Finance Specialist

AstraZeneca is one of the most fascinating biopharmaceutical companies in the world. From researchers to sales people, from lab technicians to the legal department, we all have a mission to turn ideas into science, science into revolutionary medicines that save and extend patients’; lives and benefit society. Our portfolio is solid and our pipeline is innovative with a focus on biological medicines in the Cardio-Metabolic, Respiratory and Oncology areas.
**_Main accountabilities:_**
- The role broadly includes the following key components:
- Business Strategy & Decision Support: To support key business & investment decisions through ensuring dynamic resource allocation, targeted at value-creating opportunities, advising and guiding senior business leaders, using an excellent knowledge of customer requirements, developing and executing the headcounts and sustainability controls and analysis, balanced with an understanding of internal culture and climate
- Business Strategy & Decision Support
- working with Finance Managers to support the business to understand future financial information needs and producing efficient solutions to meet these needs (Business Case Development, Benefits tracking, KPIs etc)
- Assessing the relevant input required to lead others during difficult decisions
- Negotiating and communicating effectively across teams and business units and with external parties to achieve a positive outcome
- Being actively involved in review and development of short & long-term strategy in area of accountability
- (Business decisions to be supported, material in both value and impact, would include: Strategic change programmes, Investment propositions (including large scale capital programmes), Sourcing strategies and capacity decisions, Commercial and/or Procurement decisions, Drug Project Milestones)
- 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, lead and influence the key cost drivers
- Developing reliable operational and financial forecasts ensuring resources are allocated to maximize value creation for AZ
- Support Finance managers with financial planning cycle in area of accountability; setting stretching but attainable performance targets and incentives, aligned to strategy and operational plans
- Highlighting sensitivities & risks and delivering timely, accurate and granular reporting and commentary of (global) performance, linking business drivers to actual spend and forecast
- Proactively driving efficiencies including seeking cross functional process solutions
- Exploring needs with internal customers and suppliers and utilizing this information to improve business results showing significant commercial and business acumen
- Post deal management on agreements in area of accountability, able to analyse and interpret financial statements, understand complex company valuations and contribute to deal-related commercial analysis
- Supoort with preparation of 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
- InitiCommunicating 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
- Developing the professional capability of the Finance team and the financial understanding of non-finance managers
**Requirements**:
- Bachelor's degree in Administration, Accounting, Economics, with a postgraduate degree or MBA
- Fluent in English
- FP&A experience
- Strong analytical skills
- Demonstrable knowledge of global and corporate business context
- Exceptional communication, influence and presentation skills, including oral & written.
- Excellent interpersonal skills and proactive approach.
- SAP previous experience / knowledge

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