Axial - Finance Lead – Director

Axial S/4 Finance Lead – Director

Location: Horizon Place, Luton, UK

Competative Salary & Benefits Package

About AstraZeneca

AstraZeneca is a global, science-led, patient-focused biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the discovery, development and commercialisation 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 are pioneering new frontiers by identifying and treating patients earlier, working towards the aim of eliminating cancer as a cause of death. Make a positive impact, in a team where it means more!

The Axial Programme (Global S/4HANA implementation)

AstraZeneca (AZ) is in a period of strong growth and our employees have a united purpose to make a difference to patients around the world who need both our medicines and the ongoing developments from our science.   In this journey AZ must continue to work across borders and with partners and new colleagues in a fast and seamless way.  The ambition, size and complexity of the organisation, coupled with the opportunities afforded by new technology, has led the Board to approve a large-scale transformation programme – Axial.

The Axial Programme will be powered by S/4HANA a new ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) system which will be implemented right across the organisation and will provide our business with standardised processes, enhanced financial management, common data and real time reporting, transforming the way we work through our entire supply chain - from bench to patient.

Role Introduction

The Axial S/4 Finance  Lead - Director will partner with the Enterprise Process Leads and the GFS Deployment Lead for the design and deployment of the Axial finance transactional solution across AZ Finance R2R scope.  As the localisations and deployment planning and definition gathers pace in 2025 and beyond, we require a senior individual to drive forward the required activities to ensure a successful deployment impacting these functions, ensuring the successful deployment of Axial solution on time, to plan.

What you will do

• You will understand the S/4 capability in the scope areas of the Finance global function Axial deployment roadmap. Ensuring that the deployable solution is aligned to the global standard, practical and pragmatic, will be the key focus when working closely with the Finance Global Function Deployment Lead and Enterprise Process Owners, Global Process Owners and the GFS (Global Finance Services) delivery lead.

• In doing so you will manage dependencies, risk, parallel initiatives and change impacts to deliver the Axial finance solutions.  This will include being responsible for the deployment of a portfolio of different global finance solutions with seamless interaction with the  Global Finance Function Deployment Lead.

• Once the localisation and deployment plan are established, you will be responsible for executing against it.  This will include defining further detailed design as appropriate and maintaining the resource/skill profile within the Axial programme (change, technology, data, R2R/P&MM/O&D2C design) and business as usual resources.  A key part of this will be managing dependencies and changes appropriately through governance.  You will also partner with Local Finance Deployment Leads and Interim State Leads, agreeing the impact on the Finance function and pathway to address this for topics. 

• Throughout the deployment journey, you will communicate effectively with senior stakeholders (both within the Axial programme and outside of it). Bringing the specific S/4 HANA knowledge to specific situation and ensure the change impacts are catered for and risks are managed appropriately.

• As deployment for a particular solution(s) nears in line with the plan, you will work on defining cutover activities, supporting the Local Finance Deployment Lead, and steps to drive a smooth cutover and adoption of the solution(s).  In addition, you will own hypercare for the global function over and above the Local Finance Lead scope, defining it and what a successful exit from hypercare is.   

Essential Skills & Experience

• You will have a track record of delivering large transformation S/4 projects in a large corporate environment either from within a large company’s Finance team deploying S/4 or  in Practice (or a combination).

• You will have a finance background and consider yourself a specialist in one or more finance disciplines.

• You will be able to manage complex/multiple dependencies and large areas of uncertainty yet still make meaningful strides forward or make appropriate assumptions.

• You will be able to assess change impacts on a global function across technology, process and data and address them across complex processes and current ways of working.

• You will be able to manage and work with external partners such as system integrators to define scope and needs inline with the deployment approach.  

• You will be able to engage with senior stakeholders both within the Axial programme and outside of it within the wider AZ community to understand requirements, concerns and plot a pathway to address them.   

Desirable Skills & Experience

• S/4 HANA programme experience is essential.

• ACA/ACCA/CIMA or equivalent qualification.

In Office Requirement:

When we put unexpected teams in the same room, we unleash bold thinking with the power to inspire life-changing medicines. In-person working gives us the platform we need to connect, work at pace and challenge perceptions. That's why we work, on average, a minimum of three days per week from the office. But that doesn't mean we're not flexible. We balance the expectation of being in the office while respecting individual flexibility. Join us in our unique and ambitious world.

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.