(Senior) Internal Auditor Operational Audits

Merck Group; Darmstadt; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Merck Group is seeking a seasoned Internal Audit professional to join our global team in Darmstadt. You will lead and participate in audits across subsidiaries and processes, applying data analytics to drive value and improve controls.

The role requires seven+ years in audit, university degree in business/finance, and certifications (CPA/CIA/CFE). Travel about 20% and strong cross-cultural collaboration are expected.

Qualifications

• University degree in Business, Finance, or equivalent and audit-specific qualifications (CPA, CIA, or CFE) required.
• Seven+ years of professional audit experience in an internationally operating company or Big 4.
• Experience leading complex audits per IIA Standards; pharma/life sciences/electronics sector preferred.
• Strong capabilities in Finance, Order-to-Cash, Source-to-Pay, Governance and Healthcare Compliance.
• Extensive use of data analytics and ERP data for audits; familiarity with Power BI/Tableau/Qlik.

Responsibilities

• Lead, coordinate, and participate in internal audits across subsidiaries, processes, projects, and special audits globally.
• Perform data analytics during fieldwork and document audit procedures and results.
• Prepare standardized audit reports and present findings to senior management with recommendations.
• Contribute to advancing audit techniques and methodologies through data analytics and digital tools.
• Support internal control topics and group-level improvements through analytics and cross-functional collaboration.

Skills

Audit leadership

Data analytics

Project management

Intercultural communication

Stakeholder management

English fluency

Education

University degree in Business/Finance

CPA/CIA/CFE certifications

Tools

Power BI

Tableau

Qlik

Job description

Work Your Magic with us!

Ready to explore, break barriers, and discover more? We know you’ve got big plans – so do we! Our colleagues across the globe love innovating with science and technology to enrich people’s lives with our solutions in Healthcare, Life Science, and Electronics. Together, we dream big and are passionate about caring for our rich mix of people, customers, patients, and planet. That's why we are always looking for curious minds that see themselves imagining the unimaginable with us.

Your Role

We're seeking highly motivated individuals to join our dynamic, diverse, and very engaged internal audit team! We offer a high-profile internal audit function, with good visibility on all management levels and a track record for developing employees into senior roles in the organization. In this role, you will have dual responsibilities that include classic operational audit activities as well as leveraging our audit analytics initiatives.

For the operational audits, you lead, coordinate, and participate in the organization and execution of internal audits of different types (subsidiary, processes, or project reviews as well as special audits) within our company globally. Responsibilities include scoping, fieldwork, coordination, communication with senior management and action planning, as well as supervise and review the work of other Internal Audit team members. You perform data analytics during fieldwork in your respective audit area, prepare meaningful, standardized audit reports documenting audit procedures and results and present audit results to senior management including recommendations.

To further leverage data analytics in our audit landscape, you will strongly contribute to changes of audit techniques and methodology through data analytics and create value using data, digital tools, platforms, technologies, services, and processes. This role includes significantly contributing to internal control topics and continuous improvement on a group level through data analytics as well as to the audit analytics strategic roadmap.

Who You Are

• University degree in Business, Finance, or equivalent and audit-specific qualifications (for e.g., CPA, CIA, or CFE certification) required. Relevant professional experience (minimum seven years in audit) in an internationally operating company or in a Big 4 accounting firm is required.
• Multiple years of experience in leading complex audits in accordance with the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) Standards. Industry experience in the Pharma, Biotech, Life Science or Electronics sector is preferred.
• Strong audit experience in the areas of Finance, Order-to-Cash, Source-to-Pay, Business Governance, Healthcare Compliance (Marketing & Medical activities), etc. as well as ability to independently scope and conduct audits of complex global processes is required.
• Experience in managing strategic internal projects related to continuous improvement of internal audit quality and execution.
• Extensive experience in using data analytics through projects or assignments and familiarity with handling ERP system data and data analytics tools (for e.g., Microsoft Power BI, Tableau, Qlik, etc.).
• Ability to be agile, open-minded and to manage audits and stakeholders of different cultures (good intercultural and communication skills), to work in a matrix organization together with a desire to develop your leadership skills; good project management and organizational skills with the ability to handle multiple responsibilities at the same time.
• Business-level fluency in English; additional language skills are an advantage.
• Willingness to travel globally (approx. 20% travel time).

What we offer:

We are curious minds that come from a broad range of backgrounds, perspectives, and life experiences. We believe that this variety drives excellence and innovation, strengthening our ability to lead in science and technology. We are committed to creating access and opportunities for all to develop and grow at your own pace. Join us in building a culture of inclusion and belonging that impacts millions and empowers everyone to work their magic and champion human progress!