INTERNAL CONTROLS SPECIALIST (EUROPE)

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Date: 18 Aug 2024

Location: Sofia, Bulgaria

Company: inchcape

Purpose of role

As an Internal Control Specialist, you will play a vital role in supporting management in the Europe markets, driving the implementation of the internal control strategy, ensuring compliance with the group's established internal controls processes and requirements. Your role will be key to embed a robust controls culture and facilitate standardization across the Europe region, with the aim of enhancing the control environment. This is a great opportunity to apply your expertise in audit, internal control, or finance.

 

You will serve as a value-adding partner to the business and management, collaborating daily with group, regional, and locally based colleagues to fortify our financial, IT, and operational control environment. Your role will involve professional guidance, functional leadership, and serving as the primary point of contact for controls related queries. Your responsibilities will also include the management and oversight of regional controls, coordination of internal control testing, liaising with internal audit for internal control testing, and ensuring control certification.

 

Experience with SAP and Blackline would be considered a distinct advantage.

Job role and responsibilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1

Ensure that Internal Controls Methodology is implemented, deployed, and adhered to across the Europe region, providing further guidance and support, and communicating effectively with colleagues in the businesses. Adjust and localize group standards within agreed parameters, develop and maintain necessary procedures and guidance documents.

 

2

Lead control certification, testing, and training efforts to ensure adherence to internal control methodology, contributing to the onboarding of new entities and the closing of open gaps.

 

3

In coordination with Group and Regional colleagues, provide risk and controls-related training as required, driving the sharing of best practice between colleagues and entities.

 

4

Design and deploy controls anchoring, support and coordinate the control standardization efforts across the Europe region, targeting incremental improvement in maturity levels and control culture.

 

5

Support regional and local management to improve their internal control environment in line with the Internal Controls Methodology guidelines and the Internal Audit recommendations.

6

Manage the implementation, maintenance, and continuous improvement of the Internal Controls tools and global portal, fostering its use as a key communication tool for the global function.

7

Foster the integration of the Internal Controls and risk management activities with other support functions such as compliance, insurance, and others.

8

Coordinate the assessment of internal control issues and monitor the related remediation activities. Provide and coordinate necessary advice and insight on regional and local adjustments and mitigations.

9

Ensure effective governance through the Regional Risk Management Forums, facilitating risk identification and assessment discussions with the regional and local Leadership Team.

10

Support process owners/control owners in any control-related matters.

11

Coordinate and monitor the delivery of the Control Self-Assessment process, providing relevant training.

12

Address ad-hoc requests and information requirements related to internal controls, tools, methods, and processes.

13

Undertake other duties as assigned.

skills and Experience required:

1

More than 7 years of relevant experience, with a background in audit, internal control, or finance. SAP and Blackline expertise will be a plus.

2

Comprehensive understanding of internal controls management, rationalization, process management, risk assessment, issue management, internal audit, and compliance best practices.

3

Experience with various compliance frameworks (e.g., SOX, COBIT, ITIL) and COSO principles as well as a regulated environment.

4

Fluency in English is essential.

5

Proven track record of guiding and influencing stakeholders through all levels of seniority in the organization to drive a culture of control improvement.

6

Strong communication and influencing skills at all levels.

7

Demonstrated ability to effectively manage and prioritize multiple or competing projects.

8

Proactive mindset and hands-on approach in creating clear strategies and delivering practical actions, with minimal guidance.

style and culture fit

The Senior Internal Controls Specialist will have a pivotal role in the implementation, deployment and anchoring of the comprehensive internal control framework agenda supporting Regional Internal Controls team in all the internal controls activities:

  •   They will invest time developing a deep knowledge and understanding of the business and its commercial drivers, being fully committed to delivering the best business outcomes; practical, pragmatic and ‘down to earth’ in their approach.
  •   They will work collaboratively at all times, actively seeking and responding to business input; engaging all key stakeholders; acting as an enabler/facilitator/coach to establish strong capability and clear accountability for employee development and talent management within line management.
  •   Experience in and a genuine passion for internal controls and risk assessment continuous improvement and efficiencies by maintaining proper checks and balances in place. They will ‘think out of the box’ - continually keeping themselves aware of latest trends in the corporate governance matters to influence the creation and delivery of ‘leading edge solutions’ that energise and engage the business with their agenda.
  •   Flexible and adaptable; the individual will thrive in a changing environment, readily deal with ambiguity, cope with setbacks and always seek solutions (rather than problems).
  •   The individual will demonstrate a genuine interest in others; adapting their style to ‘get the best outcome’ from every situation/interaction, being aware, sensitive and respectful to different cultural needs.
  •   A confident and articulate communicator with personal presence and gravitas, the individual will effectively influence, engage and challenge to gain understanding and commitment for their agenda.