Americas Lead, Operations FP&A Group - AstraZeneca - Newark, DE

The Operations & Enabling Units FP&A Group has been established within Group Controllers and will establish best practice across the Global Operations site network, Central Operations, and all Enabling Units (IT, Global Finance, HR, Legal and Compliance).

Initial scope will be month-end close & reporting; planning & forecasting; Global product costing and financial governance. The team was initially formed in July 2014, and has continued to transition activity into it, with the team now comprising 85 FTEs. Activities will continue to transfer from all Operations sites around the world over the next year, resulting in the organisation growing to over 100.

Role Description

Working in the Operations & Enabling Units FP&A Group, as the Americas Lead you are integral to the AZ strategy of building centres of expertise for FP&A. The regional hub in has been established in Newark, Delaware which will provide FP&A activity to all sites in the region (two sites in the US, Puerto Rico, Brazil, Mexico and Argentina).

You will initially lead and project manage the transfer of in-scope activity into the team, integrate it into the BAU FP&A Group organisation. Your role will lead a team of approx. 13-15 people, comprising Business Analysts and Senior Business Analysts who will carry out knowledge transfer from existing local teams before transitioning the work into the FP&A Group and be accountable for BAU delivery of the FP&A services.

In this role you will have the opportunity to gain exposure and provide financial support to a range of business customers and be seen as an integral part of a high performing team that successfully transfers in new activities from Operations sites around the globe.

FOCUS AND CHALLENGE

Develops People & Organisation

*

• Responsibility for managing and motivating a team of Business Analysts, ensuring that the team delivers to the highest standard of customer service whilst adhering to global process and all relevant financial controls
  
  *


• Building excellent working knowledge of customer requirements and business drivers which are shared and understood by your team of Business Analysts. Coaching and development of staff will be integral to building a customer orientated mindset.
  

Transition Management

*

• Establish overall transition plan and individual plans for each Operations site with key deliverables for each toll gate, ensuring the transition covers all in-scope activity, in line with agreed RACI
  
  *


• Support transition team in developing individual transition/training plans
  
  *


• Actively monitor progress to plan and communicate successes and challenges with key stakeholders
  
  *


• Manage transition risks and opportunities
  
  *


• In conjunction with the Customer Director, review and agree Service Level Agreement and develop CPIs (Critical Process Indicators) for sites to be monitored against
  
  *


• Establish and run governance structure both during and after the transition
  

Knowledge transfer

*

• Ensure high quality process steps and descriptions are documented and signed-off with current Finance organization
  
  *


• Obtain business acumen and establish ways of dealing with ad-hoc requests from retained Finance organization and local business.
  
  *


• Establish log of process improvement opportunities and blockers and plan to progress / remove accordingly.
  

Process Expert

*

• Provide financial support to the manufacturing facilities in the Americas region (two sites in the US, Puerto Rico, Brazil, Mexico and Argentina)
  
  *


• Direct, plan, and control all accounting functions for the Americas Operations facilities in accordance with Company policies and procedures in order to provide site and business management with accurate and complete data.
  
  *


• In conjunction with the Site CFO (if applicable) and the Site Finance Director/Business Partner, assist in the development of the annual budget and quarterly reviews.
  
  *


• In conjunction with the FP&A Group GPOs, implement robust standardised procedures in order to more efficiently and accurately provide financial data, plans or reports as necessary across all sites.
  

Governance

*

• Ensure adherence to all SOX, as well as, local financial control framework (FCF) controls and documentation requirements.
  
  *


• Liaise with all sites within the region to ensure appropriate consistency of policies, procedures, and financial budgeting and reporting.
  

Integral member of the Operations & Enabling Units FP&A Group Leadership Team. Actively engaged in assessing, prioritising and leading activities to deliver the FP&A Group strategy

Work Collaboratively With:

*

• Operations Site and Regional Leadership Teams in the Americas to champion the vision and delivery of Operations & Enabling Units FP&A Group globally
  
  *


• Operations site retained finance teams (business partners)
  
  *


• Operations & Enabling Units FP&A Group Leadership Team
  

Key Relationships

Internal

*

• Operations Americas site and regional leadership teams
  
  *


• Operations Americas site and regional retained finance teams – Finance Business Partners & CFO
  
  *


• Operations & Enabling Units FP&A Group Leadership Team
  
  *


• Other AZ Finance functions
  

External

*

• Peers in other Pharma companies and other industries