Analyst - SOX Testing

The Analyst and Associate will be dedicated to a specific team to promote growth in the end-to-end understanding of the control environment across Athene and Apollo. Together with the Team Lead, they execute testing and risk and control related activities. Primary Responsibilities Stakeholder Focused: Become a trusted advisor and go-to controls contact for the business. Liaise with process owners to understand processes, risks and controls. One Team / One Voice: Be an accountable player, driving operational excellence and productivity by executing SOX activities with the wider SOX team. Commit to clear, concise and consistent reporting of status and results, from transition plans to weekly dashboards. SOX Preparation: Be responsible for SOX tool readiness and updates for the respective portfolio. Ensure control language, IPEs, and test steps are up to date prior to assessing controls. Prepare a testing tracker for the respective control, to facilitate upload to the SOX tool. Assist in setting testing milestones in line with the central testing plan and manage timelines accordingly. Ensure control dependencies are properly identified and tested for the relevant period. Continuously monitor process changes and maintain new control attestations when required. SOX Testing: Send data requests to process owners and track receipt of supporting documentation, following up where necessary. Coordinate with Team Leads on the status of any cross-referenced controls in their own control test steps and ensure the referenced control was tested for reliance. Apply SOX methodology and standards to all SOX activities. Prepare testing workpapers and SOX tool details for the respective controls, prior to submitting to the External Auditor. Review External Auditors comments and communicate/discuss responses with the External Auditor. Monitor sampling reset for new control attestation and/or deficiency testing Align testing strategy to include automation, where feasible SOX Reporting: Report control assessment status and follow up on documentation requests with the Process Owner (PO). Escalate bottlenecks where necessary to the Portfolio Team lead. Meeting all testing deadlines. SOX Deficiencies: Review and evaluate potential deficiencies (Self-Identified, SOX, External Audit, Enterprise Risk Management, Internal Audit) with Senior Lead and PO once identified. Engage and report issues to Portfolio Team Leads and SOX Office in a timely manner to assist in evaluation. Track remediations, including management status and SOX testing to close. SOX Tool Updates: Propose changes to the SOX tool based on discussion and agreement with PO. Go through the change management process (Approved by Senior Lead). Review changes made in the SOX tool to ensure accuracy and completeness. Qualifications & Experience A minimum of 2 years experience in Controls with a focus on Sarbanes-Oxley 404, COSO, or Internal Audit Previous experience in Big 4 within Insurance / Retirement services background (e.g., annuity operations, actuarial and / or, reinsurance processes and controls) industry experience. Qualified Chartered Accountant or BS/BA degree in Accounting/Finance. CPA/MBA/CSOE certification preferred. Proficient in Microsoft Excel, Visio and PowerPoint; experience in GRC Tools- Archer a plus (preferred). A forward thinking, creative individual with high ethical standards. Detailed oriented with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet timely deliverables. Comfortable operating both in a team environment and independently. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills. Strong written and oral communication skills and presence capabilities.