Director, Internal Audit and Controls

At Azenta, new ideas, new technologies and new ways of thinking are driving our future. Our customer-focused culture encourages employees to embrace innovation and challenge the status quo with novel thinking and collaborative work relationships.

Azenta Life Sciences is a global leader in the life sciences space with headquarters in Burlington, MA, and offices and operations worldwide. We are a market leader in automated bio sample management solutions and genomic services across areas such as drug development, clinical and advanced cell therapies for the industry's top pharmaceutical, biotech, academic and healthcare institutions globally. We provide unparalleled capabilities with our lab analysis, sample management and storage services, informatics software, and consumables, with the largest installed base managing over 1 billion samples globally.

How you will make an impact:

The Director, Internal Audit and Controls will be responsible for leading and improving an internal audit program to support Azenta’s transformation journey. This role reports to the Audit Committee with an administrative reporting line to the Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer. This role has leadership responsibility for the internal audit function, including implementing and ensuring appropriate internal controls and processes are in place as the company continues to grow and maintaining efficient and effective governance. The role will oversee the annual Audit Plan with a focus on Financial, Operational, Compliance and Strategic risks, including a focus around Sarbanes-Oxley ("SOX") compliance. The successful candidate will serve as an internal advisor to business leadership and ensure the audit team is seen as a forward-thinking business partner. The audit team must add value by not only proactively identifying and assessing potential control issues, but also creating the appropriate strategies to mitigate potential risks. The successful candidate must be capable of building internal and external relationships to develop an internal audit function that helps architect and add value versus solely monitor internal controls.

What you will do:

• Responsible for leading a flexible, risk-based Global internal audit strategy and the continuation of financial, operational, compliance and strategic audit plans by working with both business and IT colleagues and stakeholders to lead the planning, fieldwork, and reporting of integrated audits and other projects.
• Actively participates in applicable executive management forums and Audit Committee meetings to report the progress of the department relative to the annual audit plan and any audit issues that arise.
• Lead the development and implementation of detailed test plans to assess the current control environment to identify areas of control weakness / gaps for the internal audit plan, including SOX initiatives.
• Oversees control testing across the business. Effectively develops and communicates timelines and role assignments to ensure a timely and accurate consolidation of internal audit and SOX results while driving accountability across the business.
• Works regularly with internal business process owners to assess design and operating control failures through review of root cause assessments. Effectively communicates findings and practical recommendations, helps guide remediation efforts to closure, and advises on control requirements for new systems or process design. Follow-ups on required remediation to ensure control gaps are adequately addressed and aligned to completion dates.
• Maintains current understanding of all related internal systems and processes, and external regulatory requirements; Acts in accordance with all corporate policies and practices, and ensure work follows all internal policies and external regulatory requirements.
• Works closely with the Company's external auditors, including coordinating the annual risk-based audit plan and SOX initiatives, with the objective of increasing the effectiveness and efficiency of the audit function by maintaining or exceeding the current level of external auditor reliance.
• Develops relationships as a trusted business advisor; provides value-added insights to senior management through participation in business or functional leadership Committees, enterprise risk functions, M&A, deal reviews, etc.. Informs senior management of emerging trends and best practices in operational and IT governance, risk, and compliance.
• Structures and manages both the internal team and any co-source supporting resources for maximum effectiveness and impact.
• Leverages technology to enhance the business and maintain a competitive advantage, while working to continuously improve processes and procedures through elimination of redundancies.
• Acts as a change agent encouraging an environment that employs accountability, collaboration and trust while fostering teamwork and execution.
  
  
  

What you will bring:

Professional Experience/Qualifications:

• BA/BS degree in Accounting, Finance or equivalent.
• 12 years in audit or accounting, including prior management-level responsibility in internal audit and/or public or private accounting.
• Experience in Public Accounting a plus.
• CPA preferred; CIA or related certification/equivalent experience a plus.
• Strong understanding of U.S. GAAP accounting/reporting
• Experience in presenting to the Audit Committee and executive presence that will ensure credibility with the board.
• Demonstrated expertise in identification and implementation of internal controls; formal Sarbanes-Oxley experience required.
  
  
  

Capabilities/Competencies:

• Strong leadership and team management abilities. Proven ability to manage remote team.
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively with all levels of the organization.
• Experience with Oracle Cloud, NetSuite or OneStream a plus.
• High level of integrity and ethical standards.
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail and able to prioritize workload efficiently.
• Analytical and process mindset with creative thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent work ethic with willingness and ability to dig into details to accomplish tasks and complete projects.
• A sense of urgency to drive execution and achieve results.
• Experience with project management.
• Process-oriented mindset with continuous improvement mentality
  
  
  

Other Requirements:

This position is intended to be on-site, with an expectation of working out of the Company’s Burlington, Massachusetts executive offices four days per week and as otherwise necessary. Travel to other Company sites and events may be required.

EOE M/F/Disabled/VET

Azenta Life Sciences is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer.

• As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we do our utmost to ensure that there is no discrimination or bias against anyone applying for a job or in any phase of employment for reasons related to race, color, religion, gender, national origin or ancestry, age, disability, veteran status, military service, sexual orientation, genetic information, or gender identity.
  
  
  

We welcome and value diversity, to ensure that our work benefits from a broad range of viewpoints and perspectives. Our growing global reach gives us the opportunity to bring to our business an even richer diversity of experiences and capabilities. For assistance in the application process, please reach out to Recruiting@azenta.com or call (978) 262-2400. Review EEO Poster Know Your Rights: WOrkplace Discrimination is Illegal (dol.gov)

Azenta Life Sciences participates in E-Verify®, and will provide the United States Federal Government with your form I-9 information to confirm you are authorized to work in the United States. For more information, please visit E-Verify® at www.dhs.gov/E-Verify. E-Verify® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

• The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information.
  
  
  

41 CFR 60-1.35(c)