Finance Director, AIML

This role is an embedded Finance Partner role, providing all aspects of finance partnering and leadership for SVP R&D Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning (“AIML”) and their Leadership Team.  This is a team that operates like a startup organisation within GSK R&D and requires agile thinking and flexibility including regular realignment to emerging R&D priorities.  The role will report into VP Finance R&D Research Tech and will be a key member of that leadership team.  It should be noted that SVP AIML reports directly into President R&D and does not report into R&D Research Tech.

This role will work closely with AIML LT and project leads, supporting Strategy and Objective prioritisation as well as understanding the projects they are delivering, and strengthening collaboration with partnering business leads, Operations and Finance teams, to ensure aligned expectations and seamless hand-offs.  This will include working with business, Operations and Finance partners across R&D Research Tech, Research Units (RIRU, Oncology & Vaccines), MDS and One Development and CMO teams, as well as with the related R&D Digital and Tech functions (Onyx, CMC & Dev Tech) to optimise value delivered into the R&D organisation.

This role will drive alignment between the AIML, R&D and R&D Digital & Tech teams to leverage GSK’s data and platform technologies and AIML modelling to progress and enhance pipeline assets and R&D capabilities.

The role will also lead the financial planning and reporting for AIML, an organisation made up of approximately 180 FTEs, with ~£50m Opex, <£5m Capex and 4 Leadership teams.

Responsibilities:

Accountable to provide financial leadership and support to AIML SVP and their LT.  In particular, making decisions together to ensure Quarterly OKRs (Objectives and Key Results) will deliver annual Objectives and align closely to R&D priorities.  This role will work closely with R&D, and R&D Digital & Tech, Finance partners to optimise data and technology resources to advance the early & late stage pipelines, assess reasonableness of R&D Tech resources, manage risks and opportunities and deliver on the financial targets that the group has committed.

Decision support:

• Provide leadership and strategic Finance advice to the key business partners (VP AIML) and respective leadership teams by proactively identifying opportunities and raising challenges to meet business objectives and mitigate risks.

• Provide management insight and guidance using standard management reports and knowledge of the business

• Provide strategic analysis and direction based on internal and external information

• Sponsor and lead initiatives as a core member of the Leadership team

• Contribute to the prioritisation of capital investment for AIML/data infrastructure for the Capital Allocation Board process and related Governance Boards. 

• Support preparation of PIPs for major projects and ensure capital projects are managed within and acceptable +/- margin of Plan.

• Support and assess business development, due diligence, third-party deals, partnerships, business evaluation and divestment proposals, managing BD commitments within budget as required.

Financial management and governance:

• Lead the forecasting/budgeting process; Budget, Updates and Soft landing for AIML, including all the financial aspects of 3-year plans, annual business plans and their related funding requests.

• Direct all financial management activities for the group in support of developing and delivering business strategies and maintaining strong financial governance.

• Accountable for identification and balancing of financial risks and opportunities to ensure delivery of opex and capex aligned to financial plans

• First point of contact for business colleagues with all financial management issues. Proactively engage with senior stakeholders and customers to understand customer needs, current and emerging gaps and prioritize areas for improvements in the areas of Actual and Forecasts/Plan.

• Support implementation of procurement, working capital, treasury and tax strategies in consultation with Controller Team, Corporate and Centres of Excellence

• Deliver overall contribution to the financial and business performance.

• Review the resource planning and project resource allocation.

• Provide commentary on key variances/business drivers and any actions required

Influence and build relationships:

• Build trust and credibility with SVP AIML and all members of their Leadership Team.

• Demonstrate flexibility and develop