Associate Manager, Internal Controls

uniQure; Amsterdam; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

uniQure is seeking an Associate Manager, Internal Controls to lead the company’s SOX compliance program in a dual US GAAP/IFRS environment. You will design, test, and monitor ICFR across SAP S/4HANA and related systems, coordinating with external auditors and process owners globally.

You will drive SOX governance, control remediation, and automation opportunities using AuditBoard/Optro, while partnering with Accounting Operations, Financial Reporting, IT, and business units to embed strong

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field; CPA or CIA required; CISA a plus.
• 5+ years of relevant experience, including at least 2 years in Big 4 public accounting with SOX 404(b).
• Strong knowledge of SOX, COSO, and ICFR testing methodologies.
• Experience with ERP systems (SAP S/4HANA preferred) and ITGC/SoD concepts; AuditBoard experience valued.
• Excellent project management and cross-functional communication across international teams.

Responsibilities

• Own and manage the annual SOX compliance calendar, risk assessment, controls walkthroughs, and testing.
• Lead design and operating effectiveness testing of key controls and remediation tracking.
• Partner with IT and Finance on SAP/SAP S/4HANA controls and change management.
• Drive Optro/AuditBoard adoption for SOX/controls management and evidence collection.
• Coordinate with external auditors and prepare materials for Audit Committee reporting.
• Monitor regulatory changes and drive process improvements in the SOX program.

Skills

SOX Compliance

ICFR testing

COSO framework

AuditBoard

Communication

Project management

Cross-functional

Education

Bachelor’s in Accounting/Finance

CPA

CIA

Tools

AuditBoard

SAP S/4HANA

Job description

Place in the Organization

At uniQure, we are delivering on the promise of gene therapy and delivering hope for patients facing urgent unmet medical needs. Every role in our organization carries profound purpose; whether you're in research, operations, access, or support, your contributions impact patients. We're seeking passionate professionals who thrive in high-stakes environments, uphold rigorous quality standards, and share our relentless commitment to transforming the lives of patients. Join us in making the impossible possible, where your expertise becomes a catalyst for life-changing treatments.

Place in the Organization

At uniQure, we are delivering on the promise of gene therapy and delivering hope for patients facing urgent unmet medical needs. Every role in our organization carries profound purpose; whether you're in research, operations, access, or support, your contributions impact patients. We're seeking passionate professionals who thrive in high-stakes environments, uphold rigorous quality standards, and share our relentless commitment to transforming the lives of patients. Join us in making the impossible possible, where your expertise becomes a catalyst for life-changing treatments.

Position Overview

The Associate Manager, Internal Controls is a key member of the Technical Accounting and Internal Control function, reporting to the Director, Technical Accounting and Internal Control. The role is responsible for managing and executing the company’s Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) compliance program. This role will design, test, and monitor internal controls over financial reporting (ICFR), coordinate with external auditors, and drive maturation of the control environment across a growing, multi-entity, multi-system organization (including SAP S/4HANA Public Cloud and Optro/AuditBoard). The role operates in a dual US GAAP/IFRS reporting environment subject to SEC reporting and SOX 404(b) requirements.

Key Result Areas (major Duties, Accountabilities And Responsibilities

SOX Program Management

• Own and manage the annual SOX compliance calendar, including scoping, risk assessment, control walkthroughs, and testing.
• Maintain and continuously improve the SOX risk and control matrix (RCM) across financial reporting, IT general controls (ITGC), and business process controls.
• Coordinate quarterly and annual control certifications with process and control owners.

Control Design & Testing

• Lead design and operating effectiveness testing of key controls, including entity-level controls, process-level controls, and ITGCs.
• Identify control gaps and deficiencies; partner with process owners to develop and track remediation plans.
• Evaluate the severity of control deficiencies and support management's assessment of ICFR effectiveness.

SAP & Systems Controls

• Partner with IT and Finance teams on change management, access controls, segregation of duties (SoD), and automated/application controls within SAP S/4HANA Public Cloud and related systems.
• Lead control design and risk assessment for new system implementations, upgrades, and process changes, including pre- and post-go-live control validation.

SOX Technology & Tools

• Drive improvement and increased adoption of Optro (AuditBoard) as the company's SOX/controls management platform, including workflow optimization, control owner training, and expanding usage across process and control owners.
• Partner with process owners and IT to streamline control documentation, testing, and evidence collection within Optro (AuditBoard).
• Identify opportunities to automate manual testing procedures and reporting through the platform, reducing cycle time and improving audit-readiness.

Stakeholder & Audit Coordination

• Serve as a key liaison with external auditors on SOX-related matters, including PBC requests, testing walkthroughs, and issue resolution.
• Partner cross-functionally with Accounting Operations, Financial Reporting, IT, and business process owners to embed a strong controls culture.
• Prepare materials and updates for management and Audit Committee reporting as needed.

Continuous Improvement

• Monitor changes in regulatory requirements (SEC, PCAOB, COSO framework) and assess impact on the SOX program.
• Drive process and control efficiencies, including automation of controls and testing procedures where possible.
• Support broader internal control initiatives, including policy development and training.

Required

Qualifications & Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field; CPA or CIA required; CISA a plus.
• 5+ years of relevant experience, including at least 2 years of Big 4 public accounting experience (external audit with SOX 404(b) engagements).
• Strong working knowledge of SOX requirements, COSO framework, and ICFR testing methodologies.
• Experience with ERP systems (SAP S/4HANA preferred) and ITGC/SoD concepts; hands-on experience with AuditBoard or similar SOX/GRC.
• Excellent project management skills with the ability to manage multiple workstreams and deadlines.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to work effectively with cross-functional and international teams.
• Experience working in a multinational, SEC-registered, or dual-listed (US/EU) company is strongly preferred.
• Life sciences, biotech, or pharmaceutical industry, preferably including pre-commercial or commercialization-stage operations is beneficial.
• Working knowledge of US GAAP and IFRS reporting environments (this role operates in both frameworks simultaneously).
• Experience leading or co-leading internal controls through company growth phases (e.g., first commercial launch, M&A integration, ERP go-live).

uniQure is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran or military status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws. If you need assistance or a reasonable accommodation during the application process, please contact [e-mail].

uniQure posts all open positions exclusively on our official Careers page and LinkedIn. We do not recruit through any other job boards, third‑party websites, or unsolicited outreach via text or messaging apps. All legitimate communication from uniQure’s Talent Acquisition team will come from an @uniqure.com email address. We will never request financial information nor payment of any kind during the application process. If you receive suspicious outreach claiming to be from uniQure, do not respond or share personal information. Inquiries can be made via [e-mail].

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