2027 Future Talent Program - Finance Leadership Development Program, Audit Specialist

Merck; New Jersey; On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Onboarding & training

Networking opportunities

Job summary

Merck is seeking candidates for its Finance Leadership Development Program (FLDP) aligned with Corporate Audit and Assurance Services. The role focuses on IT internal audits to assess internal controls, involving walkthroughs, testing ITGCs and SOX alignment, under supervision of the Audit Director and AIC.

The program lasts 24–36 months, with onboarding, broad exposure, and leadership development. Successful incumbents will develop finance acumen, audit skills, and cross-functional experience

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Business, Accounting, Finance or a related discipline.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with an auditor's skepticism.
• Willingness to travel domestically and internationally up to 30%.

Responsibilities

• Participate in the execution of IT internal audit engagements.
• Support financial or operational, integrated and process audits, both domestic and abroad.
• Work as a team member on audits with management supervision.
• Partner with colleagues and clients to complete assigned audit work.
• Execute audit programs and work papers with established quality standards and timelines.
• Maintain professionalism and independence with integrity and quality.

Skills

Auditing

SOX controls

Communication skills

Problem solving

Time management

Team collaboration

Travel up to 30%

ITGC knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS/IS/Business/Accounting/Finance

Job description

Our Finance team brings together our financial perspectives into our overall strategic and tactical decision making. We use state-of-the-art techniques for financial analysis, planning, accounting, reporting and performance evaluation. This allows the organization to continue advancing medical innovation and improve lives.

Our Company Corporate Audit and Assurance Services' (MCAAS) mission is to create confidence in a changing world. We provide value-added independent and risk-based audit, assurance and advisory services.

Position Overview:

Finance at our Company is committed to developing future leaders through its Finance Leadership Development Program (FLDP). Individuals are provided with an entry point through Corporate Audit and Assurance Services (MCAAS) to develop a breadth of experience including finance, accounting, analytics, risk management, and special project opportunities.

After 24-36 months in the Finance Leadership Development Program, individuals advance their career development through opportunities across Finance and the greater organization. The purpose of this leadership development experience is to prepare young talent for the future so that the company is empowered to innovate and fulfill its purpose of using the power of leading-edge science to save and improve lives around the world.

Position Responsibilities:

The successful incumbents will need to possess a solid mix of audit and business operations experience in a multitude of different IT environments (i.e., applications, operating systems and infrastructure). The primary role of the candidate will be to participate in the execution of IT internal audit engagements to assess the adequacy of internal controls. This includes performing walkthroughs and testing information technology general controls (ITGCs) to provide reasonable assurance that adequate application and infrastructure internal controls are both designed and operating effectively. A successful incumbent will be versed in SOX controls and in the System Development Life Cycle (SDLC) and to be able to audit to the relevant requirements.

Under the direction of the Audit Director and the Auditor-in-Charge ("AIC"), the Specialist will:

• Participate in the execution of IT internal audit engagements.
• Support financial or operational, integrated and process audits, both domestic and abroad.
• Expected to work as a team member on audits with management supervision.
• Under the direction of the AIC, partner with colleagues and clients, support groups, and other organizations to effectively complete all assigned audit work.
• Execute audit programs and work papers (including walkthroughs and sample testing) in line with the established quality standards and timelines.
• Maintain the highest standards of professionalism and independence in the execution of duties with the highest level of integrity and quality. Show good judgment in the conduct of work.

This is a full-time position starting in July 2027. Individuals in the FLDP will complete a comprehensive onboarding and training. This training will provide insights to expansive business, industry, and audit knowledge. Additionally, the training will develop overall finance and business acumen, enhance leadership skills, and offer extensive networking opportunities.

Education Minimum Requirement:

Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Business, Accounting, Finance or a related discipline.

Required Experience and Skills:

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills as well as a creative problem-solving mindset paired with an auditor's "show me" skepticism
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to interact effectively with client and business process owners as well as colleagues.
• Effective oral and written communication skills.
• Strong time management skills and the ability to work within a team as well as independently.
• Attention to detail and the ability to multi-task are essential to the position.
• Ability to travel both domestically and internationally up to 30% of the time.

Preferred Experience and Skills:

• Experience in Sarbanes-Oxley documentation, test development and test execution; working knowledge of ITGCs as they relate to Sarbanes-Oxley (S404) including SOC reports (SSAE18).
• Understanding of core IT management processes at application and infrastructure level (e.g., Logical Access, Change Management, System Development Lifecycle, Information Security, IT Ops etc.).
• Basic understanding of security and control risks in emerging technology environments (e.g. Cybersecurity, Cloud, Mobile Computing, Robotic Process Automation, etc.).

Please note that this position may be closed before the posted end date or may remain open longer, at the discretion of the company.

Required Skills:

Asset Accounting, Asset Accounting, Auditing Techniques, Audit Management, Audit Planning, Audit Processes, Audit Reporting, Audit Trails, Budgeting, Business In