Senior Manager, Internal Audit

About the role

Novartis is looking for a Senior Manager, Internal Audit in Barcelona, Spain, to shape how Internal Audit strengthens trust, integrity and performance across Europe. You will deliver high-impact audit and advisory work that influences senior leaders, sharpens risk awareness and drives change across markets and corporate functions, working at the intersection of governance, risk management and digital innovation. The position is hybrid and requires travel of around 30-40%.

Key responsibilities

• Lead complex audit and advisory engagements end-to-end across markets and corporate functions.
• Deliver risk-based insights by identifying root causes and proposing pragmatic, value-adding recommendations.
• Ensure consistent, high-quality execution aligned with Internal Audit standards, methodology and quality assurance programs.
• Produce clear, impactful audit and advisory reports for senior management and key stakeholders.
• Act as a trusted advisor to senior Operations stakeholders, offering independent challenge and practical insight.
• Contribute to regional audit planning by identifying emerging risks and assurance priorities.
• Support the continuous improvement of audit methodology, including AI and digitally enabled audit practices.
• Coach and develop auditors through onboarding, knowledge sharing and continuous feedback.
• Champion data-driven, digitally enabled audit practices using available tools.

Required profile

• University degree in Business, Finance, Accounting, Risk or a related discipline.
• Experience in pharmaceutical, life sciences or other highly regulated industries strongly preferred; Big Four experience with a healthcare or life sciences focus is an advantage.
• Proven ability to lead complex audit or advisory engagements and manage senior stakeholders.
• Fluency in English, with additional European languages an advantage.
• Desirable: professional certifications such as CIA, CRMA or CPA.

Required skills

• Strong knowledge of governance, risk management and internal control frameworks in regulated environments.
• Hands-on experience with data analytics, digital tools and AI to improve audit outcomes, including AI-enabled audit tools in regulated environments.