At AstraZeneca, we are united by a common purpose – to push the boundaries of science to deliver life-changing medicines. This purpose underpins everything we do; our work helps to make hearts healthier, to help people breathe easier, and to help more people survive cancer. Every single day, we make a difference by delivering potentially life-changing medicines to millions of people worldwide and by leading breakthrough science that promises to transform the treatment of disease. 

Our purpose is bold and so is our approach. Becoming a more agile and innovative company means building a dynamic, inspiring culture where we celebrate entrepreneurial thinking and act with a sense of urgency. We are courageous, taking risks and learning from both success and failure. We are curious, creative, and open to new ideas and ways of working. Above all, we are passionate about science and driven to always put patients first. Join us and be part of a great place to work; an environment that energizes and empowers each of us to achieve our goal to develop and deliver medicines. 

This exciting role is the lead financial partner to their respective Business Unit(s). The incumbent will provide value added and insightful financial and business analysis to support operational initiatives, challenge key forecasting

assumptions while identifying risks and opportunities to the business.

This role includes developing and delivering on strategic financial initiatives whilst engaging through collaboration with colleagues across a cross-functional team, across various Marketing functions as well as AstraZeneca senior leaders.

The role reports to the Director of Finance, Business Partnering and will be a key advisor to two (2) Vice Presidents (respective business area) in Canada.

The focus for this role is:

• Lead and deliver financial oversight and control to the Business unit, whilst demonstrating strong business acumen and developing meaningful relationships. 
• Develop deep best-practice knowledge within your business area and be accountable for business decision outcomes.

Key Responsibilities:

• Business Partnering & Decision Support
  • Working proactively with Business Unit Stakeholders to understand future financial information
  • Negotiating and communicating effectively across teams and with external parties to achieve a positive outcome.
  • Being actively involved in the review and development of short & long term strategy
  • develop robust financial forecasts & models to support the priorities of the unit
  • Utilize strong business acumen to engage with business unit
  • Works with the business to understand problems and how to best prioritize projects
  • Challenges business partner perspective (where appropriate), grounded in facts and data
  • Member of Business Unit’s Leadership Team (LT)
•  Business Performance
  • Works closely with the Business Unit VP to ensure accuracy of financial forecasts and, using a good understanding of the business model and financial drivers, to challenge and influence the key cost drivers and assumptions.
  • Developing reliable operational and financial forecasts while ensuring integrity of the data to promote a high quality forecast submission.
  • Understand brand assumptions (price, competitor activity, access/regulatory changes) and initiatives and help build the brand strategic plan by challenging the business and providing the financial point of view
  • Understand competitor positions and products to analyze and question / challenge budget submissions for sales and costs to ensure submissions are accurate, justifiable and sound
  • Supporting the Senior Manager, FP&A with the financial planning cycle in the area of accountability; setting stretch, but attainable, performance targets which are aligned to strategy and operational plans with the Business Unit
  • Highlighting sensitivities & risks and delivering timely, accurate and granular reporting and robust commentary of the BU’s performance, linking business drivers to actual spend and forecast.
  • Proactively partnering with the business to drive cost excellence through lean leadership, efficiencies along with simplification and standardization.
  • Assist in the delivery of robust and rigorous financial analysis of risks and benefits for major business initiatives to help support data driven decision making.
  • Deliver business acumen and financial education and awareness to teams through proactive engagement and collaboration.
  • Lead financial performance reviews for area of responsibility for key business and Finance review meetings.
  • Engaging with Finance Director to improve and/or simply working practices/processes

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, Finance or any other relevant Business discipline.
• 8+ years experience in finance and/or accounting with a minimum of 3 years in a manufacturing environment
• Strong knowledge of Canadian biopharmaceutical or related industry
• Prior exposure to SAP or similar ERPs.
• Drive Performance and is independent in thinking.
• CPA, CMA, and/or MBA is preferred
• Positively impact and influence others and quickly establish credibility while building strong business relationships
• Extensive experience in fostering and maintaining internal stakeholder relationships and management

• Ability to engage cross-functional working groups and teams
• Strong planning and systematic thinking, including project management and budgeting

Traits of a successful candidate:

• Effectively communicates the story behind the numbers in terms business partners understand
• Proactively suggests business problems to address to COE
• Makes practical recommendations based on analysis
• Understands how different stakeholders needs differs
• Asks questions that efficiently lead to identification of root cause of problems
• Develops practical and acceptable compromises when negotiating
• Effectively prioritizes business problems based on urgency and relevance
• Clarifies decision trade-offs to internal customers
• Redirect poor business assumptions
• Discusses financial performance in terms of the financial implications and business activities
• Generate multiple options to solve a problem and identifies the most effective solution
• Identify current and future critical decision points based on expert knowledge and experience.

Great People want to Work with us! Find out why:

• GTAA Top Employer Award for 6 years: https://reviews.canadastop100.com/top-employer-astrazeneca-canada
• Best Workplace Culture Award at the 2018 Canadian HR Awards: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/thriving-best-workplace-culture-gena-restivo/
• Learn more about our culture: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/genarestivo_greatpeople-greatplacetowork-topemployers2020-activity-6608742174811049985-N-8G

Are you interested in working at AZ? Apply today!

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AstraZeneca 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.