Regional Finance Director, Americas Supply & Operations

AstraZeneca • Gaithersburg, MD

1d

About The Position

This role is for a Regional Finance Director, Americas Supply & Operations at AstraZeneca. The position reports to the VP Finance Operations & IT and serves as the lead Finance resource for Americas Supply Operations. The individual will partner with the SVP America’s Supply Operations and his leadership team, providing financial input, guidance, and challenge to shape business strategies and develop operational plans. The role involves leading the Regional Finance function, providing strategic leadership, direction, and people management to a team of finance professionals. A key aspect is driving efficiencies and implementing consistent ways of working across geographies and with other teams. The role is also a key member of the Regional Americas Leadership & Global Operations Finance Management Teams, leading members of a global network of Finance Business Partners and Business Analysts. The business has 8 factories, c $775m in operational costs, $500m in Capex, and 2,000 people. The role has 7 direct reports.

Requirements

• Qualified finance professional operating at senior levels in the organisation.
• Qualified to degree level in a relevant subject area with a professional financial qualification.
• At least 10 years experience of leading a finance team and working within a global organisation.
• Significant experience of senior finance management, business partnering and control roles.
• Experience of working in a global pharmaceutical organisation/ complex supply chains.
• Rigorous and analytical thinking.
• Experience developing business cases and use of decision support tools and coaching others in their development and use.
• Ability to apply governance, risk and compliance components.
• Excellent commercial knowledge of the business area and local financial environment.
• Impact and Influence/Collaborative Partnering.
• Organisational Awareness – demonstrates knowledge of corporate business context.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, including oral and written.
• Working across boundaries with Centres of Excellence and remote teams.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to strategy development for Americas Supply by shaping strategies and developing business and operational plans.
• Generate innovative ideas based on synthesis of qualitative and quantitative information.
• Provide financial input to shape strategies and develop business and operational plans.
• Lead Finance role in review and development of short & long-term strategy.
• Maintain an up-to-date understanding of all developments which may affect Americas Supply options and assessing business impact.
• Support Corporate and Operations initiatives including Sustainability and Productivity.
• Ensure strong Financial Compliance with group accounting policies working closely with internal and external (PwC) partners.
• Act as CFO for iPR (AZ’s Puerto Rico Manufacturing legal entity).
• Joint accountability with the business for the accuracy of forecasts and leveraging sound understanding of the business model and financial drivers to challenge and influence the key cost drivers.
• In partnership with the Regional Senior Vice President, Americas Supply, manage the region’s P&L and Balance Sheet (including Capital and Inventory) as appropriate.
• Ensure team provides reliable operational and financial forecasts ensuring resources are allocated to maximize value.
• Lead the financial planning cycle for Americas Supply, setting stretch but attainable performance targets and incentives, aligned to leading benchmarks, strategy and operational plans.
• Partner with GFS (Global Financial Services) to provide accurate reporting and ensure timely flow of information to Americas Supply.
• Highlight sensitivities and risks.
• Proactively drive efficiencies including seeking cross functional process solutions.
• Lead finance and cross-functional teams and drive initiatives to improve the business.
• Direct preparation of all presentations for key business and finance review meetings.
• Liaise with GFS to provide accurate data.
• Through best practice stakeholder management techniques, explore needs with internal customers and utilize this information to improve business results leveraging significant commercial and business acumen.
• Coach, develop and lead a team of Business Partners and Business Analysts across the regional site network to excellent performance.
• Drive teams to focus more on decision support activities and less on routine components of Business Performance Management.
• Develop the professional capability of the finance team and financial understanding on non-finance managers.
• Coach business team members on finance planning and business cases.
• Coach both direct and indirect (GFS) finance team members to understand needs of the business customer.
• Initiate changes to improve working practices and processes in Finance and communicate these amongst the Finance Network.
• Drive digital and AI efforts to optimize delivery of Finance processes & standard AZ Finance Operating Model.
• Lead Finance role in communicating governance and compliance standards and statutory regulations to non-specialist in a way that is understandable and relevant and relays the risk of commercial decisions effectively.
• Lead insightful and proactive risk management processes to ensure the organisation’s regulations, rules and process are adhered to; highlighting areas of concern.

Benefits

• qualified retirement program [401(k) plan]
• paid vacation and holidays
• paid leaves
• health benefits including medical, prescription drug, dental, and vision coverage

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior