Head IT Application Controls

Job Description Summary

-To support the business within a country with complex analysis, reporting, forecasts etc. (typically very large to large revenue) and provide expert advice within a core FSC process/ area/ technology

Job Description

About the role: Novartis being a public company and SEC registrant has established SOX internal control system in order to provide reasonable assurance to the Group’s management and Board of Directors regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of its financial statements.

The Senior Manager ERP Assurance leads a global team of IT assurance experts who play a critical role in designing and assessing efficiency of IT Application Controls across the company’s IT landscape. This is a key role exposed to senior stakeholders at all levels, both internal and external.

Key responsibilities:

• Co-design, improve and drive the efficiency and effectiveness of Novartis IT controls landscape. Play a key role as an experienced ERP assurance professional and advisor.
• Collaborate with Corporate Financial Controls and Compliance Team and focus on reviewing critical IT Application Controls relevant to financial reporting
• Provide assurance in the areas of ERP systems (e.g. SAP, others)
• Identify process and IT controls improvement opportunities and drive implementation
• Test IT application controls – Reports, Interfaces, Fully Automated Controls etc., ensuring SOX compliance and reliability
• Driving the processes risk assessment with consideration of risks coming from IT environment, relevant application systems, data warehouses, IT infrastructure
• Collaborating with IT Application Owners and Business Process Owners in helping to identify SOX relevant IT Applications and Infrastructures
• Evaluate adequacy of internal controls when implementing a new ERP system or any other technology solutions
• Advise on internal controls' structure by understanding the end-to-end processes, IT environment and data context to resolve the right mix of preventative and detective controls based on automation and data analytics
• Lead a team of 9 IT assurance experts across multiple locations
• Collaborate with External Auditors as well as key internal stakeholders at all levels.

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Essential Requirements:

• University degree (university or college) in economics, business informatics or computer science with a track record in IT Audit or Internal Controls in any of Big 4 preferably; overall 10+ years of relevant experience
• • Extensive experience in auditing ERP systems with a focus on application controls (ideally SAP systems), IT environments and (automated) business process controls
• Experienced in managing IT assurance or audit engagement and teams, including solid understanding of external audit approaches, concepts, methodology
• Ability to lead a team of experts across multiple locations and time zones
• Solid skills to handle various senior stakeholders; Strong collaborator with the ability to communicate well with both technical and business contacts
• Entrepreneurial and structured mind-set as well as a result and solution oriented approach to work
• Exceptional communication, presentation, and business writing skills in English

Desirable Requirements:

• Pharma industry and shared services experience is a plus
• Critical Thinking.
• Process Optimization.

Why Novartis: Our purpose is to reimagine medicine to improve and extend people’s lives and our vision is to become the most valued and trusted medicines company in the world. How can we achieve this? With our people. It is our associates that drive us each day to reach our ambitions. Be a part of this mission and join us! Learn more here: https://www.novartis.com/about/strategy/people-and-culture

You’ll receive: You can find everything you need to know about our benefits and rewards in the Novartis Life Handbook. https://www.novartis.com/careers/benefits-rewards

Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion:

Novartis is committed to building an outstanding, inclusive work environment and diverse teams' representative of the patients and communities we serve.

Join our Novartis Network: If this role is not suitable to your experience or career goals but you wish to stay connected to hear more about Novartis and our career opportunities, join the Novartis Network here :

Skills Desired