Associate Director, Internal Audit, Operational Excellence & Quality

Band

Level 5

Job Description Summary

In this role, you will shape how Internal Audit quality is assessed, strengthened, and reported across Novartis — ensuring our audits consistently meet the highest professional standards. As a trusted partner to Internal Audit leadership, you will provide objective, evidence-based insight into audit conformance and quality, helping audit teams and leaders clearly understand what is working well and where targeted improvement is needed. Your work will directly support transparent reporting to senior stakeholders, including the Audit and Compliance Committee, while driving a strong quality culture grounded in risk awareness, continuous improvement, and governance excellence.

Job Description

Key Responsibilities

Execute the annual Quality Assurance and Improvement Program, delivering risk-based reviews aligned to Internal Audit methodology

Lead independent, evidence-based quality reviews across the full audit lifecycle, from planning through reporting

Identify recurring quality themes and root causes, translating findings into clear, targeted improvement actions

Track agreed quality actions with audit leaders, ensuring timely progress, effective closure, and escalation when needed

Support preparation of concise, evidence-based quality reporting for Internal Audit leadership and the Audit and Compliance Committee

Contribute to external quality assessment readiness by coordinating evidence, inputs, and follow-through on improvement actions

Provide practical feedback to strengthen audit methodology, tools, training, and ways of working across Internal Audit

Perform maturity assessments of second line functions supporting recommendations to the leadership team on potential reliance of assurance activities.

Willingness to travel for this role: 5%

Essential Requirements

University degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, Risk, or a related discipline

Strong experience in Internal Audit or a closely related field within a global organization

Proven experience performing quality reviews or Quality Assurance and Improvement Program assessments

Strong understanding of audit methodology, documentation standards, supervision, and reporting expectations

Ability to write clear, evidence-based findings and communicate them credibly to senior stakeholders

Strong judgement, stakeholder management, and written communication skills, including preparation of leadership-level materials

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.

Accessibility and accommodation

Novartis is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the recruitment process, or in order to perform the essential functions of a position, please send an e-mail to [email protected] and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Please include the job requisition number in your message.

Skills Desired

Compliance And Controls (Inactive), Critical Thinking, E2E Process View (Inactive), Employee Engagement, Financial Accounting, Financial Management Reporting, Giving And Receiving Feedback (Inactive), Interpersonal Savvy (Inactive), Problem Solving, Process Optimization