Senior Director Finance, France & BeLux

AstraZeneca is a global, science-led, patient-focused biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the discovery, development and commercialization of prescription medicines for some of the world’s most serious diseases. But we’re more than one of the world’s leading biopharmaceutical companies. We’re also a Great Place to Work.

This is a collaborative environment where people are empowered to push the boundaries of science and unleash their entrepreneurial spirit. Welcome to an inclusive culture that champions diversity and collaboration. Experience the benefits of lifelong learning, growth and development. There’s no better place to make a difference to medicine, patients and society – and there’s no better time to join our exciting journey to pioneer the future of healthcare.

Role Overview:The Senior Director Finance, France & BeLux, provides financial oversight and leadership for Alexion’s French business, partnering with the VP & General Manager to drive profitable, sustainable growth. The role requires both financial expertise and broad business leadership, strong communication at local, regional, and corporate levels, and ensures implementation of corporate financial policies and procedures. This is a c.$250m cluster and plays a significant role in the global RDU ecosystem.

Key Responsibilities

Planning, reporting and decision support:

• Act as the point of contact for local teams, regional teams and the Global Head of Financial Processes regarding business outlooks within the territory.

• Prepare strategic plans, annual budgets and monthly forecasts in accordance with timelines and ensure accuracy.

• Provide management with accurate monthly financial reports on revenue and expenditure.

• Implement business forecasting models for revenue projections and ensure accurate quarterly forecasts.

• Identify and quantify key risks and opportunities for the company in each forecasting cycle across all financial areas and liaise with Global Heads of Financial Processes (e.g. tax optimisation, accounting, etc.)

• Responsible for the accuracy of forecasts for the income statement, balance sheet and cash flow.

• Act as a business partner to the General Manager, attend local management and executive team meetings to support decision-making (e.g. analysis of options, P&R files, etc.)

• Ensure that the local management team fully understands the financial impact of key decisions.

• Establish a robust process to accurately forecast changes in headcount and quantify their impact on forecasts and budgets.

Financial Control

• Ensure compliance with legal and tax reporting requirements through financial controls and training.

• Compliance controls – process improvement and policy compliance

• Ensure that Alexion’s financial policies and procedures are documented, communicated and implemented.

• Provide a robust control environment ensuring quality (SOX) and communication throughout the organisation, including, where applicable, the reporting of potential internal control issues. With the support of local and shared services teams, ensure that local statutory accounts comply with local regulations and are filed within the required deadlines.

• Lead the development of local finance policies, procedures and best practices.

• Leverage shared services for all administrative and transactional support, seeking to implement processes and solutions in the countries wherever possible.

Accounting

• Responsible for reviewing and approving monthly and quarterly financial figures (Profit & Loss, Balance Sheet, Cash Flow) in accordance with Alexion’s financial reporting guidelines.

• Provide a robust control environment ensuring quality (SOX) and communication across the organisation.

• Ensure that local statutory accounts comply with local GAAP and are filed within the required deadlines.

• Proactively drive process improvements that have a positive impact at national and/or regional level

• Overall responsibility for the financial requirements of the legal entity, including, for example, statutory financial statements and shareholder resolutions on treasury matters such as dividend distributions.

Tax

• Responsible for approving all types of tax (transfer pricing, direct and indirect taxes), following the preparation of documentation by the Tax team.

• Enhancing understanding of non-deductible expenses, implementing measures to minimise their impact, and supporting the tax department in developing effective strategies to reduce tax rates.

• Manage local tax audits

• Ensure the accuracy of entities’ profit forecasts and manage inter-company transfer pricing where necessary.

Experience and qualifications

• 10 years’ experience in Finance / Management Accounting; experience in a leading consultancy firm is a plus, as is experience in a rapidly growing company.

• Experience of managing a finance team, ideally with similar responsibilities in business partnerships, financial reporting and control.

• A professional accounting qualification

• Experience within international organisations

• Experience in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry is a significant asset.

• Good IT skills (Excel, PowerPoint)

• Knowledge of an ERP system, such as SAP or similar

• Fluency in the French language and written and spoken English is essential

Date Posted

Closing Date

Alexion is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer. We are committed to fostering a culture of belonging where every single person can belong because of their uniqueness. The Company will not make decisions about employment, training, compensation, promotion, and other terms and conditions of employment based on race, color, religion, creed or lack thereof, sex, sexual orientation, age, ancestry, national origin, ethnicity, citizenship status, marital status, pregnancy, (including childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), parental status (including adoption or surrogacy), military status, protected veteran status, disability, medical condition, gender identity or expression, genetic information, mental illness or other characteristics protected by law. Alexion provides reasonable accommodations to meet the needs of candidates and employees. To begin an interactive dialogue with Alexion regarding an accommodation, please contact accommodations@Alexion.com. Alexion participates in E-Verify.