Senior Associate - Audit Pharmaceutical & Life Sciences

About the role

PwC is hiring a Senior Associate for its Assurance practice in the pharmaceutical and life sciences sector, based in Lausanne. You will support multinational pharmaceutical and healthcare clients in navigating complex financial reporting, regulatory and audit environments, working on audits of multinational groups and reviewing complex accounting estimates.

Key responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate audit engagements for clients in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, healthcare and consumer health sectors.
• Evaluate significant accounting judgments, including impairment assessments, intangible asset valuations and business combination accounting.
• Review management forecasts, cash flow projections and key financial assumptions behind asset recoverability and strategic investments.
• Analyse internal governance documentation, board and committee materials and external market intelligence.
• Perform and review testing of internal controls over financial reporting under Swiss and international auditing standards.
• Support audits of multinational groups exposed to US reporting requirements and complex regulatory environments.
• Work directly with senior client stakeholders such as Finance Directors, CFOs and business unit leaders.
• Coach and develop junior team members and contribute to improving audit methodologies in the Pharma & Life Sciences sector.

Required profile

• Degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics or a related discipline.
• In progress towards, or completed, a professional accounting qualification (ACA, ACCA, CPA or equivalent).
• Auditing experience of multinational organisations in the pharmaceutical, life sciences, healthcare or consumer industries.
• Strong understanding of financial reporting, accounting estimates and internal control frameworks.
• Experience reviewing financial models, forecasts and valuation assumptions.
• Exposure to audits of listed entities and multinational groups.
• Fluent English; additional languages are an advantage.

Required skills

• Accounting and financial reporting standards
• Auditing and compliance auditing
• Data analysis and interpretation
• Communication with senior stakeholders

What we offer

• Exposure to leading pharmaceutical and life sciences organisations in Switzerland and internationally.
• Continuous professional development and support for professional qualifications.
• Flexible working arrangements and the chance to build an international network within PwC.