Business Analyst - Operations Small Molecules (GFS Americas)

Role Purpose

AstraZeneca is a global, innovation-driven biopharmaceutical business that focuses on the discovery, development and commercialization of prescription medicines for some of the world's most serious diseases. But we're more than one of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies. At AstraZeneca, we're proud to have a unique workplace culture that inspires innovation and collaboration. Here, employees are empowered to express diverse perspectives - and are made to feel valued, energized and rewarded for their ideas and creativity.

Global Financial Services (GFS) was formed in Q3 2018 through the merger of Global Finance Operations, Integrated Finance Solutions and Cash Generation.  GFS is at the heart of the Finance function - accountable to the AstraZeneca (AZ) Group for the design and delivery of high quality, simple to operate transactional finance processes that enable our customers to focus on AZ’s strategic priorities.  

Our processes cover record to report, purchase to pay, order to cash, controllership, financial planning and analysis and finance operations, and we drive AZ’s cash focus through disciplined management of supplier and customer payment terms and practices.

GFS operates globally through a combination of in-house captive and offshored business process outsourcing (BPO). The BPO element has been provided in partnership with our service provider partner Genpact since 2008. 

AZ Finance is part way through an ambitious, broad ranging, multi-year transformation programme, called Finance Transformation (FT).  FT plans for transactional process and technology improvements will underpin a next wave of GFO transformation and a step change in service effectiveness and efficiency.

Role Profile
The Operations & Enabling Team will establish best practice across the Operations site network, Central Operations, in all manufacturing related processes. Your primary focus will be on serving the finance business partners as well as providing support to GFS colleagues.

Role Responsibilities

You will be working in a large team to provide support to the Manufacturing/Quality sites of the Biologics and Small Molecules regions including cost analysis, inventory, and capital expenditures.

• Perform monthly journal entries including accruals, reclasses, deferral and release of Manufacturing variances, stock provision or any other ad hoc entry to ensure accuracy in the financial information.
• Execute month-end activities as well as financial reporting and variation analysis activities and related deliverables in a timely and accurate manner, including business insightful commentary for the management information pack.
• Ensure data across reporting platforms is consistent to guarantee safe decision making for senior management.
• Perform monthly/weekly analysis of the Manufacturing variances that occur in the site to ensure to provide the proper visibility to site Finance and take any necessary actions if required.
• Execute all planning cycle processes (manufacturing, site cost, inventory and/or Capex) according to the AZ guidelines including the management information pack and analysis of any variations between the different forecast cycles. Also, ad/hoc support with different analysis required by Embedded Finance for decision making.
• Provide support and business insights (when possible) with the financial reporting/analysis requests from site Finance.
• To build and maintain a strong and effective relationship with Embedded Finance and Finance Senior Management.
• Become planning champions (site cost, manufacturing, inventory, and/or capex) to ensure all planning deliverables are fully coordinated and ensuring they are clear and performed as per the planning calendar.
• Perform all month-end close controls (SOX and non-SOX) with quality and ensuring they are appropriate and as per audit requirements.
• Provide support to the Financial Analysts related to month end closing or planning deliverables.
• Cross train with other Analysts to provide back up.
• Collaborate with external and internal auditors to provide necessary information during the audits that are performed during the year.
• Work with the continuous improvement initiatives to ensure implementation of the process improvements within the accounting/finance department, including initiatives to streamline close.
• Ensure all relevant processes are properly documented and that documentation is up to date to ensure a proper business continuity process.
• Might (based on operational needs) manage interns ensuring they deliver with quality, and they have the right balance of workload and growth in the team.
• Proactively build business acumen, understand how information flows from end to end within Operations as well as in the plants.

Essential

• Experience of finance and accounting is required. Self-motivation and a commitment to team
  work is key.
• A recognized finance or accounting qualification.
• 4+ years accounting/cost/FP&A experience where applicable.
• Use of general office and financial systems for budgeting, forecasting and reporting.
• Cross boundary experience including building relationships remotely and cross-culturally.
• Ability to work well in and across diverse global teams.
• English Language proficiency, both verbal and written, with the confidence to express clear opinions and ability to explain financial issues to non-financial management.
•  Accounting fundamentals – understands the basic principles of accounting (eg accruals; cost
  centers; budgeting).
• Strong computer skills and proficient with Excel including pivot tables, multiconditional sumifs, and vlookups. Desire to continue to develop new Excel abilities, speed, and accuracy, and to follow existing departmental spreadsheet structure and formatting conventions and methodologies.

Desirable

• Qualified finance professional or working towards a recognized financial qualification.
• Proficiency in the use of SAP.
• For Commercial unit’s experience of working in Sales/commercial industry.
• For Operations – experience of working in Manufacturing industry.

Competences and skills

• Desire to work in a lean, fast moving organization where not all responsibilities or desired tasks can be anticipated or scheduled ahead of time. Be flexible and willing to exercise judgment over materiality and actively take steps to increase the speed of assembly and accuracy of accounts. Be willing to jump right into an assigned task even if the task can’t be fully clarified or justified at that time/ be comfortable with some ambiguity.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including ability to adapt communication styles to suit the preferred methods of managers, executives, and colleagues, as well as contacts outside of the Company that may be at the level of novice accounting clerks.
• Ability to solve complex issues where analysis of data requires an in-depth evaluation of variable factors and be able to exercise good judgment in selecting methods, techniques and evaluation criteria for measuring, summarizing, and optimizing spending and accounting accuracy.

Other Role Requirements

• Schedule flexibility to work on holidays when necessary.
• Flexibility and ability to travel and work in another AZ facilities outside the country when necessary.
• Schedule flexibility to work on the days off given by the wellness policy when necessary (Política de Bienestar).

According to the company policies, the candidate must prove that there are no situations that generate a conflict of interest (COI) for the company. The non-existence of COI is considered as an objective requirement of the position. To know beforehand the weightings of COI contained in the policies of the company, consult the Human Resources Department.

The GFS function will interface with the Back Office Shared Services function, Business CFOs/Finance Business Partners and 3rd party specialist functions.

AstraZeneca is an equal opportunity employer. AstraZeneca will consider all qualified applicants for employment without discrimination on grounds of disability, sex or sexual orientation, pregnancy or maternity leave status, race or national or ethnic origin, age, religion or belief, gender identity or re-assignment, marital or civil partnership status, protected veteran status (if applicable) or any other characteristic protected by law. AstraZeneca only employs individuals with the right to work in the country/ies where the role is advertised.

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 authorisation and employment eligibility verification requirements.