Director, Clinical Finance

CSL•Waltham, MA

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

Reporting to the Senior Director, Portfolio & Development Finance, as the Director, Clinical Finance, you will be presented with an exciting opportunity to lead a strategically critical finance function in an area of significant importance to the business. You will be the Lead Finance Business Partner and recognized subject matter expert for the Clinical Operations group as well as driving enterprise-wide Finance Business Partnering across CSL’s Global R&D organization. The role holder will be focused on the Clinical Operations group within the Portfolio Development function and play a key role in the delivery of the R&D Finance Business Partner model through effective team deployment. Core activities will include: Financial Planning and Performance Management, Value and Insights, and Other Accountabilities.

Requirements

Bachelor degree in Accounting, Finance or related discipline
10+ years' experience in in R&D Business Operations or Finance roles, with extensive experience in clinical trial financial modeling, budgeting and forecasting, analysis, including the development of business cases in a Pharmaceutical R&D environment or similar industry.
Sound leadership and interpersonal skills
Sound judgment
Ability to influence
Ability to execute globally integrated processes
Strong analytical thinking
Ability to lead, develop and motivate others
Timely decision making and priority setting
Organizational agility, ability to work cross-functionally and across all levels
Ability to build and maintain strong relationships and collaborate effectively with multiple levels and cross functionally within a site.

Nice To Haves

MBA or other advanced degree in related field desirable.
Professional certification (CPA/CA) preferred.

Responsibilities

Build strong relationships with the Head of Clinical Operations and their Extended Leadership Team to influence business strategy, investment prioritization, and financial outcomes.
Own and lead financial narratives, translating complex clinical and financial data into actionable insights and strategic recommendations for senior and executive leadership.
Lead the design, implementation, and optimization of Clinical financial processes, ensuring alignment with enterprise financial strategy and governance expectations.
Lead a team of Finance Business Partners in support for Clinical Operations while building organizational capability and driving high performance across the function.
Establish and leverage a deep understanding of the overall Portfolio Development and TA Strategies to shape financial planning, investment decisions, and long-term portfolio value creation.
Provide strategic financial leadership, recommendations, and decision support to drive short- and long-term portfolio, TA and study goals.
Lead enterprise financial planning and forecasting activities, identifying risks and opportunities that directly impact R&D portfolio performance and strategic objectives.
Own, design, and continuously improve financial planning, reporting, and governance frameworks, including explanation of costings for governance and financial processes.
Lead the financial planning and reporting requirements for Clinical with accountability for delivering accurate, decision-ready financial outputs aligned to enterprise priorities.
Drive and influence monthly and quarterly financial reviews, shaping strategic dialogue on business performance, risks, and forward-looking scenarios.
Integrate complex financial and business data across functions to provide strategic insights that inform executive decision-making.
Lead the development of advanced, dynamic financial models to support strategic investment decisions and portfolio optimization.
Ensure alignment of project budgets and timelines and proactively identify and address variances, recommending strategic actions to mitigate risk and improve outcomes in line with R&D decision frameworks.
Champion and embed a strategic Business Partnering model across R&D, elevating finance as a driver of business value and strategic decision making.
Lead financial evaluation and strategic analysis for external collaborations, partnerships, and acquisitions including due diligence and valuation insights.
Drive transformation of finance processes and capabilities to enhance organizational performance and decision-making effectiveness.
Enable executive decision-making by delivering data-driven insights, strategic recommendations, and scenario analyses for major investments and long-term strategic plans.
Develop and present succinct, easy to understand presentations on study drivers and variances to be presented at all levels of R&D and Finance for both governance and routine financial forecasts.
Ensure financial processes and outputs drive alignment, accountability, and strategic insight across Clinical Operations and broader R&D functions.
Drive investment planning and budgeting processes, influencing prioritization and trade-offs across portfolio initiatives.
Ensure study level business activities across all studies managed by Clinical Finance team, that support the TA model are successfully delivered based on the requirements of the TA strategy, appropriate international regulatory standards, and within the agreed timeframe and budget.
Lead and develop a high-performing team of finance professionals, setting direction, building capability, and driving accountability for results.
Shape enterprise financial insights and reporting to meet evolving business and executive leadership needs.
Provide strategic financial input into vendor negotiations and partnership decisions, including commercial outcomes.
Contribute to or lead global or functional specific projects of strategic importance to the organization.
Drive the development of innovative tools, frameworks, and best practices to advance the R&D Finance strategy and capabilities.
Lead the development and evaluation of complex business cases, investment proposals, and financial strategies, providing clear recommendations to senior leadership.