Financial Controller - AstraZeneca UK

Job Description

Do you have expertise in, and passion for, Financial Control? Would you like to apply your expertise to impact AstraZeneca UK, where we follow the science and turn ideas into life changing medicines? Then AstraZeneca might be the one for you!

At AstraZeneca UK, we bring life-changing medicines to patients across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. As a member of the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI), all of our sales, marketing and communications activities are subject to the ABPI Code of Practice. If you’re inspired by the possibilities of science to make a difference and ready to discover what you can do – join us!

It has been agreed that our AstraZeneca UK Commercial head office will move from Luton to Pancras Square, London in early 2022. This role will be initially based in our Luton office, until this move takes place.

Our move to Pancras Square offers us the strongest possible platform to transform the lives of patients in the UK, as the country’s leading biopharmaceutical company. It will bring AstraZeneca UK closer to our customers, partners and stakeholders in the UK’s healthcare environment, as well as foster greater collaboration with the wider AstraZeneca footprint.

As Financial Controller you will provide specialist finance and controls expertise to the local organisation, ensuring the maintenance of a robust financial control environment and accurate monthly financial reporting, that supports statutory reporting and local tax delivery, fully in line with local legal requirements and AZ accounting principles and standards. You will partner with a variety of internal and 3rd party finance providers in addition to external auditors ensuring activities are fully compliant with local requirements.

Responsibilities also cover the roll out of global projects and ensuring that global processes are fully implemented and functioning effectively within the market. The Financial Controller is responsible for local risk management and an accurate and up-to-date FCF framework, ensuring appropriate controls are designed and operating effectively to mitigate the risks in the market.

You will provide strategic leadership to the AstraZeneca UK supply chain function with regards to the day to day processes and team management to support the strategic direction of the marketing company; the changing requirements of the AstraZeneca portfolio and changes to the regulatory and commercial environment.

Typical Accountabilities:

Statutory and Management Reporting:

• Responsible for compliance with AZ Accounting Polices and standards, month-end process and applicable sub-processes (accounts payable, T&E, SOTC, fixed assets, R2R etc.), and other requirements for timely and accurate of submission of Management Accounts data in the different group systems.
• Working with Group Financial Reporting provide guidance to the local market on accounting treatment for complex financial transactions relating to either BAU or business case development
• Accountable and responsible for monthly and annual closing processes for statutory and management reporting, working closely with colleagues in the Global Finance Services shared services offshore teams.

Government Reporting

• Accountable for VPAS PPRS submissions and ensuring adherence to policies and deadlines
• Key contact for relationship with Dept. of Health on Pricing

Control Environment:

• Accountable for the market’s risk management and Financial Control Framework ensuring risks are appropriately identified and adequate controls are in place and operationally effective in the local market
• Responsible for review of bi-annual FCF submission to Regional Financial Controller and ensuring that mitigation plans are designed and implemented in an effective and timely manner
• Responsible for reviewing/updating local policies and procedures on a regular basis, in particular local market specific SOPs, ensuring these are aligned with AZ global standards.

Working Capital Management:

• Managing the cash targets for the market: providing forecasts and insights, proactive challenge of cross functional teams to deliver value to the business through optimising the cash position.

Local and Global Projects:

• Proactive engagement with Finance Transformation projects, ensuring the change impact assessment is robust and deployment plans designed and delivered to ensure a successful local implementation outcome.
• Participation in regional/local projects which could impact the accounting and tax activities, ensuring risks to BAU operations are mitigated effectively.
• A leader in the EuCan regional controllers network sharing best practice across the region and coaching/mentoring less experienced team members

Supplier/Account Management

• Act as the key strategic interface with all agents for all contract negotiations, revisions to terms and conditions and resolution of all business-critical issues
• Accountable for delivering an optimal supply chain model in line with business strategy and full product portfolio
• Ensure provision of Direct2Pharmacy services are in place and functional to cover any failings/anomalies in agent supply contract.

Stock and Supply Management

• Overall responsibility for the introduction of new product lines.
• Oversees supply chain team in managing monthly Supply Issue Management with Operations to resolve all supply issues in the 0 – 4-month supply window.
• Accountable to ensure Supply Management processes and procedures are adhered to.

Essential Skills and Experience

• Qualified finance professional with relevant PQE
• Experience of working across a global organisation
• In-depth understanding of regulatory/statutory requirements and governance principles/SOX
• Experience of working with a range of stakeholders/partners in a matrix environment
• Experienced user of SAP
• Fluency in English
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills

Desirable Skills and Experience

• Project Management experience
• Knowledge of Hyperion
• Experience of supply chain

Opening date: 26.8.2021

Closing date: 9.9.2021

Competitive salary and benefits apply