Group Internal Controls Manager

The Group Internal Controls Manager, as part of a recently new created department, will be responsible for developing a robust internal controls culture and environment through formalization of key controls, policies, and procedures, and ensuring their monitoring. The position reports to the Head of Internal Controls and is part of a team of 4 internal control professionals. The position will be highly visible and impactful within the group as well as the audit and risk committee of the Board.

**Main Responsibilities**
- Own design, implementation, continuous improvement and monitoring of the Group’s internal control framework, through:

- Support and coach operating entities in implementing and adjusting defined controls in the core operations.
- Ensure process controls are adequately designed to address all identified risks while simplifying and automating controls whenever possible
- Training of control owners in operating entities.
- Conduct 2nd line of defence reviews to monitor compliance against Unilabs group policies and procedures and local regulations.
- Identify key control gaps and define mitigating solutions
- Coach, drive and support the operating entities in implementing mitigating solutions and ensure remediation actions are swiftly taken
- Develop and update policies and processes to prevent gaps occurring going forward.
- Identify key risk areas and recommend, coordinate appropriate risk treatment
- Monitor all internal and external audit issues relating to the process and propose process control solutions where relevant. Share best practices and learnings.
- Be an advisor in the controls design and implementation of multiple enterprise IT systems (e.g. MD365, Oracle, Coupa and Tagetik).
- Drive automation of controls. Partner with Finance transformation team to ensure alignment between system and process step-outs and controls.
- Reduce the overall number of SoD conflicts across systems and processes.
- Ensure critical transactions are only granted to the right users
- Be a catalyst in finding an optimal balance between maintaining a sound control environment with efficiency and pragmatism.
- Ensure transparent, reliable and agile stakeholder management
- 30% travel component, predominantly in Europe and UAE.

**Requirements**:

- University degree and preferably a professional qualification in relevant fields such as Business and Economics, Finance and Accounting, Compliance.
- Professional experience of 5 - 7 years in Big 4 audit firm or multinational with good understanding of COSO and internal control requirements.
- Be curious, solution oriented and practical when identifying gaps and risks and recommending improvements. Analytical, forensic mindset and ability to understand situations, interdependencies and challenges in a holistic way.
- Process expertise skills with focus on risk management and driving process performance and excellence. Strong continuous improvement mindset. Lean / Six Sigma Certified preferred.
- Excellent organizational and interpersonal skills, and ability to work independently
- Proactive, self-driven with process excellence mindset
- Ability to effectively prioritize and execute tasks, be flexible
- Ability to effectively communicate with a wide range of stakeholders at all levels of the organization.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English with preferably good knowledge in 1 or 2 other European languages.
- Excellence in Microsoft Office Suite (including Access). Preferably knowledge of MS D365 and Tagetik as well as interrogation / data analytics software.