Regional Internal Audit Director Asia-Pac (Commercial)

Salary: Competitive, Location: Shanghai, China

You’ve worked in a senior-level audit, forensic or compliance role, probably in a Big Four accounting firm or another large global organisation. You have pharma sector experience, with insights gained within China and across several geographies and functional areas. And your commercial flair means you could make an exceptional Regional Internal Audit Director Asia-Pac (Commercial) with AstraZeneca, a world-leading pharmaceutical company, in Shanghai.

Internal Audit Service (IAS) provides independent assurance that we’re achieving our objectives effectively and in the right way.  Our remit is to provide assurance over compliance, operational and strategic risks and ensure they are being managed effectively. 

Reporting to the Head of Audit (Commercial), you’ll have real scope to make an impact as our aim is to be a top-performing IAS function.  

Main duties and responsibilities

You’ll take prime responsibility for end to end planning, management and delivery of a portfolio of complex commercial audits in Asia-Pac, with a particular focus on China. You’ll work closely with both external co-sourced partners and internal teams.  We’ll look to you to build and maintain strong regional and in-country senior stakeholder relationships to:

• Understand commercial activity and hold an up to date view of internal and external risk
• Accumulate business knowledge and expertise to help inform IAS view of risk and develop a variety of assurance strategies
• Work with individual Heads of Audit and the Senior Management Team to generate the annual IAS Audit Plan, and revisit in the context of changing risk profile and assurance needs

You’ll demonstrate flexibility, confidence and judgement around risks and controls, and use this to inform audit conclusions and identify business value. You’ll combine business understanding, strategic insights and audit experience when sharing themes with the business on the challenges and risks that come from commercialising our portfolio. Another key focus will be to provide oversight, coaching and feedback to internal and external co-sourced provider teams to support their development and drive performance. In everything you’ll do, you’ll look to drive continuous improvement.

Essential requirements

• Previous experience of auditing regulatory compliance frameworks within the pharma sector in China, including areas such as bribery and corruption, fraud and off-label marketing. Familiarity with data privacy requirements would also be desirable.  
• Ability to work collaboratively to build successful relationships and networks with key internal stakeholders, typically to VP and Country President level
• An excellent communicator with strong influencing, negotiating and ambassadorial skills
• Totally reliable with an ability to analyse complex issues from a range of perspectives, including use of data analytics, and form considered judgements around the actions to be taken 
• High level of personal integrity, independence, tenacity and resilience
• Ability to manage and motivate multi-disciplinary teams across different locations within China and Asia-Pac simultaneously, including working effectively with international external co-sourced provider teams
• Ability to travel both domestically and internationally (up to 30% of working days) to lead commercial audits and conduct effective stakeholder management
• Strong project management skills to co-ordinate, oversee and monitor progress on a complex portfolio of audits  
• A relevant degree or postgraduate professional qualification (e.g. CI CPA)
• Fluent in Mandarin. Excellent business English, including both written and verbal communication. Fluency in another relevant language would be desirable.

Applications open: 4th November 2019

Applications close: 17th November 2019

Apply here

Date Posted

Closing Date

AstraZeneca embraces diversity and equality of opportunity.  We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse team representing all backgrounds, with as wide a range of perspectives as possible, and harnessing industry-leading skills.  We believe that the more inclusive we are, the better our work will be.  We welcome and consider applications to join our team from all qualified candidates, regardless of their characteristics.  We comply with all applicable laws and regulations on non-discrimination in employment (and recruitment), as well as work authorization and employment eligibility verification requirements.