Director IT - Financial Transformation

Thermo Fisher Scientific•Hillsboro, OR

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The IT Director – Global Finance Systems defines and executes the technology strategy supporting the global Finance function within the Clinical Trials Division (CTD). The role partners with Finance leadership to deliver scalable, standardized, and compliant business processes through enterprise technologies, with ownership of finance platforms and related systems. The Director leads the team responsible for finance system strategy, finance applications, and business process transformation. The position combines business partnership, technology leadership, governance, and operational excellence to simplify, standardize, and automate global finance operations. It leads global finance transformation initiatives, oversees cross-functional programs, manages application portfolios and vendor relationships, and ensures that systems meet audit, internal-control, and regulatory requirements.

Requirements

Associate's degree required; a bachelor's degree is preferred, or equivalent experience may be accepted in lieu of a bachelor's degree.
12+ years of progressive IT leadership experience.
7+ years supporting enterprise Finance organizations.
5+ years leading global ERP implementations or support organizations.
Experience leading and working with geographically distributed teams.
Understanding of clinical trial or life sciences industry financial operations.
Strong knowledge of ERP Finance modules, including General Ledger, Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, Fixed Assets, Cost Accounting, Treasury, Tax, Consolidation, Financial Planning & Analysis, Master Data Management, integration platforms, and financial systems supporting clinical trial operations.
Leadership competencies include strategic thinking, executive communication, business acumen, financial management, organizational leadership, influence without authority, change leadership, talent development, customer focus, results orientation, cross-functional collaboration, a global mindset, and understanding of clinical research business models.

Nice To Haves

Experience with Oracle Cloud ERP, SAP, or other enterprise systems.
Experience with finance transformation initiatives in clinical trials or life sciences environments.
Experience with shared services organizations supporting global operations.
Experience with global process ownership models.
Experience with system or cloud migrations.
Experience integrating mergers and acquisitions in the life sciences sector.
Pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or life sciences industry experience.
Familiarity with clinical trial financial management and passthrough cost models.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute a multi-year technology roadmap supporting the Finance organization within CTD.
Align IT investments with Finance priorities, including digital transformation, compliance, operational efficiency, and scalability.
Advise Finance executives, process owners, and regional finance leaders on technology.
Evaluate and implement emerging technologies, including AI, automation, analytics, and cloud-based finance solutions.
Own and improve the systems and platforms supporting Finance operations, including ERP systems.
Lead ERP modernization, optimization, upgrades, releases, migrations, and transformation programs.
Establish governance for ERP configuration and enhancements tailored to CTD requirements.
Standardize finance processes across regions and business units, partnering with Global Process Owners to define templates and reduce unnecessary customization.
Promote best practices and common operating models across global clinical research sites while accounting for regulatory and regional requirements.
Champion process documentation, governance, and continuous improvement across finance processes such as record-to-report, procure-to-pay, order-to-cash, financial close, treasury, tax, consolidation, planning and forecasting, and master data management.
Build relationships with Finance executives and business stakeholders and translate business strategy into technology capabilities for clinical trial financial management.
Lead steering committees and governance forums.
Lead global finance transformation initiatives from strategy through implementation and oversee cross-functional programs involving Finance, IT, Clinical Operations, Quality, Regulatory, and external partners.
Manage project portfolios, budgets, risks, and executive communications, and drive organizational change management and user adoption.
Manage the global Finance application ecosystem, including ERP, consolidation, FP&A, accounts payable automation, treasury, tax, revenue recognition, expense management, financial reporting, data integration, analytics, and business intelligence.
Ensure systems support SOX, internal controls, audit, and regulatory requirements, and establish application governance standards and appropriate segregation of duties.
Develop talent and succession plans and foster accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement.
Manage strategic vendors and outsourced service providers supporting clinical trial finance operations.