Senior Director, Global Develoment Financial Planning & Analysis

Role Summary

The Senior Director, Global Development FP&A is a seasoned finance leader who partners directly with our Global Clinical Development (early- and late-stage programs) organizations and cross-functional program teams to run global financial planning, forecasting, and strategic analysis. Reporting to the VP of R&D Finance, this highly visible role serves as a strategic advisor to the Chief Medical Officer’s organization and senior leadership, influencing portfolio prioritization and investment decisions through financial insights. The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in clinical trial finance, executive presence, and a proven ability to drive business outcomes in a dynamic, science-driven environment.

Responsibilities

• Build, maintain, and own clinical program-level budgets (Phase 1 to Phase 3), clinical trial cost models, and forecasts; produce cost-to-complete and cost per patient analysis used in strategic decisions.
• Lead advanced scenario modeling for clinical programs, including sensitivity analyses on timelines, enrollment rates, and regulatory milestones to inform go/no-go decisions.
• Translate clinical development plans into financial implications and ROI-based recommendations.
• Participate in cross-functional program teams and governance committees, providing real-time financial guidance.
• Deliver program dashboards, KPIs and trend analyses for executive and portfolio reviews.
• Prepare and present executive-level updates.
• Lead and develop a team of 6-8 clinical finance professionals: set team priorities, establish processes, and build scalable operating mechanisms for financial support.
• Drive automation and digital transformation of clinical finance processes, leveraging tools like Hyperion, Oracle, and emerging analytics platforms to improve accuracy and scalability.
• Mentor staff on forecast accuracy, stakeholder management and financial modeling best practices.
• Drive a collaborative, service-oriented culture between finance and Global Clinical Development organizations.
• Oversee month-end and quarter-end close activities related to clinical expense (accruals, reconciliations, GL review).
• Ensure accurate, timely accruals for CROs, FSPs, sites, labs and other clinical vendors. Maintain audit-ready documentation for clinical program spend.
• Improve transparency and accountability around clinical opex and resource allocation through clear processes, benchmarks and metrics.

Qualifications

• Required: Bachelor’s degree in finance, Accounting, or related field; MBA or CPA/CFA strongly preferred.
• Required: 12+ years of progressive FP&A experience, with at least 5 years in the pharmaceutical or biotech industry.
• Required: Experience supporting R&D or Clinical Development functions at a global scale.
• Required: Strong understanding of R&D processes, portfolio management, and project evaluation methodologies.
• Required: Proven ability to manage complex budgets, forecasts, and analyses in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
• Required: Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels and present complex financial insights to senior leadership.

Skills

• Deep understanding of pharmaceutical industry dynamics and executive-level business partnering.
• Hands-on exposure to clinical operations and/or CRO/FSP budgeting.
• Strong analytical capabilities in portfolio analysis.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and financial systems, including Hyperion and Oracle.
• Proven ability to lead change in complex, cross-cultural matrix environments.
• Exceptional communication and influencing skills across senior leadership and cross-functional teams.
• Ability to apply broad market knowledge to drive financial performance and strategic outcomes.
• Strategic thinker with attention to detail.