Director- SOX Reporting
Growth Equity Interview Guide
Position Overview
ABOUT APOLLO
Apollo is a high-growth, global alternative asset manager. In our asset management business, we seek to provide our clients excess return at every point along the risk-reward spectrum from investment grade to private equity with a focus on three investing strategies: yield, hybrid, and equity. For more than three decades, our investing expertise across our fully integrated platform has served the financial return needs of our clients and provided businesses with innovative capital solutions for growth. Through Athene, our retirement services business, we specialize in helping clients achieve financial security by providing a suite of retirement savings products and acting as a solutions provider to institutions. Our patient, creative, and knowledgeable approach to investing aligns our clients, businesses we invest in, our employees, and the communities we impact, to expand opportunity and achieve positive outcomes.
OUR PURPOSE AND CORE VALUES
Our clients rely on our investment acumen to help secure their future. We must never lose our focus and determination to be the best investors and most trusted partners on their behalf. We strive to be:
The leading provider of retirement income solutions to institutions, companies, and individuals.
The leading provider of capital solutions to companies. Our breadth and scale enable us to deliver capital for even the largest projects – and our small firm mindset ensures we will be a thoughtful and dedicated partner to these organizations. We are committed to helping them build stronger businesses.
A leading contributor to addressing some of the biggest issues facing the world today – such as energy transition, accelerating the adoption of new technologies, and social impact – where innovative approaches to investing can make a positive difference.
We are building a unique firm of extraordinary colleagues who:
Outperform expectations
Challenge Convention
Champion Opportunity
Lead responsibly
Drive collaboration
As One Apollo team, we believe that doing great work and having fun go hand in hand, and we are proud of what we can achieve together.
OUR BENEFITS
Apollo relies on its people to keep it a leader in alternative investment management, and the firm’s benefit programs are crafted to offer meaningful coverage for both you and your family. Please reach out to your Human Capital Business Partner for more detailed information on specific benefits.
Team Overview
Apollo SOX team have a unique opportunity to transform their SOX program to meet the needs of Apollo’s ever-changing business, while also becoming a trusted advisor to Business Stakeholders. With strong governance, SOX team will drive results and create a scalable, leading practice function.
Through the SOX delivery model (comprising of dedicated portfolio teams each with a Senior Lead - Director, Team Lead – Associate Director level and testers – Associates and Analysts), it will stabilize and scale the SOX program with a focus on urgent outcomes such as, efficient and effective practices, strong stakeholder alignment and an inclusive and collaborative team culture.
The Analyst and Associate will be dedicated to a specific team to promote growth in the end-to-end understanding and developing expertise. Together with the Team Lead, they execute testing and other planned activities.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:
Your responsibilities will include:
Stakeholder Focused:
Become a trusted advisor and go-to controls person for the business.
Partnering with process owners to understand processes, risks, and controls.
One Team / One Voice:
Be a key leader influencing team culture and engagement
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 launching new control.
Prepare a tracker for testing of the respective control for 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 period being tested.
Continuously monitor process changes and maintain new control attestations when required.
SOX Testing:
Send data requests to process owners and track receipt of IPE, following up where necessary.
Coordinate with Senior Lead and Other Portfolio 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 audit methodology and standards to all assigned audits.
Review testers' workpapers and SOX repository details for their respective controls prior to submitting to External Auditor and concur with testers' conclusion on control testing and/or remediation testing.
Review External Auditors’ comments and communicate/discuss responses with the External Auditor.
Monitor sampling reset for new control attestation and/or deficiency testing.
SOX Reporting:
Report control assessment status and follow up on IPE with the Process Owner (PO).
Escalate bottlenecks where necessary to the Portfolio Senior Lead.
Meeting all testing deadlines.
SOX Deficiencies:
Review and evaluate potential deficiencies (Management, SOX, External Audit, Enterprise Relationship Management, Internal Audit) with testers and PO once identified.
Engage and report issues to Portfolio Senior Lead and SOX Office in a timely manner to assist in evaluation.
Obtaining the completed AGM finding evaluation template from PO.
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
To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies to perform the essential functions of this position:
A minimum of 15 years’ experience in Controls and Sarbanes Oxley 404, COSO, Information Produced by Entity.
Previous experience in Big 4 or Investment management industry in Asset Management engagements (i.e., Private Equity, Funds and Valuation engagements), insurance industry experience would be a plus.
Qualified Chartered Accountant or BS/BA degree in Accounting/Finance.
CPA/MBA/CSOE certification preferred.
Strong people and stakeholder management skills with a collaborative approach and ability to influence.
A proactive approach to business, with the ability to make a quick response to issues.
Solid project management and planning capabilities, ability to drive and guide the transformation agenda.
Proven experience in leading and delivering complex global initiatives.
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.
Ability to develop strong relationships and effectively communicate and influence at all levels.
Apollo provides equal employment opportunities regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marital or civil partner status, pregnancy or maternity, race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, veteran status, gender/sex or sexual orientation, or any other criterion or circumstance protected by applicable law, ordinance, or regulation. The above criteria are intended to be used as a guide only – candidates who do not meet all the above criteria may still be considered if they are deemed to have relevant experience/ equivalent levels of skill or knowledge to fulfil the requirements of the role. Any job offer will be conditional upon and subject to satisfactory reference and background screening checks, all necessary corporate and regulatory approvals or certifications as required from time to time, and entering into definitive contractual documentation satisfactory to Apollo.