Head of Group Internal Audit & Integrity (Senior Manager I equivalent to Deputy General Manager)
Duopharma Biotech Berhad
Total years of experience :18 years, 0 Months
Chemical Company of Malaysia Berhad (CCM) went through a restructuring exercise whereby the pharmaceutical arm, CCM Duopharma Biotech Bhd (Duophama) was separated from the CCM Group as a standalone group and now a direct strategic investment company of Permodalan Nasional Berhad (PNB is one of the largest Government-owned fund management company in Malaysia). I was transferred to Duopharma as, Head of Group Internal Audit & Integrity effective 22 December 2017, reporting directly to the Audit & Integrity Committee. Duopharma Biotech is the largest Pharmaceutical Company in Malaysia by manufacturing capacity.
Key Responsibilities:
+ Accountable for overall leadership, management and performance of GIA to ensure the provision of efficient, effective and quality services to Duopharma Group companies in the areas of controls, risks and governance.
+ Pioneered the establishment of the Internal Audit and Integrity function/Department in Duopharma Biotech Berhad.
+ Responsible for the establishment, implementation, and oversight of the Duopharma Organisational Integrity System and the Anti-Bribery Management System ISO37001.
Key Accomplishments:
+ Spearheaded the ISO37001 (Anti-Bribery Management System) certification for Duopharma Biotech Berhad/Group that was obtained in September 2020 without a single Non-Conformance Report (NCR) issued by the Certification Auditors.
+ As a recognition of the Integrity & Ethics initiatives undertaken, Duopharma Biotech Berhad was awarded the Five (5) Petals Gold Ethics Award by the Business Ethics Institute of Malaysia in October 2020.
+ Establishment of the Duopharma Biotech Corruption Risk Assessment Methodology that was done internally.
+ Instituted the Internal Audit transformation to further add value to key stakeholders commencing in 2021 and to embrace the volatile impact to the Internal Audit profession.
+ As part of continuous improvement to add value, Control Self-Assessment was introduced and implemented in Duopharma in 2020. CSA was well received by the Management and the process owners as it created better awareness on the Management of identified risk and revisit to the designed controls.
Senior Manager Group Integrity & Assurance
My primary responsibilities were in developing and executing the CCM Fertilizers Divison’s annual risk-based audit plan comprising of financial, operational, and compliance audits and investigation audits across the group, and reporting the status and results to the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors. Undertook the initiative to spearhead the implementation of the CCM Corporate Integrity (2012) that reports directly to the Integrity Committee Chairman of the Board of Directors.
Key Accomplishments:
+ Created operational, financial and compliance audit programs and reviewed and approved corresponding testing and work papers completed by audit staff.
+ Detected, investigated and facilitated the prosecution of investigation Audits including bribery and corruption cases that required external reporting to MACC.
+ Involved in the investigation relating to cases of senior management on abuse of position, conflict of interest, non-compliances with policies and fraud.
+ Busted the cartel business that was conducted in collusion between employees and external service providers in an overseas entity.
+ Conducted the investigations in 2015 and discovered fictitious sales worth RM6 Millions made over the past 3 years (2012 to 2014). Managed to uncover the modus operandi via a combination of data analysis and interrogations.
+ Detected fraud that was orchestrated by a non-executive employee in collusion with a supplier, with a total embezzlement up to RM1.8 million within 2 years.
+ Championed the task force in the reorganisation of department processes to increase efficiencies and profitability, and to reduce the risk of corruption and internal control failure (CCM Fertilizers Division).
+ Custodian of the revised whistleblowing channel and initiated the awareness and roadshows which contributed to over 60 reports made since 2013 that is reported to the Integrity Committee for deliberation and further investigation.
+ Key contributor and was instrumental in the signing of the Corporate Integrity pledge between CCM and MACC, and “Rakan Integrity” MOU between CCM and IIM in 2014, which heighten the exchange of expertise and knowledge in building, promoting and maintaining a corporate culture where ethical and compliant behaviour is practised and adequate internal controls are maintained.
+ Delivered lectures on Integrity for newly appointed pharmacist under the Ministry of Health. Further, invited as a facilitator and speaker for the Integrity Global Champions Program 2015 organised by IIM.
Undertook comprehensive pre-audit analyses of companies focusing on the size and quality of the companies’ assets, accounting systems, risk determination practices, regulatory compliance and progress in rectifying deficiencies or issues identified by previous audits. Was the audit portfolio manager for Faber Group Berhad beginning, 2011.
Key Accomplishments:
+ Identified an average RM80K monthly overpayment to a particular service provider resulting in a total overpayment of close to RM1.25million.
+ Discovered sizable payments made to suppliers who failed to execute their contract requirements.
+ Demonstrated autonomous decision making and critical thinking skills in performing analytical procedures, ensuring the effectiveness of the scope of the audit; expanding or decreasing testing to commensurate with the audit findings and performed 15+ audits each year
+ Wrote and presented audit reports to executive management and assisted with Audit Committee presentation preparation.
+ Assisted the CAE in the development of the annual risk assessment and audit plan, as well as completion of the plan.
+ Managed up to 4 Senior and Staff.
The primary focus of my work was to provide external audit, internal audit & consulting, risk management and due-diligence services to Crowe Horwath clients.
Key Accomplishments:
+ Team lead external audit assignments for SME companies.
+ Conducted internal audit reviews as a team member for main-board and second board listed companies listed in the KLSE.
+ Assisted clients in developing and implementing a framework for risk management (Mahkota Medical Centre & Oriental Food Industries).
+ Performed due diligence reviews for merger & accusation exercises.
