Internal Control Specialist

COMPANY OVERVIEW

Holcim Trading & Shipping (HT&S) is the trading arm of Holcim Group, the world leader in innovative and sustainable building materials. HT&S is specialized in meeting the needs of customers and suppliers around the world through a unique portfolio of products and services provided from offices in Zurich, Singapore and Miami.

HT&S is a leading international trader and seaborne logistics operator who delivers, through a team of dedicated specialists, solutions for the seaborne import and export of raw materials and finished goods both to Holcim Group companies as well as to third party businesses.

SUMMARY OF THE JOB

The Internal Control Specialist ensures the effective design, implementation, and monitoring of Holcim Trading's Internal Control Framework across key business areas, including Operations, Shipping, IT, Accounting, Tax, and Treasury. Working closely with Control Owners, Business Process Owners, and the Head of Risk Management, this role performs control testing, evaluates operational effectiveness, ensures proper documentation, and supports compliance with Holcim standards.

MAIN ACTIVITIES / RESPONSIBILITIES

. Understand the processes and design of the Internal Control Framework including Holcim's business (e.g. Operations, Shipping, IT, Accounting, Tax and Treasury (including journal entries, general ledger, reconciliation of balance sheet items, consolidation accounts and understanding of financial statements)
. Ensure that the Internal Control Framework is properly in place, executed according to Holcim's requirements and that all business risks are covered
. Liaise with Control Owners of various departments to ensure that the internal controls are properly performed and documented from a business process and/or control owner perspective
. Liaise with IT and Global Hub Business Service Centers in India and Europe to ensure that controls are performed properly
. Close collaboration with the Internal Control specialist, Risk Management Head, and Business Process Owners / Control Owners across the organization
. Perform control testing activities of existing internal controls to evaluate their operating effectiveness (controls are effective and properly evidenced/documented) with an objective to reduce risks to the minimum
. Report internal control weaknesses identified and recommend compliance/corrective measures to strengthen the controls, and reduce the potential issues by ensuring the processes are updated.
. Design and put in place additional local controls to cover business risks identified during the testing exercise
. Provide and assess the required testing documentation to test effectively
. Issue reports, present and explain their outcome with the respective argumentation to the Internal Control Specialist and the Head of Risk Management
. Manage the different reporting requirements, meet the deadlines and attend the regular Regional Internal Control meetings
. Collaboration with Internal and External Auditors on audit exercises
. Identify areas for improvement of the Internal Control activities, processes and define mitigating actions

Support the Risk Management department activities such as:

. Participate in allocated projects to support the Head of Risk Management & Internal Control
. Limits the operational risk by reviewing and confirming that a trade or shipping transaction has complied with the requirements as per the DOA (delegation of authorities).
. Timely review of new counterparties on-boarding with sufficient KYC and all documentation required.

PROFILE REQUIRED

Education/Qualifications: Business School / University degree with a specialization in Finance, Business Administration or Accounting.

Experience: Several years professional experience in Finance, Audit, Controlling or Back Office functions of trading houses or banks.

Technical/Functional Skills:

• Audit and/or internal control background is a must
• Ability to handle work with minimum guidance be independent & proactive
• International Trade and Shipping knowledge
• SAP, MS Office (mainly Excel), Google Drive spreadsheets, accounting and financial background
• Ability to quickly familiarize with new IT systems, in particular SalesForce and others
• Analytical mindset and data-driven approach
• Compliance-oriented and detail-focused
• Planning and organization skills

Interpersonal competencies / communication:

• Strong collaboration, communication and interpersonal skills
• Team work is a must
• Curious, open minded, self-starter, fast in understanding new things
• Ability to control and to address deficiencies

Language Skills:

• Bilingual/fluent in English (written and spoken) and mastery of at least 1 additional internationally representative language.