Associate Director Record to Report Process and Governance

Do you have expertise in and passion for, R2R best in class processes, driving continuous improvement and working alongside finance transformation to drive R2R transformation? Would you like to apply your expertise to impact the finance function in a company that follows the science and turns ideas into life changing medicines? Then AstraZeneca might be the one for you!

Here you will experience a fast paced and agile environment as we continue to support the business on a journey of evolution and growth, driven by new, exciting technology and digital innovations. It’s challenging and sometimes demanding, and that’s why we love it.

AstraZeneca’s Finance function is undergoing a transformation journey with a significant focus on the Record to Report process. Whilst a dedicated finance transformation programme is under way with significant resources delivering a number of inflight projects, the R2R Global Process Owner (GPO) function has been instrumental in developing a vision and roadmap for change. Furthermore, we are working closely with the Finance Architecture, Change and Transformation function, adopting a ‘one team’ mentality.

This role reports to the R2R GPO. The GPO function reports to the Group Controller and supports users across the globe, including: Group Financial Reporting, Global Financial Services, Global Business Services, Marketing companies, and Operations. We operate in a truly global capacity.

One of the key focusses of the role is standardising our processes across the globe and driving our automation and technology agenda. As such the role will own the policies/standards, process maps and SOPs that have been designed as part of Finance Transformation. They will also own the exception management process, driving out exceptions. Furthermore, our processes are not static, and this role is responsible for identifying and driving continuous improvement opportunities. Fragmented processes are inefficient, affect business agility, reduce opportunities for automation, lead to data corrections and can also lead to an inefficient close process.

The role will focus on our global standardisation and automation agenda that are underpinned by both strategic change partnering with Finance Architecture, Change and Transformation group leading and continuous improvement. This role will have a significant impact on the user experience.

You will have a good understanding of what best-in-class processes and technology look like for Record to Report, have a solid understanding of SAP, Blackline, Group External Reporting systems and can speak confidently with users, system architects and business stakeholders alike.

In this role you will own the following:

• Own our policies, process maps and SOPs and drive improvements to them, ensuring appropriate and robust controls are embedded (i.e. process design architect)

• Manage the exception request process and drive down the number of exceptions over time whilst ensuring that we meet local statutory requirements

• Identify and drive continuous improvement opportunities

• Drive and shape the automation agenda

• Seek to improve user experience

• Identify any changes required following any audit reports

• Drive further implementations of standardisation

• Support strategic projects being led by Finance Architecture, Change and Transformation or other functions as the process expert

• Work with IT and SAP architects over the harmonisation of SAP configuration through any strategic projects

• Identify any data / master data issues that should be handled by the Master Data Strategy Lead

Essential skills and experience

• Strong controllership experience

• Demonstrable ability to manage multiple projects/tasks effectively

• Experience in writing, deploying and / or monitoring adherence to policies/standards.

• Demonstrable experience of finance transformation projects

• Demonstrable experience of creating business cases stating quantifiable and qualitative benefits

• Understanding of control environment

• Ability to influence, negotiate, and gain consensus with key stakeholders.

• Demonstrated success working in a team environment

• Demonstrated success building multi-functional global networks and stakeholder management

• Strong networking/consulting skills with good internal/external links

• Understanding and execution of best in class finance practices

• Ability to create / refine policies, process maps and SOPs

• Evidence of crafting and developing innovative solutions, including process automation, that have a major impact within the business area and organisation

• Experience of working in a global organisation with sophisticated/geographical context

• Strong SAP and Group External Reporting systems user experience and understanding of system design

Desirable skills and experience

• Experience of implementing significant business change across different national and business boundaries

• Significant work experience in finance function

• Ideal candidates will have specific industry and process experience

• Ideal candidate will have experience of working in an R2R GPO function

• Experience of working in a SOx environment

• Experience of working in a complex multi-national organisation

• Blackline user experience/understanding of system design

Competitive salary and benefits apply

Date Posted

Closing Date

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.