ICON plc India | Senior Internal Auditor

What you will do

• The role reports to the Manager/Senior Manager of Internal Audit.
• As a key member of the ICON Group Internal Audit team, you will perform internal control, financial and operational audits for ICON plc, with emphasis on global project governance and risk assurance.
• Employment with ICON is contingent upon having the legal right to work in the country where the role is based.
• Manage Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) testing and reporting requirements across ICON’s global divisions.
• Lead walkthroughs and risk assessments with process owners.
• Assess the design and operating effectiveness of internal controls.
• Perform independent assurance reviews of strategic programmes and transformation initiatives, assessing governance, risk management and the effectiveness of key controls.
• Prepare clear, evidence-based audit reports, identify the root causes of control weaknesses and agree practical, risk-based management action plans, owners and target dates.
• Identify and communicate significant risk and control issues, escalating concerns where appropriate.
• Track agreed management actions and independently validate remediation before recommending closure, escalating overdue or inadequate actions where appropriate.
• Manage competing priorities effectively and deliver assignments to agreed deadlines.
• Support the Head of Internal Audit in preparing Audit Committee reports and relevant management updates.
• Assist with the preparation of the annual internal audit plan.
• Build constructive relationships with key stakeholders, encourage engagement with Internal Audit and provide objective challenge while maintaining independence.
• Lead risk-based internal audit assignments across ICON’s global divisions, from planning and scoping through fieldwork, reporting and follow-up, with appropriate management oversight and in line with the Audit Committee-approved internal audit plan.
• Use and help enhance audit management and SOX tools to support efficient testing, documentation and reporting.
• Use data analytics to identify risk indicators, support audit testing and develop evidence-based insights.

Requirements

• Strong IT skills; experience using data analytics to support audit work is desirable.
• At least three years’ relevant internal or external audit experience, with demonstrated experience independently delivering audit assignments.
• Experience in a multinational or listed-company environment is desirable.
• Strong report-writing skills, excellent attention to detail and effective time management.
• Strong understanding of governance, risk management and internal controls, with a solid understanding of SOX testing techniques.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively as part of a global team.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including the ability to identify root causes and practical solutions.
• Strong interpersonal and presentation skills, with the ability to communicate complex audit findings clearly and influence stakeholders constructively.
• Ability to work in a professional and ethical manner at all times maintaining confidentiality.

ICON plc

ICON was founded in Ireland in 1990 by John Climax and Ronan Lambe and is headquartered in Dublin. Its shares trade on Nasdaq. The company is a contract research organisation that runs clinical trials and provides drug development services for pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device companies, and it has added regulatory consulting, staffing, late-phase and device research services through acquisitions. In India, ICON has offices in Chennai, Bengaluru and Trivandrum, and some staff work remotely from other states.

Finance postings are all in Chennai. They include internal audit, accounts receivable, accounts payable, financial analysts, a financial accountant, investigator payments (for clinical research sites) and tax. Roles are mostly at associate, analyst and senior levels, with one to four years of experience asked in most cases. The senior internal auditor role asks for ACA, ACCA, CIA or equivalent, the financial accountant role says CMA, CA or CPA is a must, the senior tax accountant role prefers CPA, ACCA or CTA, and one analyst role accepts CMA semi-qualified candidates.

• Industry: Clinical research: contract research and drug development services for pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device companies
• Headquarters: Dublin, Ireland (listed on Nasdaq as ICLR)
• In India: Offices in Chennai, Bengaluru and Trivandrum, plus remote staff across several states