Financial Controls Assurance Manager

Since Aspen was founded in 2002, we have become a leading, diversified specialty insurance and reinsurance company. We respond thoughtfully and creatively to find the best outcomes for our clients and business partners through carefully-tailored solutions.

We believe the way we work is just as important as the work we do, and we are guided by our core values of respect, honesty, trust and professionalism.

Aspen is a great place to develop your career offering an exciting and challenging environment where achievement is rewarded.

The Role

We are looking to recruit a Financial Controls Assurance Manager to join our Risk department.

You will help lead the design, scoping and implementation of Aspen’s internal controls over financial reporting (ICoFR) framework. Manages and maintain quarterly sub-certifications, annual internal control questionnaires, and control testing. Increase awareness of controls at the operational level and help business leaders improve control documentation. Our Aspen Values are expected to be reflected in the delivery and performance of every role.

Our Aspen Values are expected to be reflected in the delivery and performance of every role.

Key Accountabilities       

Strategy and Planning 

• Contributes to functional strategy development and prioritises operational deliverables and activities of team to support delivery of overall business targets
• Manages tactical plan and provides support to others to achieve positive results for the business in line with strategy
• Support the end-to-end SOX compliance, including Risk Management Process controls, IT General Controls (ITGC) and Entity Level Controls (ELC), to ensure Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) compliance
• Conduct risk assessments based on qualitative and quantitative factors to determine the annual SOX scope, including key systems
• Manage and coordinate annual controls testing plan, including control testing, key reports, automated controls and SOX report review
• Review and assess control deficiencies, develop remediation plans and determine adequacy of mitigating controls
• Report on Internal Control Questionnaire (ICQ) and control testing results
• Make recommendations for accounting policy changes
• Manage quarterly and annual SOX 302 and 404 disclosure processes

Technical Performance 

• Drive the transformation of the company’s SOX risk and control roadmap
• Ensure control effectiveness through test of design and operating effectiveness and assist business leaders with control remediation plans
• Lead process walkthrough meetings; create and maintain process flow diagrams, narratives and Risk Control Matrices (RCM)
• Prepare reporting on SOX scoping, testing status and observations for stakeholders including process owners, management, leadership and the Audit Committee Qualifications
• Assists management in identifying risks, defining control objectives and monitoring compliance efforts

Skills & Experience 

• Strong experience in implementation of business process internal controls, SOX compliance, and accounting and finance
• Experience of working in public accounting audit and assurance services (including internal audit of a publicly traded company) OR experience of working in corporate accounting with prior experience testing and/or managing internal controls over financial reporting
• Experience developing test plans, completing testing and concluding on the operating effectiveness of internal controls
• Experience flowcharting business processes, preparing risk and control matrices and writing process narratives
• CPA, CIA, CFE or equivalent preferred but not required
• Strong understanding of SOX 404 and 302, SOC 1, COSO, US GAAP and various risk assessment practices
• Strong understanding of external auditor requirements and expectations for SOX ICOFR compliance

At Aspen we know that having a diverse and inclusive workforce is good for our people, good for our business and good for the environments in which we operate.  We therefore welcome applications from people which allows us to draw on diverse cultures, perspectives, skills and experiences.