Vice President, Internal Audit - Dublin - Hybrid
ICON plc is a world-leading healthcare intelligence and clinical research organization. We’re proud to foster an inclusive environment driving innovation and excellence, and we welcome you to join us on our mission to shape the future of clinical development.
The Vice President, Internal Audit is a senior finance leadership role responsible for overseeing ICON's global internal audit function, ensuring robust governance, risk management, and internal control processes. This role partners closely with Executive Leadership and the Audit Committee to provide independent assurance over the effectiveness of financial, operational, and compliance controls. The Vice President will play a critical role in ensuring alignment with regulatory and corporate standards while supporting the continued scaling and maturity of the internal audit function. In addition, this individual will be responsible for the delivery of Internal Control and Risk Management frameworks, including procedures, monitoring, and reporting, ensuring the integrity of all financial and operational metrics and full compliance with regulatory requirements. The role operates within a highly regulated and SOX-compliant environment, requiring strong governance, independence, and analytical rigor.
What You Will Be Doing
Internal Audit Leadership
Lead and oversee the global internal audit function, including a global team, ensuring delivery of a high-quality, value-driven audit program.
Develop and execute a risk-based internal audit plan aligned with enterprise priorities and regulatory expectations.
Drive the continued evolution and scaling of the internal audit function to support organisational growth and complexity.
Foster a high-performance culture focused on accountability, continuous improvement, and professional excellence.
Audit, Risk & Assurance
Provide independent assurance over the effectiveness of financial reporting and US GAAP compliance, SOX compliance and internal control environments, operational effectiveness and efficiency, and regulatory compliance frameworks
Ensure audit findings are clear, actionable, and aligned with strategic and operational priorities.
Maintain high standards of audit quality, independence, and professional judgment.
Internal Controls & Risk Management
Lead the design, implementation, and oversight of Internal Control and Risk Management frameworks across the organisation.
Ensure robust policies, procedures, control design, and monitoring mechanisms are in place.
Oversee SOX 404 compliance, including coordination of control assessments and testing activities (controls testing experience preferred).
Ensure integrity, accuracy, and reliability of financial and operational metrics through strong control environments.
Governance & Audit Committee Engagement
Serve as the primary liaison to the Audit Committee, delivering clear, concise, and insightful reporting on audit outcomes, risks, and control effectiveness.
Partner closely with the CFO, senior leadership, and functional stakeholders across Finance, Legal, IT, Risk, and Compliance.
Support strong governance and transparency through effective communication and stakeholder engagement.
Transformation & Continuous Improvement
Drive modernization of audit methodologies, including adoption of data analytics, automation, and best practices.
Continuously assess and enhance audit processes to align with a dynamic, global PLC environment.
Ensure alignment with evolving regulatory expectations and corporate governance requirements.
Your Profile
Qualified Accountant (ACA, ACCA, CPA or equivalent) and Qualified Internal Auditor (CIA or equivalent).
Proven experience at Head of Internal Audit level or above, with demonstrated success in leading and scaling an internal audit function with a large scale, publicly listed multinational organisation.
Strong knowledge of US GAAP, SOX compliance, and internal control frameworks.
Experience with controls testing is highly advantageous, though not essential.
Prior experience within a Big 4 firm with relevant leadership exposure will also be considered.
Demonstrated ability to operate effectively in a highly regulated, fast-paced, and matrixed global environment.
Strong executive presence with experience engaging with Audit Committees and senior leadership teams.
Excellent analytical, risk assessment, and problem-solving capabilities.
Ability to influence and challenge constructively at senior levels while maintaining independence.
Strategic, disciplined, and commercially aware, with strong operational understanding.
High levels of integrity, professional judgment, and commitment to governance and transparency.
Collaborative leadership style with a focus on building and developing high-performing teams.
Able to work from the Dublin office 3 days a week
Bachelor’s degree required; Masters degree preferred
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What ICON can offer you:
Our success depends on the quality of our people. That’s why we’ve made it a priority to build a diverse culture that rewards high performance and nurtures talent.
In addition to your competitive salary, ICON offers a range of additional benefits. Our benefits are designed to be competitive within each country and are focused on well-being and work life balance opportunities for you and your family.
Our benefits examples include:
- Various annual leave entitlements
- A range of health insurance offerings to suit you and your family’s needs.
- Competitive retirement planning offerings to maximize savings and plan with confidence for the years ahead.
- Global Employee Assistance Programme, LifeWorks, offering 24-hour access to a global network of over 80,000 independent specialized professionals who are there to support you and your family’s well-being.
- Life assurance
- Flexible country-specific optional benefits, including childcare vouchers, bike purchase schemes, discounted gym memberships, subsidized travel passes, health assessments, among others.
Visit our careers site to read more about the benefits ICON offers.
At ICON, inclusion & belonging are fundamental to our culture and values. We’re dedicated to providing an inclusive and accessible environment for all candidates. ICON is committed to providing a workplace free of discrimination and harassment. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.
If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process, or in order to perform the essential functions of a position, please let us know or submit a request here
Interested in the role, but unsure if you meet all of the requirements? We would encourage you to apply regardless – there’s every chance you’re exactly what we’re looking for here at ICON whether it is for this or other roles.
Are you a current ICON Employee? Please click here to apply
