Head, US Commercial Finance - Astellas

Do you want to be part of an inclusive team that works to develop innovative therapies for patients? Every day, we are driven to develop and deliver innovative and effective new medicines to patients and physicians.  If you want to be part of this exciting work, you belong at Astellas!

Astellas Pharma Inc. is a pharmaceutical company conducting business in more than 70 countries around the world. We are committed to turning innovative science into medical solutions that bring value and hope to patients and their families. Keeping our focus on addressing unmet medical needs and conducting our business with ethics and integrity enables us to improve the health of people throughout the world. For more information on Astellas, please visit our website at www.astellas.com.

This position is based in Northbrook, Illinois. Hybrid work from certain states may be permitted in accordance with Astellas’ Responsible Flexibility Guidelines. Candidates interested in hybrid work are encouraged to apply. 

Purpose:

The Commercial Finance US Lead has overall accountability for Commercial Finance across the Commercial Operations organization in the US region. This role will be required to develop the relationship with Global leaders, driving credibility through deep financial expertise and insight, providing the necessary challenge to pursue the interests of the organization, and support the global strategy. Ideal candidate will be responsible for providing strategic financial support to the global Head of Commercial Finance and to the President Commercial Operations of US, in order to optimize short-term and long-term operating results, balancing strategic priorities across Commercial Finance.

Lead a team who will collectively partner with the commercial business to drive performance across the US. This team governs the preparation and analysis of financial results and provide financial insight to the business to drive informed decision making and value creation across the region short to long-term. This role is a key ambassador in ensuring that activities are optimized and standardized across the region.

This role will be required to proactively formulate the regional commercial strategy and initiatives, challenging and influencing global stakeholders and the Management Team to safeguard the assets of the business. They will ensure that optimal resource allocation decisions are made.

Essential Job Responsibilities:

1. Leadership:

• Shape and evolve the ways of working with the business to optimize the value delivered by the Commercial Finance team.
• Provide financial leadership, relevant insight and challenge in determining and delivering the strategic Business direction (e.g. pricing/Gross to Net, portfolio & resource decisions, improving margin).
• Stimulate behaviors and alignment across the organization, supporting the delivery of the business strategy.
• Lead and motivate the Commercial Finance department, building an effective team of direct reports who can effectively develop and drive the commercial finance strategy in the Market.

1. Investments:

• Evaluation of investment proposals and formulation of recommendations for the approval of senior management.
• Act as a catalyst in moving forward initiatives critical to delivering the market strategy and results.
• Assess commercial viability and ROI of investment decisions.
• Articulate financial risks and opportunities and drive post-investment appraisal of business initiatives.
• Develop tools and solutions to maximize financial return on investments across the Region.

1. Planning and Budgeting:

• Accountable for implementing the planning processes in the market in alignment with the global process and influencing the global process to work effectively within the market.
• Driving forward the financial forecasting process, and effectively managing risks and opportunities, allowing opportunities for the business to create value through adjustments and reallocations of investments.
• Lead the budgeting process, including target setting, challenging the market and finalization of stretched but achievable targets
• Bring enterprise thinking to the market, to challenge the plans / results as well as bringing market insights to the above-market team to support effective enterprise decisions.
• Support effective business performance management, including setting appropriate KPIs, reporting and challenging the business to improve results, grow profits and create sustainable value.
• Leverage business knowledge and relationships to effectively support and challenge business performance and Planning, Budgeting & Forecasting.

1. Compliance:

• Embed Compliance Culture across all markets of the Region ensuring Integrity in Action is actively applied in all initiatives and proactively address non-compliance.
• Ensure adherence to Astellas policies relating to healthcare compliance standards and interactions with Healthcare Professionals (HCPs), Healthcare Organizations (HCOs) and Patient Organizations (POs).
• Ensure adherence to Astellas policies relating to Finance Controls and Compliance standards.
• Ensure a culture of Ethics and Compliance; lead by example and incorporate cross-cultural perspectives when addressing challenging situations.

1. Other:

• Promote operational culture within the region, continuously improving processes and ways of working across the region and in alignment with API and RHQ.
• Build and lead strong, effective teams of highly capable professionals, focusing on development of commercial finance capability across the Region.
• Other such duties as may be reasonably required by the business.

Quantitative Dimensions:

• Financial: Responsible for US sales of approximately 6B USD and the budget of Commercial Operations to achieve these sales;
• People: 3-4 direct reports and working in partnership with an FPA COE team.