Internal Control Lead Manufacturing & Supply

Internal Control Lead M&S - Sanofi/Opella - Budapest - Hybrid

The Internal Control Lead M&S is a key member of the Opella EULA and M&S Internal Control team. This role is responsible for creating and maintaining a robust control environment that supports our industrial sites across Hungary, Poland, Italy, and Germany, as well as external manufacturing platforms. Acting as the primary point of contact for site heads, the Internal Control Lead ensures the reliability of financial information, asset security, compliance with guidelines, and the efficiency of business processes.

Leveraging experience in complex environments and cross-functional collaboration, the Internal Control Lead develops an effective internal control program by:

• conducting risk assessments,
• identifying control deficiencies and recommending improvements,
• developing action plans and monitoring their implementation,
• reporting progress and any inconsistencies with Opella standards to local management.

In addition, the Internal Control Lead supports the Head of Internal Control for EULA and M&S by consolidating the regional dashboard, gathering and analyzing key performance metrics, and ensuring timely, accurate reporting. This collaboration with cross-functional teams provides insights and drives ad-hoc studies to improve internal controls and business processes.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Maintaining a Strong Control Environment

Internal Control Framework

• Support process owners and departments in implementing the Opella Internal Control Framework,
• Supervise the annual Control Self-Assessment process performed by control owners,
• Collaborate with Local Management to define and implement remediation plans when deficiencies are identified.

On-site walkthroughs

On-site reviews are the cornerstone of this role, serving as the primary method for ensuring that internal controls are properly implemented and maintained at our industrial sites. This process involves:

• Collaborate with site management to develop a detailed risk assessment and prepare a review schedule that aligns with operational cycles and prioritizing high-risk areas.
• Conduct comprehensive walkthroughs, evaluate the application of internal controls, and verify adherence to established policies and procedures. This includes engaging with key personnel through interviews and observing live processes.
• Assess both the design and operational effectiveness of controls. Identify any discrepancies, vulnerabilities, or non-compliance issues that could impact the control environment.
• Record detailed findings during each review and provide immediate feedback to site management.
• Work closely with local teams to develop actionable remediation plans for any deficiencies discovered during the review. Monitor the implementation of these plans to ensure that corrective actions are completed promptly and effectively, reinforcing continuous improvement.
• Leverage insights gained from on-site reviews to refine the internal control framework.
• Plan for a 10% travel through the year to cover the yearly on-site test plan

Procedures and policies

• Assist in formalizing local procedures to ensure alignment with Group policies, standards, and guidelines. Ensure these documents are regularly updated, properly approved, and effectively communicated.
• Ensure policies, standards and guidelines issued by Corporate / Region are locally communicated.

Trainings

• Provide training on internal control topics to new employees and conduct targeted sessions when specific needs arise.
• Work with departments to train employees on relevant policies and procedures.
• Train other Internal Control Leads engaged in similar activities at different industrial sites.

Other control activities

• Collaborate with process owners to define and enforce effective segregation of duties rules.
• Conduct annual reviews of segregation of duties conflicts and assess mitigating controls.
• Contribute to initiatives aimed at strengthening internal controls and ensure that control considerations are integrated into all new projects.

Monitoring and relationship with auditors

• Act as a key point of contact for the Internal Audit before, during and after internal audit reviews,
• Ensure a timely and detailed follow-up of the implementation of internal audit recommendations,
• Support activities conducted by external auditors related to internal control and facilitate exchange of information between the affiliate and external auditors,
• Follow up internal control weaknesses highlighted by external auditors, ensure adequate action plans have been defined, follow up implementation and report progress.

REQUIREMENTS

Required skills and qualifications

Educational Background

• Bachelor’s degree in economics, finance, business administration, or related field.
• Master’s degree in economics, finance, business administration, or related field is highly desirable.

Major skills and competencies

• Excellent grasp of processes, risks, and controls,
• Strong financial and analytical skills,
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects, work effectively with cross-functional partners and drive process improvement initiatives across an organization,
• Strong inter-cultural skills and eagerness to work in a very international setting,
• Solid listening and communication skills,
• Excellent organizational and analytical skills as well as communication skills to build commitment create adherence and report to management.
• Ability to handle and simplify complex matters and propose innovative solutions.
• Ability to challenge the status quo and identify more proficient and secure ways of doing things.
• Ability to influence system designs based on understanding of functionality and different stakeholder needs, while ensuring compliance with internal control requirements
• Fluent written and spoken English.

Experience

• Relevant experience in external and/or internal audit,
• Demonstrated ability to define and implement a risk assessment and monitoring program,
• ‘Big 4’ auditing experience will be considered,
• Pharmaceutical industry experience is a plus,
• Knowledge of internal control principles.
• Extensive travel to industrial sites.

Language Proficiency

• Fluency in English (both written and spoken) is mandatory.
• Fluency in French,Hungarian, Italian, Polish or German is a strong advantage, particularly for interactions across Europe.

Opella, the Consumer Healthcare business unit of Sanofi, is the purest and third-largest player globally in the Over-The-Counter (OTC) & Vitamins, Minerals & Supplements (VMS) market.  

We have an unshakable belief in the power of self-care and the role it can play in creating a healthier society and a healthier planet.

That’s why we want to make self-care as simple as it should be by being consumer-led always, with science at our core. 

Through our unique and balanced portfolio of more than 100 loved brands, including 15 global and local high-growth challengers such as Allegra, Dulcolax and Buscopan, we deliver our mission: helping more than half a billion consumers worldwide take their health in their hands.  

This mission is brought to life by an 11,000-strong team, 13 best-in-class manufacturing sites, and 4 specialized science and innovation development centers. 

We are also proud to be the first major fast-moving consumer healthcare company to achieve B Corp certification. 

Join us on our mission. Health. In your hands.

When joining our team, you will experience:

• An international work environment, in which you can develop your talent and realize ideas and innovations within a competent team
• An attractive, market-oriented salary and cafeteria benefits
• Flexible home office policy, with a possibility to work up to 60% of time from home / where you can easily schedule your office days
• Collective life and accident insurance
• Yearly medical check-up
• An individual and well-structured introduction and training of new employees and we will dedicate a Buddy for you to better navigate in your first weeks
• Your own career path within Sanofi. Your professional and personal development will be supported purposefully

Pursue progress, discover extraordinary

Better is out there. Better medications, better outcomes, better science. But progress doesn’t happen without people – people from different backgrounds, in different locations, doing different roles, all united by one thing: a desire to make miracles happen. So, let’s be those people.

At Sanofi, we provide equal opportunities to all regardless of race, colour, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, ability, gender identity or Veteran status.

Watch our ALL IN video and check out our Diversity Equity and Inclusion actions at sanofi.com!

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At Sanofi diversity and inclusion is foundational to how we operate and embedded in our Core Values. We recognize to truly tap into the richness diversity brings we must lead with inclusion and have a workplace where those differences can thrive and be leveraged to empower the lives of our colleagues, patients and customers. We respect and celebrate the diversity of our people, their backgrounds and experiences and provide equal opportunity for all.