Senior Manager, GFS (Global Financial Services) Controlling Ireland

Introduction to role:

As Senior Manager for EMEA Record-to-Report (R2R) within GFS Controlling Ireland, you will lead a team of six to deliver end-to-end financial accounting, close, and reporting for Alexion/AstraZeneca EMEA legal entities. Beyond leading a high-quality month-, quarter-, and year-end close for c.20 entities, you will be a visible leader for continuous improvement, digital enablement, and controllership excellence—strengthening the value perception of the team with stakeholders across the organisation. You’ll also help progress the function for our digital finance journey, including AI-enabled insights, expanding Power BI usage, and ready for transition to SAP S/4HANA.

You will be responsible for:

· Leadership and team performance: Lead, motivate, and develop a high-performing team; set clear objectives and coach for growth. Foster an inclusive, accountable culture focused on service excellence, compliance, and continuous improvement.

· Financial close and reporting: Lead the EMEA month-, quarter-, and year-end R2R timetable. Ensure accurate ledger close, journals, accruals, deferrals, and reconciliations; deliver high-quality management reporting packs; support Group submissions in line with IFRS and AZ policies.

· Controllership and compliance: Safeguard balance sheet integrity; oversee and challenge reconciliations, ageing, and substantiation; drive action plans; ensure SOX and internal control compliance. Coordinate external audit deliverables in partnership with statutory accounting.

· Process excellence and digital enablement: Set SLAs/KPIs with internal teams and service providers, monitor performance, and resolve issues. Standardise and simplify processes, document SOPs/process maps, and champion automation including analytics and dashboards in Power BI and identifying practical AI use cases in finance.

· Transformation and change: Lead or support global finance initiatives across EMEA R2R, including standardisation and automation initiatives, business initiatives contributing towards our 2030 bold ambition, and readiness for SAP S/4HANA implementation. Lead change with clear stakeholder communication and training plans.

· Stakeholder engagement: Build trusted relationships with Group Controllers, GFS leadership, FP&A, local finance, and external partners. Communicate proactively, translate technical topics into clear business narratives, and elevate the team’s value perception.

You will need to have:

· Professional accounting qualification (e.g., ACCA, ACA, CPA, CIMA)

· 5+ years’ post qualification experience with significant ownership of month end close and balance sheet governance in a complex, multinational environment

· Proven people leadership experience (direct line management), including coaching, objective setting, and performance management for a team of at least 4+

· Strong command of IFRS and internal controls/SOX, with a pragmatic, solution-oriented approach

· Demonstrated process improvement track record (e.g., elimination of manual work, standardization, automation, or dashboarding) with measurable outcomes

· Excellent communication and storytelling skills: able to translate technical finance matters into concise insights for stakeholders

· Digital finance mindset: comfort with data and systems; working knowledge of SAP and Blackline; proficiency in Power BI (consuming and interpreting dashboards; ideally building or defining requirements)

· Ability to use a computer; engage in communications via phone, video, and electronic messaging; problem solving; analysis, and dialogue; collaborate with others; maintain general availability during standard business hours

We would prefer for you to have:

· Multinational pharmaceutical experience a plus

· Experience with SAP S/4 HANA or large ERP migrations

· Exposure to, and/or an interest in, AI and advanced analytics in finance

Date Posted

12-Mar-2026

Closing Date

26-Mar-2026

Our mission is to build an inclusive and equitable environment. We want people to feel they belong at AstraZeneca and Alexion, starting with our recruitment process. We welcome and consider applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of characteristics. We offer reasonable adjustments/accommodations to help all candidates to perform at their best. If you have a need for any adjustments/accommodations, please complete the section in the application form.