Lead Consultant - IT Quality Manager - SOx

Job Title: Lead Consultant - IT Quality Manager - SOx

Career Level - GCL - E

Introduction to role

AstraZeneca is registered on the US stock exchange, and as a result, needs to meet the Legal Requirements set out by the Sarbanes Oxley Act. The Act requires all public companies to annually assess and publicly report on the effectiveness of their Internal Control over Financial Reporting. In this role, you will report to the IT Quality Management Lead – SOx, and support AstraZeneca’s Senior Management in demonstrating that an appropriate level of internal control exists to ensure the accuracy of financial reporting and to prevent fraud. AstraZeneca’s quarterly financial results reporting activities also rely on complete and accurate data.

Accountabilities

• Work as part of the Global Testing Team to contribute to the operational delivery of the Annual IT SOx testing/financial audit through assessing the compliance of our SOx applications and services
• Lead/Support internal Design Effectiveness Reviews to ensure risks and controls are clearly identified and documented in the Control Register/OneGRC
• Drive excellence and simplification in the design of our controls ensuring adherence to standards and data principles
• Implement periodic test scripts, documenting the results, and peer review/lead audit others testing ensuring completeness and accuracy of data throughout
• Ensure testing issues are documented, communicated, remediated and monitored to ensure all control failures are fully impact assessed
• Responsible for the Lead Audit review and sign-off of reliance-based control testing
• Responsible for ensuring effective controls are designed and introduced through Project Development
• Utilise your experience and analytical skills to understand the intent of the control and to interpret the evidence before concluding if the controls are operating effectively and documented correctly
• Develop strong working relationships with Control Owners, 3rd Party Suppliers and External Auditors to support them with their day-to-day aspects of formal/informal control testing and audit readiness/activities
• Lead/Support external auditor walk-throughs of IT SOx Controls
• Provide support during audits working directly with external audit teams through agreed ways of working, collaboration tools etc.
• Accountable for identifying IT Quality, Compliance risks and issues and leading all aspects of resolution and reporting for the IT SOx systems
• Work closely with the SOx testing team, providing assistance with information gathering, scheduling, planning, tracking and performance metrics
• Collaborate with Peers/Lead Auditor/QM LT on requests for external auditor advice/mentorship
• Contribute towards team activities (e.g. Improvement initiatives, Team administration and documentation/SOPs, assisting in other areas of testing where required)
• Supports the creation and roll out of SOx training, education and awareness campaigns for IT
• Working with the broader IT Quality Management team in support of successful delivery of new SOx projects or services
• Supports the SOx Business Process owner to drive the Lean maturity activities
• Support SOx compliance by applying data principles such as FAIR (findable, accessible, interoperable and reusable) and GRAD
• Support the delivery of digital ways of working and automation to standardise and simplify key SOx testing processes
• Drive and deliver improvements in our Compliance performance through Lean and automation to continuously improve Quality Management services utilising insights and trends
• Responsible for the continuous monitoring, improvement and digitisation through applying LEAN thinking and techniques, and exploiting tools and automation
• Improve the Compliance culture by driving accountability for the completeness, accuracy and currency of SOx related data through effective monitoring, tracking and reporting
• Apply specialist knowledge to support strategic thinking and operational planning around how to manage compliance activities in the IT organisation

Essential Skills/Experience

• Deep understanding, knowledge and working experience of Sarbanes Oxley and IT General Controls
• BA, BSc in Computer or Life Sciences or equivalent, with experience in a regulatory environment
• Experience of providing SOx or equivalent support including IT General control activities (testing or control operation)
• Knowledge of industry good practice and standards such as ISO 9000, ISO 27002, CMMI, GAMP, GxP, ITIL, S404 Sarbanes-Oxley
• Experience of operating across business functions and geographies in large, complex and sometimes uncertain IT environments
• Excellent communication, influencing and relationship building skills, capable of interpreting and discussing technical IT terms with a non-technical business audience
• Ability to make pragmatic decisions by analysing complex/time critical situations and assessing risks
• Concern for impact, analytically minded and able to prioritise and plan using initiative
• High levels of drive, energy, resilience and a desire for professional excellence
• Ability to hold self and others accountable for actions
• Strong change leadership and team working skills

Desirable Skills/Experience

• Broad IT management experience including project or service management
• Familiarity with technical concepts in infrastructure or applications
• Understanding of Lean principles, tools and techniques
• Experience of contributing to implementation of a Quality and/or Compliance strategy with the ability to prioritise and understand the impact of the decisions made

When we put unexpected teams in the same room, we ignite bold thinking with the power to inspire life-changing medicines. In-person working gives us the platform we need to connect, work at pace and challenge perceptions. That's why we work, on average, a minimum of three days per week from the office. But that doesn't mean we're not flexible. We balance the expectation of being in the office while respecting individual flexibility. Join us in our unique and ambitious world.

At AstraZeneca, our work has a direct impact on patients' lives by redefining our ability to develop life-changing medicines. We empower our business to perform at its peak by combining ground breaking science with leading digital technology platforms. Join us at a crucial stage in our journey towards becoming a digital and data-led enterprise. Here you can innovate, take ownership, experiment with groundbreaking technology, and tackle challenges that have never been addressed before. Our multifaceted environment offers countless opportunities for learning and growth.

Ready to make a difference? Apply now!