Strategic Finance Manager (San Diego / Hybrid)

Illumina•San Diego, CA

2d•$107,700 - $161,500•Hybrid

About The Position

The Manager, Strategic Finance delivers financial analysis to support Illumina’s corporate and business development transactions, including mergers, acquisitions, partnerships, joint ventures, divestitures, licensing agreements, and structured investments. The role uses financial modeling and valuation expertise to assess transaction economics, compare alternatives, and identify financial risks. Its analyses and recommendations help inform decisions that advance Illumina’s strategic objectives. Reporting to the Head of Strategic Finance, the Manager independently executes defined analytical workstreams within larger transactions, with direction and review at key points. The role partners with Corporate Development, Technical Accounting, Tax, Treasury, Legal, FP&A, and business unit finance to gather inputs, validate assumptions, and resolve analytical questions. The work may involve incomplete information, evolving requirements, and compressed timelines, requiring judgment within the assigned scope and escalation of risks or questions that need broader guidance. The role is based in the San Diego area and requires residence in greater San Diego and the ability to commute to Illumina’s corporate offices. The expected schedule is two to three in-office days per week, with additional on-site presence as needed. There are no direct reports at hire, though the successful candidate is expected to develop toward workstream and team leadership.

Requirements

Typically a bachelor’s degree and at least 8 years of relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Relevant experience in investment banking, private equity, transaction advisory, management consulting, corporate development, or corporate strategic finance.
Direct transaction experience; candidates must be able to describe specific deals or transaction processes for which they personally built the financial analysis.
Ability to build complex, auditable, assumption-driven financial models from a blank page.
Strong corporate finance and valuation fundamentals, including DCF, comparable company and precedent transaction analysis, accretion/dilution, returns analysis, and capital structure mechanics.
Working knowledge of GAAP as applied to commercial and transaction structuring, including revenue recognition, collaborative arrangements, consolidation, and R&D funding frameworks.
Sound judgment in evaluating assumptions, making timely decisions within assigned scope, and recognizing when additional guidance is needed.
Strong attention to detail and analytical rigor, including the ability to identify errors, inconsistencies, and unsupported assumptions.
Ability to communicate quantitative analysis clearly in written and verbal narratives appropriate for senior executives.
Effective collaboration across finance, legal, accounting, tax, and commercial functions.
Discretion and sound judgment when handling highly confidential and market-sensitive information.
Must reside in the greater San Diego area and be able to commute to the corporate offices.

Nice To Haves

MBA, CPA, CFA, or an advanced scientific degree.
Knowledge of the Life Science Tools, Diagnostics, or Biopharma industries, including companies and technologies.

Responsibilities

Build, maintain, and stress-test transaction and business-case financial models, including multi-scenario P&L architectures, probability-weighted forecasts, discounted cash flow and returns analyses, capital structure models, and revenue and cost-share constructs.
Execute analytical workstreams for mergers, acquisitions, partnerships, alliances, joint ventures, divestitures, licensing agreements, and new business formation.
Model the economic and financial statement consequences of alternative structures for non-standard commercial arrangements, and surface trade-offs between them.
Conduct financial and market diligence on potential targets and partners, including analysis of historical financials, operating metrics, cost structures, contract economics, and integration considerations.
Prepare executive-quality written materials, memos, and presentations that are analytically accurate, internally consistent, and clear in their recommendations.
Maintain analytical infrastructure for the active deal pipeline, including model version control, assumption libraries, source documentation, and post-close tracking against original deal cases.
Support routine assessment and reporting of completed transactions, including performance against underwriting assumptions and lessons applicable to live opportunities.
Collaborate with Corporate Development, Technical Accounting, Tax, Treasury, Legal, FP&A, and business unit finance teams to gather inputs, validate assumptions, and reconcile analytical differences.
Exercise independent judgment in selecting analytical methods, evaluating assumptions, and developing recommendations within assigned transaction workstreams, seeking review at key points.
Develop toward workstream and team leadership.

Benefits

Variable cash program (bonus or commission) eligibility.
Equity may be included for eligible roles.
Access to genomics sequencing.
Family planning benefits.
Health insurance.
Dental insurance.
Vision insurance.
Retirement benefits.
Paid time off.
Employee Resource Groups that provide career development experiences, cultural awareness, and social responsibility engagement opportunities.