Assistant Controller EMEA

Assistant Controller EMEA

THE OPPORTUNITY

Responsible for the leadership and management of the Financial, Planning & Analysis function (FP&A) for ID EMEA.  Job also includes management responsibility for analysts and utilization of available accounting resources.  Main responsibilities of this position include oversight and coordination of all major planning activities (Plan, Update, LBEs, LRP), review of monthly spending performance, review of month-end close results, preparation and review of ad-hoc analysis (including cost/benefit, capital ROI analysis, forecast scenarios, and asset impairment reviews), clear identification of annual strategic path to achieve divisional and operational financial goals, financial education and training for operations extended leadership team and employee management and development.

• Responsible for compliance with applicable Corporate and Divisional Policies and procedures.
• Employee management, coaching and development.
• Coordination of Scheduled Planning Activities.
• Ad-hoc Financial Analysis and requests.
• Clear Identification of Operational Path Required to Achieve Financial Goals.
• Month-end close and reporting (journal entry review, variance analysis and commentaries, performance reviews)
• Interface with operations directors, managers and other members of the leadership team as required to manage cost center spending budgets, headcount management, distressed inventory strategies, accurate volume forecasting, overhead cost control and effective execution of planned cost improvement initiatives.
• Coordination and support for Finance related inquiries and audits (internal and external).
• Financial Education and Training for Operations Extended Leadership Team.

SUPPORTING ACTIVITIES OF THE EMEA REGIONAL CONTROLLER:

Business partnership to EMEA DVP in EMEA, providing financial expertise, decision making support, perspectives and insights from a financial standpoint.

Educates and explain results in a simple and straightforward manner, provides solutions to profitability challenges and anticipates and acts on risks and opportunities.

• Provides support and drives business initiatives, strategic actions and to understand and justify budgetary/plan commitments, blue plans, acceleration plans, RCEs in coordination with GMs, Affiliate FDs and Business Unit heads.

Lead the preparation of the annual financial Plans, including Updates and RLBEs for the EMEA region:

• Leads Plan discussions with Global Commercial, Region and BU management in justifying, presenting issues and helping understand and layout success factors and actions to ensure realistic plans.
• Drives, takes actions and ensures the accuracy of monthly Latest Best Estimate (LBE) process with Global Commercial, Region, Affiliate GMs, Commercial Heads and affiliate FDs
• Leads Monthly Performance Reviews and analytics with affiliates and Area
• Prepares Monthly Highlights and monitors key events that impact region

Leads monthly S&OP process, forecasts and alignment to RLBEs.

• Reviews actuals vs. forecasts and analyzes business cause of variances; recommends corrective actions and drives improvement strategies to ensure alignment to financial commitments.
• Supports the Finance/Commercial team in forecasting inputs (assumptions) and required reasons for variances vs. actuals for ADS, LBE and ad-hoc projections

Develops Talent to ensure proper succession planning in key positions.

• Drives actions to ensure knowledge sharing and development among the key finance staff in Area and Affiliates

Work on continuous process improvements to streamline plan preparations and various reporting requirements, including Synergies, Cost savings or restructuring opportunities for the Region.

• Drives initiatives to improve profitability, working capital optimization (DSO, DOH)

Establishes financial policies consistent with Corporate/division policies that allow effective management of the business and provides proper controls.

• Supports and helps maintain proper controls and procedures related to purchase order process, check requests, capital authorizations, customer profiles, etc.

Leads Financial transformation initiative (back office and shared services changes)

• Understands and drives ERP related initiatives
• Translates data into useful business insights

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Economics and/or Finance. CPA or MBA would be preferred.
• At least 8 years’ experience, 3 years of which in a managerial role, obtained preferably in a multinational environment, in the Pharma, Diagnostics, Med Devices or similar industries.
• Experience in a regional role or large affiliate (s)
• Highly analytical with a good appreciation and knowledge of the business
• Strong initiative and self-starter
• Excellent communication skills, ability to communicate at various levels and to work through effective prioritization of conflicting demands with multi-functional management
• Ability to challenge
• High degree of maturity in dealing with issues and affiliates with high complexity.

KEY INTER-RELATIONSHIPS

• Works directly with EMEA Controller and EMEA DVP and EMEA Area staff on affiliate business issues, business performance and
• Confers permanently with Division to ensure reporting requirements are met, and to discuss and support budgetary/plan commitments, LBEs and forecasts.
• Confers permanently with the GMs, Affiliate Finance and business unit heads to support business initiatives, strategic actions and to understand and justify budgetary/plan commitments, business issues and reporting.
• Interacts with Division and Corporate as required to drive acceleration projects, business initiatives and reporting requirements.
• Confers with Corporate to ensure compliance and adherence to policies/financial procedures.
• Interacts closely with Abbott Sister Divisions-when required in collaborative manner to secure proper support on key initiatives that affect businesses cross-divisionally.