Meet Wei An, Senior IT Auditor at Roche

Tell us a bit about yourself

My name is Wei An and I am originally from Singapore, a little city state in Southeast Asia with 5.4 million residents in a tiny land area of 700sq km. I enjoy watching soccer especially if my favourite teams are involved. I also like to travel and explore new cultures and catch up on Asian drama series and movies in my spare time.

I joined Roche in March 2014 and was formerly working for American multinational companies in global IT audit roles.

In which Roche location are you currently working and what can you tell us about that location as a work environment?

I am currently working in Basel at Picassoplatz. It is a really nice, central location and just a stone’s throw away from restaurants, banks, supermarkets and shops. Most importantly, I spend little time commuting since my office is only a five minutes by walk from my home.

Why did you decide to join Roche and why at this location?

I think the purpose statement answers this very well: “Doing now what patients need next”. With over 85,000 employees dedicated to the discovery and delivery of important drugs to patients, I feel inspired by the corporate culture and objectives of the company. I have never lived and worked overseas and felt Switzerland would be a really exciting, vibrant and fun location to explore.

What is your current position at Roche?

Group Audit & Risk Advisory assists the two core divisions and group functions in managing business risks and improving compliance as well as efficiency of operations. I am a Senior IT Auditor within the Global Functions team and specialise in reviews of IT policies, processes and procedures. This encompasses IT operations, projects and initiatives across the organisation in several global locations. I also participate in cross-functional audits to get insight into other areas of the business like R&D, Commercial Operations, Manufacturing, etc.

How would you describe Roche as an employer?

I would highly recommend Roche as an employer. The company invests heavily in its people and development opportunities are abundant. There is a strong emphasis on having a work/life balance. Some of the benefits include an onsite medical centre and discounts at selected museums and cultural events in Basel due to Roche’s history in cultural philanthropy.

How would you describe the people working here?

Extremely diverse and multicultural. My department has around 70 employees (from 19 nationalities speaking more than 17 languages) in the four functions within Group Audit & Risk Advisory. There is a strong speak-up culture due to the nature of our work and we are always encouraged to share our opinions and feedback about internal department processes and other matters. Department events are also held on a regular basis to encourage interaction and bonding between teams.

What can you tell about the current job openings in your department?

There are several open positions within Group Audit across different teams like Global Functions, Commercial Operations and R&D. We are looking for people with auditing and/or business expertise within global blue-chip companies or big four consulting firms. A strong command of the English language is essential since we frequently conduct process interviews and write audit reports.

What would you advise job seekers who want to join us?

To learn more about starting a career within Group Audit & Risk Advisory, visit http://www.roche.com/careers/switzerland/audit_and_risk_advisory
Or check our vacancies in Group Audit and Risk Advisory here: www.roche.com/careers/switzerland/jobsearch