Associate Director - GCC Financial Planning and Reporting

Job Description

JOB TITLE Associate Director - GCC Financial Planning and Reporting ABOUT ASTRAZENECAAstraZeneca is a global, science-led, patient-focused biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the discovery, development, and commercialisation of prescription medicines for some of the world?s most serious diseases. But we?re more than one of the world?s leading pharmaceutical companies.ROLE SUMMARY

• Leading the partnership between Finance and Business to achieve the strategic and operational GCC goals in line with Company`s strategy via performance cycles (RBU / MTP).
• Proactively engage with business leaders (inc. Leadership Team, Country Directors, Global Business and Functional Leaders), providing financial insight, advice, guidance and support, enabling and influencing decision making to achieve optimal performance. Focus on consolidated management reporting.
• Responsible for establishing and maintaining Group Policy in key technical and specialist areas and manage associated risks, provide reports and analysis to support decision-making, deliver day to day operational requirements of the function.
• Being perceived by internal customers as the finance business expert and as an individual who actively shapes business strategy, seeks opportunities (business cases), mitigates business risks.
• Working on Financial Control Framework with GCC Financial Controller to make sure highest standards of controllership are met.
• Active collaborations with wider GCC Finance Team as well as global central teams, sharing best practice and delivering valuable support to the Business with consistency and efficiency.

What you?ll doThe role broadly includes the following key components:

• Business Strategy & Decision Support: To support business & investment decisions through ensuring dynamic resource allocation, targeted at value-creating opportunities, advising and guiding business leaders & managers, using an excellent knowledge of customer requirements, balanced with an understanding of internal culture and climate.
• Business Performance: To drive financial performance and business activity, to deliver and communicate performance and business planning reports, and to advise senior management on key drivers.
• Continuous Improvement: To take a lead in driving continuous improvement in Finance processes and capabilities and to lead financial risk management and financial governance in area of accountability.

Business Strategy & Decision Support:

• Working proactively with the business to understand future financial information needs and producing efficient solutions to meet these needs (Business Case Development, Benefits tracking, KPIs etc).
• Effective communication across teams and business units and with external parties to achieve a positive outcome, encouraging others to demonstrate flexibility when considering options and assessing business impact.
• Being actively involved in review and development of short & long-term strategy in area of accountability and maintaining an up-to-date understanding of all developments which may affect the organisation?s operations and policies and proactively advising customers of all relevant matters to achieve business requirements and objectives.

Business Performance:

• Having joint accountability with the business for the accuracy of forecasts and, using a good understanding of the business model and financial drivers, to challenge and influence the key cost drivers.
• Developing reliable operational and financial forecasts ensuring resources are allocated to maximise value creation for AZ.
• Leading the local / regional financial planning cycle in area of accountability; setting stretch but achievable performance targets, aligned with strategy and operational plans.
• Highlighting opportunities & risks and delivering timely, accurate and granular reporting and commentary on performance, linking business drivers to actual spend and forecast.
• Leading on technical forecast of cash, DSO and stock.
• Proactively driving efficiencies including seeking cross functional process solutions.
• Exploring needs of internal customers and suppliers and utilising this information to improve business results showing significant commercial and business acumen.
• Post deal management on agreements in area of accountability, ability to analyse and interpret financial statements, understand complex company valuations and contribution to deal-related commercial analysis.
• Preparation of all presentations for key business and finance review meetings.
• Working closely with Project / Capacity Managers to model and plan for volatile cost and resource demands.

Continuous Improvement, Governance and Coaching:

• Initiating changes to improve working practices and processes in Finance and communicating these amongst the Finance Business Partnering network.
• Communicating governance and compliance standards and statutory regulations to non-specialists in a way that is understandable and relevant and relays the risk of commercial decisions effectively.
• Leading insightful and proactive risk management processes to ensure the organisation?s regulations, rules and processes are adhered to, highlighting areas of concern and promoting continuous improvement in the robustness of the processes, sharing best practice across the business.
• Developing the professional capability of the Finance team and the financial understanding of non-finance managers
• Manage key finance processes.
• Manage cycle financial processes like month closing, budgeting, monthly reporting.

Essential for the role

• BS degree in relevant field (Finance, Accounting).
• Extensive experience of Finance Business Partnering, with at least 8-12 years of experience.
• Good understanding of Financial Controlling.
• Experience of working in well-known MNC.
• Exceptional communication and presentation skills, including oral & written; Fluent English is a must.
• Excellent Interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrable knowledge of global and corporate business context.
• Experience of using financial systems to support business decision making (budgeting, forecasting & modelling) inc. Hyperion Planning Systems, SAP, Power BI etc.
• Managing complex finance deliverables in tight deadlines and prioritizing workload.
• Self-starter, dynamic, curious and fast paced personality.

Desirable for the role

• Experience of working in Pharmaceutical organisation/understanding pharmaceutical business, its environment and dynamics, ability to manage actively P&L as a plus
• Arabic as a plus
• MBA or CPA / CIMA / ACCA
• Ability to challenge status quo
• Innovative digital technology experience and curiosity
• Flexibility driven by financial budgeting and operational cycles
• ?Right first time? approach

Why AstraZeneca?At AstraZeneca we?re dedicated to being a Great Place to Work. Where you are empowered to push the boundaries of science and unleash your entrepreneurial spirit. There?s no better place to make a difference to medicine, patients, and society. An inclusive culture that champions diversity and collaboration, and always committed to lifelong learning, growth, and development. We?re on an exciting journey to pioneer the future of healthcare.So, what?s next?

• Are you already imagining yourself joining our team? Good, because we can?t wait to hear from you.
• Are you ready to bring new ideas and fresh thinking to the table? Brilliant! We have one seat available, and we hope it?s yours.

Where can I find out more?Our Social Media, Follow AstraZeneca onFollow AstraZeneca on FacebookFollow AstraZeneca on Instagram Date Posted05-Jul-2022Closing Date14-Jul-2022AstraZeneca embraces diversity and equality of opportunity. We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse team representing all backgrounds, with as wide a range of perspectives as possible, and harnessing industry-leading skills. We believe that the more inclusive we are, the better our work will be. We welcome and consider applications to join our team from all qualified candidates, regardless of their characteristics. We comply with all applicable laws and regulations on non-discrimination in employment (and recruitment), as well as work authorization and employment eligibility verification requirements.

Keyskills :