Clinical Finance Business Partner

Clinical Finance Business Partner

This role sits in R&D Finance and focuses on External Clinical costs management. 

Clinical Finance Business Partner provides financial support & participates in one of the most crucial processes – research and development of new molecules, or new ways to use already successful ones.

You will provide financial input into budgeting, furthermore, you will be responsible for preparation of scenarios, supporting decisions and tracking variances in the Clinical Trial costs vs forecast. 

In this role it is crucial to take initiative, create valuable & trusting relationships with Product Teams and be able to provide financial guidance to professionals who must stay focused on delivering breakthrough-innovating and safe products. 

This job not only requires the extensive financial knowledge, technical abilities to operate in a complex environment of systems & tools, but first and foremost, it requires excellent communication skills, flexibility and proactiveness to impact the business. 

You will be expected to help the company operate in SOX controlled environment, pass external audits and at the same time, optimize the resources to help creating genuinely innovative medicines and improving access to them.

Accountabilities:

The Clinical Finance Business Partner role will be viewed by finance and business customers as a financial modelling and analysis expert. The role broadly includes the following key components :

Finance Excellence: partner with business stakeholders to drive proper budget management within Clinical Trial Cost Management system

• Driving awareness of specific accounting, cost phasing system, processes, accounting compliance and controls
• Driving month-end process within area of responsibility through continuous review and validation of study parameters in clinical trials cost management system and communication to senior stakeholders on significant changes in accordance with accounting policy and SOX requirements,
• Hold business stakeholders accountable and provide support and guidance for proper budget set up and updates in Clinical Trial Cost Management system leading to accurate forecast and actual consolidation. Oversight including all required activities within Clinical Trial Cost Management system
• Conduct in-depth quarterly balance sheet review, including ongoing reconciliation of Clinical Trial Cost Management system cost items
• Train and support functions with finance and financial systems related topics.
• Partnering with business stakeholders on finance-led processes and any material finance requests.
• Provide financial input into periodic requests from R&D Finance - for instance actual performance to date, expected quarterly/yearly landing with commentaries, identification of risks & opportunities.
• Ensure effectiveness in the defined controls and external financial audits through support and challenge of involved teams. Conduct internal testing (mainly of Clinical Trial Cost Management system input)

Business Strategy & Decision Support: supporting key business decisions and answering business stakeholders questions and issues by providing finance input and guidance

• Working proactively with the business to understand future financial information needs and producing efficient solutions to meet these needs.
• Assessing the relevant input required to support others during difficult business decisions by preparing scenarios, analyses and options,
• Maintaining a good understanding of significant developments within portfolio

Business Performance: drive financial performance and business activity, deliver and communicate performance and business planning reports, advise senior management on key drivers

• Having joint accountability with business stakeholders for forecast accuracy preparation and, using a good understanding of the business model and financial drivers, challenge and influence key cost drivers to ensure resources are allocated to maximise value creation for AZ.
• Proactively working with business stakeholders to ensure robust financial forecasts through active partnering on a monthly basis. Ensure alignment with strategic and operational plans.
• Conduct an in-depth forecast review for quarterly RBU, holding Clinical Product Teams accountable for external spend forecast through targeted reviews
• Hold business stakeholders accountable for delivering within the agreed budget.
• Highlighting sensitivities & risks and delivering timely, accurate and granular reporting and commentary of performance, linking business drivers to actual spend and forecast.
• Delivering presentations for key finance review meetings with all stakeholders considering their position and business background.

Continuous Improvement, Coaching & Governance: supporting continuous improvement in Finance processes and capabilities and to lead financial risk management and financial governance in area of accountability.

• Identifying opportunities to simplify your work, including implementation amongst the Finance Business Partnering team if applicable.
• Support the delivery of various Projects assigned to you, proactively tracking and communicating progress, delivering high quality results within deadlines.
• Track accuracy within forecasting and cost recognition processes to drive continuous learning & improvement together with business stakeholders
• Individual Development and lifelong learning approach, proactively leveraging support of more experienced team members

Personal Characteristics

• Proactive and take the initiative
• High level of ownership
• Build strong, trusting relationships
• Ability to put yourself in others’ shoes
• Team player
• See the bigger picture beyond just your role
• Attention to detail

Requirements:

Essential

• Qualified finance professional (or equivalent)
• Strong knowledge of financial modelling and analysis (including Excel proficiency), budgeting and forecasting, and generally accepted accounting principles
• Good communication and presentation skills, including oral & written proficiency in English
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Ability to work effectively in a complex, global environment while appreciating and respecting cultural and organisational diversity
• Demonstrable knowledge of global and corporate business context
• Proactiveness & sense of initiative
• Demonstrated capacity to effectively manage multiple and frequently changing priorities
• High degree of accuracy with attention to detail

Desirable

• Successful business partnering experience
• Proven track record of delivered projects and/or process improvements
• Experience of working within a multi-disciplinary team and liaising with senior managers (including non-finance stakeholders)
• Experience of using financial systems (e.g. SAP, Hyperion) to support business decision making (budgeting, forecasting & modelling)