.
• Partner with control owners to strengthen control design, governance and accountability.
• Integrate financial and technology SOX activity in partnership with IT SOX lead.
• Oversee internal and co-sourced testing activity, ensuring quality and clear conclusions.
• Maintain oversight of control deficiencies and remediation activity and escalate where required.
• Lead day-to-day controls relationship with external auditors and support Group requirements.
• Provide reporting to senior management on control effectiveness and remediation activity.
• Identify opportunities to simplify, standardise and automate controls.

Skills

SOX compliance

ICFR

Internal controls

External audit

Stakeholder management

Education

Accountancy qualification (ACCA/ACA/CIMA)

Tools

GRC tools

Job description

Who we are

Apollo , a Skyward Group company, is an innovation-inspired insurance platform operating at Lloyd’s of London, delivering data-driven and creative solutions across a broad range of risks.

Our name reflects our origins. Inspired by one of our founding investors, Neil Armstrong, the first person to walk on the moon, the business was built with the same pioneering mindset. Alongside Jim Hays, Neil set out to create a different kind of Lloyd’s platform, focused, agile and built around people.

Since launch in 2009, we have grown into a diversified insurance group offering products across Property, Casualty, Marine, Energy and Transportation, Specialty and Reinsurance, alongside Smart Follow and digital and embedded risk programmes. Our experience and unique ecosystem give Platform Partners the best chance of success, from navigating the Lloyd’s new entrant process through to the delivery of their long-term strategy.

With a team of more than 300 professionals, we continue to grow with purpose, combining underwriting excellence, innovation and collaboration to enable a more resilient and sustainable world.

Your Role

Own and shape Apollo's Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) and financial controls programme, building the capability that will take it from implementation into a sustainable business-as-usual model.

You will take ownership of Apollo's Internal Controls over Financial Reporting (ICFR) framework and annual SOX programme across business and technology processes. A key initial focus will be transitioning the programme from an externally supported implementation phase into a sustainable Apollo-owned operating model, strengthening internal capability and ensuring accountability is embedded across the business.

This is a visible, high-impact role combining technical ownership, constructive challenge and close partnership with Finance, Technology, senior stakeholders, Group colleagues and external auditors.

Apollo is innovative and entrepreneurial. We are looking for someone who can bring rigour without unnecessary complexity, building controls that protect the business, meet our obligations and support well-informed decision-making without constraining responsible innovation.

This is an opportunity to build lasting internal capability, influence how Apollo operates and create a controls environment that is rigorous, proportionate and fit for an innovative business.

What you will do

• Own and continuously improve Apollo's ICFR framework and annual SOX programme.
• Lead the transition from implementation into an effective and sustainable Apollo-owned operating model.
• Plan and oversee the annual SOX lifecycle across all in-scope business and technology processes.
• Set control standards and maintain risk and control matrices, evidence requirements and supporting documentation.
• Partner with control owners to strengthen control design, governance and accountability.
• Integrate financial and technology SOX activity in partnership with the IT SOX lead.
• Oversee internal and co-sourced testing activity, ensuring consistent quality, delivery and clear conclusions.
• Maintain oversight of control deficiencies and remediation activity, providing challenge, support and escalation where required.
• Lead the day-to-day controls relationship with external auditors and support relevant Group requirements.
• Provide clear reporting to senior management and governance forums on control effectiveness, testing outcomes and remediation activity.
• Identify opportunities to simplify, standardise and automate controls without weakening their effectiveness.
• Own the effective use of Apollo's controls platform as the system of record for controls, testing and evidence.

What we are looking for

• You will bring significant experience in Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX), Internal Controls over Financial Reporting (ICFR), financial controls, external audit or a related discipline.
• You will have strong knowledge of control design, testing, deficiencies and remediation, together with the judgement and confidence to challenge senior stakeholders and turn complex issues into practical action.
• You will be comfortable taking ownership of a complex programme, overseeing third-party delivery and balancing regulatory expectations with the practical needs of the business. A pragmatic, collaborative approach and the ability to simplify controls without weakening them will be important.
• Experience within insurance or wider financial services would be beneficial, as would exposure to a United States-listed organisation, a Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) audit environment, Information Technology General Controls (ITGCs) or the transition of a SOX programme into a sustainable business-as-usual model.
• A relevant accountancy, audit, risk or controls qualification would be beneficial but is not essential.

What you’ll get in return

• 31 days’ annual leave
• a non-contributory pension
• private medical insurance
• a fair and attractive salary
• discretionary bonus

Our commitment to inclusion

At Apollo, people are at the heart of everything we do. We are a diverse, growing team of empowered experts who bring collaboration, innovation and data-driven thinking to every relationship and every risk.

We believe diversity and inclusion go far beyond targets. They are essential to understanding the global communities we serve and to making better decisions. That’s why we are committed to developing diverse talent at every level and creating an environment where different perspectives are genuinely valued, supported and celebrated.

We also run a programme of events, training and initiatives designed to recognise both the challenges and opportunities that come with building an inclusive workplace.

Apollo is committed to creating an inclusive recruitment experience where every candidate feels supported and able to perform at their best.

Hybrid & flexible working

Flexible and hybrid working are fully embraced at Apollo. We do not believe in presenteeism. Instead, we trust our people to work in ways that allow them to perform at their best, balancing professional responsibilities with personal commitments.