Vice President, Internal Audit

Vice President, Internal Audit

Sumitomo Pharma America (SMPA) is focused on delivering therapeutic and scientific breakthroughs in areas of critical patient need spanning psychiatry & neurology, oncology, urology, women’s health, rare disease, and cell & gene therapies. The company’s diverse portfolio includes several marketed products and a robust pipeline of early- to late-stage assets. Building on Sumitomo Pharma’s 125-year legacy of innovation, SMPA leverages proprietary in-house technology platforms and advanced analytics capabilities to accelerate discovery, development, and help bring novel therapies to patients sooner. SMPA is a Sumitomo Pharma company. [For more information, visit Sumitomo-pharma.com]

Job Overview

We are currently seeking a dynamic, highly motivated, and experienced individual for the position of Vice President, Internal Audit. Vice President, Internal Audit will report to our General Counsel and oversee all aspects of the company's internal audit function, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements, and providing assurance and advisory services to management and the Audit Committee.  This position has a critical impact on assuring and maintaining Company compliance with multiple federal, state and industry regulations. 

Job Duties and Responsibilities

• Manage and direct the internal audit program, including planning, execution, and reporting of audits.
• Ensure adherence to relevant regulations, standards, and internal policies.
• Advise on risk management methodology and monitoring practices for identifying and assessing risks.
• Continually apply risk based thinking when executing job responsibilities
• Evaluate the effectiveness of internal controls, governance processes, and the control environment as it relates to the internal controls over financial reporting from a financial, systems, and compliance perspective.
• Utilize and maintain a risk-based approach in evaluation of controls, recommending control enhancements, and deficiency mitigation activities
• Regularly report audit findings, recommendations, and management's corrective actions to the audit committee and senior management as applicable.
• Opine on actions taken by management to take and implement corrective action as well as perform appropriate testing to verify actions taken are operating effectively.
• Have ability to evaluate and assess controls from a local and global perspective to assist parent company in defining strong internal control environment and internal audit activities
• Maintain strong communication with all levels of the organization, including senior management and the audit committee.
• Develop and nurture strong relationships with parent company especially Internal Audit Function.
• Remain independent in execution of job responsibilities and defining opinion regarding the effectiveness of internal controls and procedures
• Work effectively with external partners such as the company’s external audit firm.
• Lead and develop the internal audit team, fostering a culture of integrity and accountability, curiosity in seeking to understand, partnership with business, and strong business acumen that enables appropriate risk and control perspective.
• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality in execution of fraud and/or control related investigations
• Support ongoing development of key audit talent to facilitate and succession planning
• Stay abreast of industry trends, best practices, and relevant regulations.

Key Core Competencies

• Deep subject matter expertise and knowledge of auditing standards (e.g., IIA standards), risk management, general IT Controls, and compliance.
• Strong leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to analyze complex situations, identify risks, and develop effective solutions. Applying appropriate business understanding and perspective as well as risk lens.
• Strong analytical and investigative skills to conduct audits and identify potential issues and assessment of root cause and related analysis.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills to effectively convey audit findings and recommendations. Ability to provide strong business rationale for control requirements, risk mitigation, and deficiency assessments.
• Flexible and able to work in a fast paced, high production environment and be able to interact with all levels of personnel within the organization.
• Well organized, discreet, very detail oriented, able to follow complex directions and capable of working on many issues simultaneously.
• High degree of organizational awareness, ability to connect the dots to understand all the interdependency and big picture
• Demonstrated coaching skill to develop team

Education and Experience

• Undergraduate degree in Finance or Accounting or related discipline.
• Minimum 25+ years (w/o Master’s) or 20+ (with Masters) of relevant experience in biotech or pharmaceutical industry
• Deep understanding and subject matter expertise of financial reporting requirements such as GAAP and IFRS
• Extensive experience in auditing, risk management, and compliance.
• Professional certifications such as CIA, CPA, or CISA are required.
• An understanding of J-SOX or other similar public company controls and reporting requirements is preferred

The base salary range for this role is $293,000 to $366,300.  Base salary is part of our total rewards package which also includes the opportunity for merit-based salary increases, short incentive plan participation, eligibility for our 401(k) plan, medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurances and leaves provided in line with your work state.  Our robust time-off policy includes unlimited paid time off, 11 paid holidays plus additional time off for a shut-down period during the last week of December, 80 hours of paid sick time upon hire and each year thereafter.  Total compensation, including base salary to be offered, will depend on elements unique to each candidate, including candidate experience, skills, education and other factors

Disclaimer: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. All personnel may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time, as needed.

Disclaimer: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. All personnel may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time, as needed.

Confidential Data: All information (written, verbal, electronic, etc.) that an employee encounters is considered confidential.

Compliance: Achieve and maintain Compliance with all applicable regulatory, legal and operational rules and procedures, by ensuring that all plans and activities for and on behalf of Sumitomo Pharma America (SMPA) and affiliates are carried out with the "best" industry practices and the highest ethical standards.

Mental/Physical Requirements: Fast paced environment handling multiple demands. Must be able to exercise appropriate judgment as necessary. Requires a high level of initiative and independence. Excellent written and oral communication skills required. Requires ability to use a personal computer for extended periods of time.

Sumitomo Pharma America (SMPA) is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race; color; creed; religion; national origin; age; ancestry; nationality; marital, domestic partnership or civil union status; sex, gender; affectional or sexual orientation; disability; veteran or military status or liability for military status; domestic violence victim status; atypical cellular or blood trait; genetic information (including the refusal to submit to genetic testing) or any other characteristic protected by law.