Senior Internal Auditor (with focus on ESG and Sustainability)

About the role

At Barry Callebaut (BC) values represent a mindset and way of doing business that is committed to generating sustainable earnings over time and creating long-term value for all stakeholders. BC is dedicated to running all operations with transparency and integrity, including reporting on Social, Environmental and Governance (ESG) management and risks. As part of customer specific programs, as well as industry wide known certifications, BC implements (sustainability) activities primarily in cocoa origin countries.

Internal Audit’s mission is to enhance and protect Barry Callebaut’s value by providing risk-based, independent and objective assurance, advice and insights. We strive to create value and impact with what we do. We aim to be a trusted partner to the Board of Directors, the ExCo and the more than 13,000 colleagues.

You are working with the Group Internal Audit team members as well as cross-functional stakeholders to identify, size and evaluate risk drivers across the Barry Callebaut (BC) Group in particular in the area of ESG and sustainability. You will evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of governance, risk management, and internal controls. As a result, you will advise the business on areas of risk, agree with the auditee on actions to enhance or change processes, controls and systems to minimize risk, improve performance and productivity and ensure that BC complies with all relevant regulations, laws and standards. You will have the opportunity to influence change in the business but also within Group Internal Audit, all whilst building up the skills of tomorrow!

You will be exposed to Cocoa and Chocolate, to manufacturing and supply chain, to sourcing and sales but also to many other areas in the context of ESG and sustainability plus you will support the Group Internal Audit team on other audits. There is hardly any other function where you will learn all aspects of Barry Callebaut’s activities.

Key responsibilities include

• Identify and evaluate ESG and sustainability specific risks and opportunities and develop comprehensive audit programs that incorporates these criteria

• Conduct complex and routine audits (assurance and advisory) in all areas of BC’s activities (sourcing, manufacturing, supply chain, sales, reporting)  in order to evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of governance, risk management, and internal controls regarding ESG and assess BC’s compliance with ESG regulations and standards as well as customers and BC’s own certification and verification programs

• Support the audit planning process

• For ESG and sustainability related audits, plan and lead the audit engagement team so that audit objectives are met and the audit is concluded on time

• Collect, examine, analyze, and verify information about BC’s processes, systems and controls by interviewing employees and partners, reviewing system data, manuals, policies, reports, etc., as well as by analyzing actual SAP and other system configurations and functionalities

• Develop recommendations for changes to processes and systems that will adequately manage risks, improve performance and productivity and ensure that BC can achieve its objectives. Effectively communicate and present those recommendations to management and seek agreement on those

• Prepare audit reports that are concise and accurately document the audit and its findings

• Follow-up on (monitor) the action implementation status of previously performed audits

• Be the subject matter expert within the Group Internal Audit team for ESG and sustainability related topics and stay abreast of regulations, standards, laws, industry trends, emerging risks, and best practices in ESG and ESG auditing

• Drive forward continuous improvement and projects within Group Internal Audit, including process improvements and the use of technology

• Participate in and further develop assurance committee meetings with various functions of BC (Integrated Assurance)

• Build up and/or enhance (internal) network

About you

• University Degree or equivalent qualification

• Proficiency in English (oral and written) and French, any additional language are advantageous (in particular Spanish)

• 6+ years professional experience in a multinational company (preferably in the food industry and/or manufacturing) in an audit role

• Strong knowledge of and experience working with ESG frameworks, standards and regulations

• Solid understanding of Internal Control System (ICS), Compliance or Enterprise Risk Management (ERM)

• Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or Certified Information System Auditor (CISA) is plus

• Excellent analytical, interpersonal and communication (both written and verbal) skills

• Ability to condense insights in stakeholder relevant key messages

• High personal sensitivity (“6th sense”), demonstrating aptitude to adapt to and understand other cultures combined with good listening skills and ability to change low cooperative behavior into a mutually confident working relationship

• Ability to gain an understanding of complex, inter-disciplinary processes within a short time-frame and connect the dots

• High integrity, objective and able to deal with highly confidential information

• Able to contribute positively to international & interdisciplinary teams during audits

• Willingness to travel internationally (approx. 40%, depending on audit program)

• Good understanding of major business processes (e.g. forecast-to-stock, purchase-to-pay, order-to-cash, hire-to-retire, market-to-sale, finance)

• Proficient in MS Office and/or Google Workspace tools, sound SAP knowledge. Programming and data analytics is an advantage

• Team player, humble , Approachable, positive and fun person Approachable, positive and fun person

• Ability to lead international & interdisciplinary teams during audits

• Ability to zoom in / zoom out

• Ability to help others through emotional or tense situations

• Self-driven and ability to thrive in a unstructured environment through self-motivation

• Initiative to drive projects and to continuously improve the internal audit function

• Able to define, prioritize, and manage deliverables and milestones

• If required, flexible to work longer hours during audits as well as to work under time pressure

• Multitasking and well organized/structured, proactive and resilient

• Quick and eager learner

• Strongly interested in networking and building relationship with colleagues and other stakeholders