This is what you will do:
The Finance Business Partner will be a member of the Ireland Financial Planning & Analysis Team within the Alexion Global Operations Group, based in Dublin or Athlone, Ireland. This role reports to the Finance Lead, Manufacturing. The position will have a key role in partnering with the team at the Athlone production facility and will provide end to end finance business partnering support to the site leadership team and the external manufacturing team. The role is responsible for financial arrangements with external manufacturing partners (CMO’s). The role will provide financial planning and analysis to key internal customers with a focus on cost drivers, cost subject area & cost management, over the short & medium term. The role has responsibility for handling Plant headcount, monthly inventory obsolescence analysis and process order management. The Finance business partner will identify and support initiatives to improve processes, maintain spend within agreed budgets and be a driver for continuous improvement.
This individual will be an adaptive learner, with excellent analytical skills. They will be able to work independently and as part of a team, in a very dynamic environment with the ability to both implement and continuously improve processes.
You will be responsible for:
The specific roles and responsibilities of the Finance Business Partner include:
Business Support, Planning and Analysis.

• Partner with Athlone facility & external manufacturing team in preparation of their forecasts & budgets that are consistent with our ambition:
• Partner with the Leadership teams to understand the key drivers of the business and seek to improve monthly analysis and insights.
• Produce Departmental and consolidated reports for discussion at leadership meetings.
• Drive compliance with financial processes at a business level & deliver finance training as appropriate to improve awareness and finance acuity.
• In relation to monthly results, produce:
  • Variance analysis (Actual vs Budget/Forecast) and relevant insights.
  • Analysis & drive recommendations of actual Gross/Net Spend.
  • Data, analysis, and insights that inform recommendations.
• Drive cost awareness across external manufacturing & the Athlone facility.
• Review, approval & control of costs in accordance with Alexion/AZ Policies

• Determine assessment of costs to Inventory or Net P&L.
• Seek to continuously improve the information and insights made available to the Athlone & external manufacturing Leadership teams.
• Review monthly accruals and support the business as required.
• Provide insights into Risks & Opportunities.

• Work with HR and business partners, utilizing Success Factors & Anaplan, to govern headcount and streamline headcount management & reporting.

Inventory Management, Variance Reporting & Process Order review.

• Review Monthly inventory reports to understand the composition and review in line with production schedule. Proactively handle Inventory risk.
• Review the monthly reserves with a view to analyzing the drivers, root causes, and seeking to driving improvement & accountability.
• Understand the drivers of manufacturing variances across manufacturing & filling seeking to drive a continuous improvement attitude.
• Collaborate with local teams to problem solve process order issues to ensure correct accounting outcomes.
• Maintain BDS Variance summaries for each BDS campaign.
• Maintain updated schedules with a view to how absorption changes impact the financials.
• Review WIP balances at month end, take relevant action when required.
• Represent finance in LEAN projects and be a representative on various global forums when the need arises.

You will need to have:

• 5+years finance operations/manufacturing experience preferably in the Pharmaceutical/Biotech industry.
• Qualified accountant (CIMA/ACCA/ACA/CPA).
• Experience in multinational environment.
• Detailed working knowledge of SAP and process orders.
• Highly proficient in Microsoft Excel and Power Point.

We would prefer for you to have:

• Anaplan experience & Power BI.
• Experience in operational improvement/lean/Six Sigma initiatives desirable.
• Curiosity and an aim to hold those accountable for commitments.
• Storytelling to be able to articulate issues and solutions in an engaging way.

Owners’ attitude and a desire to automate
Astra Zeneca 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.