Senior Manager, Internal Audit (San Diego/Hybrid)

Job Description

This is a full-time role, Monday through Friday, with an expectation of 2- 3 in-office days per week and additional on-site presence as needed. The individual must reside in the San Diego area and be able to commute to our corporate offices. Relocation assistance is available and should be completed within a three (3) month period or a mutually agreed upon time.

Reports To: Director, Internal Audit

Position Summary

This role is a senior individual contributor within Illumina’s global Internal Audit function, responsible for leading assigned areas of the SOX compliance program and delivering value-added advisory support during business and process transformation initiatives. The role focuses on evaluating internal controls over financial reporting, assessing risk, and driving practical control and process improvements across the enterprise.

Operating in a global, highly matrixed environment, this role partners closely with Finance, Accounting, IT, and business stakeholders, as well as external auditors. Success requires strong professional judgment, analytical rigor, and the ability to independently navigate complex, evolving processes while influencing outcomes through clear, concise communication.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Lead assigned areas of Illumina’s SOX compliance program, serving as the primary liaison for designated processes and owning planning, coordination, and execution of testing activities.
• Partner with cross-functional stakeholders during business transformation initiatives to evaluate process maturity, planned changes, and impacts to internal controls over financial reporting.
• Identify risks, assess control design and operating effectiveness, and develop practical, business-focused recommendations.
• Evaluate control deficiencies, including impact and root cause, and assess the appropriateness of management remediation plans.
• Maintain high-quality internal control documentation, including narratives, process flowcharts, control descriptions, and risk and control matrices.
• Collaborate with business process owners to streamline and improve process and control design.
• Coordinate and engage with external auditors to support control-related assurance activities and meet SEC reporting timelines.
• Perform follow-up procedures on control deficiencies and proactively partner with management to ensure timely remediation.
• Champion risk management through the development and delivery of periodic risk-related initiatives and training.
• Leverage technology and emerging tools, including AI, to enhance audit and SOX effectiveness.

Key Competencies

• High ethical standards and a demonstrated commitment to integrity and transparency.
• Demonstrated SOX and internal controls expertise, including evaluating design and operating effectiveness and identifying practical control improvements.
• Strong risk assessment and professional judgment, with the ability to prioritize issues based on impact and root cause.
• Strong business acumen, critical thinking, and analytical skills, with the ability to synthesize complex data into clear, actionable insights.
• Strong planning, project management, and execution skills, with the ability to drive initiatives to completion and ensure commitments translate into measurable results.
• Highly effective executive communication and stakeholder influence, with the ability to influence outcomes without direct authority.
• Proven ability to operate independently and adapt in a global, highly matrixed environment, building alignment across functions.
• Strong attention to detail and quality, with a focus on complete, accurate documentation and follow-through.
• Demonstrated technology enablement mindset, including leveraging emerging tools to improve efficiency and effectiveness.

Supervisory Responsibilities

This role does not have direct reports at this time.

Minimum Qualifications

• Typically requires a bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Accounting, or related field and a minimum of 12 years of professional audit experience, with 3–6 years of leading audit engagements in a Big 4 public accounting firm and/or SOX programs in a multinational public company
• CPA or CA required (additional relevant designations preferred)
• Detailed understanding of US GAAP, COSO framework, financial audit methodologies, and risk assessment principles; experience designing, monitoring, and evaluating internal controls, including SOX testing
• Demonstrated ability to engage and objectively influence senior management through clear, concise communication of control issues and practical, business-focused recommendations

Preferred Credentials

• Advanced degree
• CIA or similar certification
• Experience using AI tools to drive effectiveness and efficiency
• Experience with SAP, AuditBoard, and process flowcharting tools
• Basic understanding of IT General Computer Controls (ITGC) a plus
• Industry experience in biotech or pharma

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