Senior Collaborations Finance Partner

Senior Collaborations Finance Partner

Location: Warsaw

Hybrid Model: 3 days per week from office

To support AstraZeneca's collaborations and deals with third parties in developing and commercializing products by providing expert financial guidance related to the agreements and their accounting treatment, challenging key forecasting assumptions related to these agreements, and delivering proficient financial analysis of performance and the key risks. You will need to understand the details of the contracts, how the clinical trial or commercialisation activity is financed, understand both the AZ & third-party activities & also ensure that milestone payments, clinical trial costs etc are paid / received in line with the contract.  You will be expected to drive continuous improvement initiatives related to these areas and sharing best practices within the team. This may involve various financial analyses,  maintaining SOX and FCF controls,  close cooperation with post-deal finance business partners and third parties, as well as support for the annual business update cycle and monthly reporting related to third-party collaborations.

Typical Accountabilities:

The role broadly includes the following key components :

Third Party Contract Support

Provide support with all aspects of third-party contract including:

• Assist in understanding and analysing the financial clauses in third-party contracts, including cost-sharing arrangements, milestone payments, invoicing schedules, and profit-sharing agreements.
• Cooperate with the third party to understand their forecast activity & reflecting this in AZ systems/other documents
• Ensure sure contract specific clauses are included in budgets e.g. agreed FTE rates

Finance partnering, calculations and Analysis:

• Provide cost and profit share analysis and settlement files
• Prepare calculations of AZ external and internal costs for monthly accrual preparation and invoice raising
• Provide monthly variance analysis and comments
• Prepare Alliance forecast calculations if applicable for a deal
• Work proactively with the business to understand future information needs and produce efficient solutions to meet them
• Drive continuous improvement and standardisation initiatives and best practice sharing within the team
• Best in class partnering and communication to business stakeholders in a wide array of topics, also not directly related to finance (e.g. providing insights on how to avoid unnecessary complexity around FTE costs calculation in the new agreements etc.)
• Maintaining an excellent, up-to-date and broad understanding of all developments and changes within portfolio that may affect the organisation’s operations and policies
• Provide advice during planning processes and challenge relevant business assumptions

Reporting and Documentation:

• Create process notes for new agreements
• Review and update existing process notes at least once per quarter
• Prepare standard reports for stakeholders
• Prepare ad-hoc reports and provide support when needed
• Maintain detailed records and documentation related to third-party contracts, including correspondence, amendments, and settlements reports, to facilitate audits and ensure transparency

Accounting activities

• Journals posting with relevant backup preparation
• Payment processing (including milestones) and invoice raising
• Intangible Fixed Assets creation
• Authoring solutions when new, specific accounting approach is needed

Compliance and control

• Conduct balance sheet reconciliations & other financial controls  including SOX controls
• Support and participate in Partner's audits

Measures

• Timely and accurate processing of invoices/payments/accruals/reporting
• Quality of monthly  variance analysis commentaries
• High forecast accuracy (actuals vs landing within 2% controlled on supported functions)
• Feedback from stakeholders
• Other as defined by manager

Education, Qualifications, Skills and Experience

Essential:

• Significant experience in accounting &/or controlling activities including:
  • month-end close
  • reconciliations & variance analysis, including providing insightful commentaries to variances
  • financial controls & SOX controls
• Excellent communication & interpersonal skills, including oral & written English
• Advanced Excel skills
• Ability to use financial systems including SAP & Business Objects (or similar)
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