CFO Northern Cluster/ UK&IE

at  Sandoz

The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for the Northern Cluster (Nx, UK&IE, NL and IL) is a senior leadership role responsible for overseeing financial strategy, operational efficiency, and value maximization across the Cluster. This role is critical for aligning financial management with the business objectives of the Northern Cluster, optimizing financial performance, and driving strategic initiatives. The CFO will work closely with key stakeholders, including business leaders, the finance team, and the corporate office, to ensure the sustainable growth of the Cluster.
Reporting to the Region Europe CFO, this role provides strategic financial leadership to enhance profitability, support decision-making, and ensure robust financial governance. In addition, this role is responsible for Finance of the UK&IE organization, leading directly the BPA, FRA and BIA (Business Insights and Analytics team) as part of the Lead Market Concept in the Northern Europe Cluster. This entails all CFO responsibilities and hands on operations to deliver commercial and financial results, while safeguarding the operations for UK&IE.

ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or related field (required).
• MBA or Master’s degree in Finance, Economics, or a related discipline (preferred).
• Proficient business English
• Strong financial acumen and expertise in financial analysis, forecasting, and budgeting.
• Ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams and influence senior stakeholders.
• Exceptional strategic planning, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities.
• Proficiency in financial and BI tools (e.g., SAP, Oracle, Power BI).
• Expertise in competitive analysis, pricing strategies, tender excellence, and automation.
• Strong leadership and communication skills, with a focus on building a high-impact finance and analytics organization.
• Minimum of 5 years of progressive financial leadership experience, with at least 2 years in a senior finance role within the pharmaceutical or healthcare industry.
• Proven track record of managing financial operations and performance ideally within a multinational pharmaceutical company.
• Solid experience in financial planning & analysis, budgeting, forecasting, financial reporting, and risk management ideally in the pharmaceutical sector.
• Solid understanding of financial/statutory reporting, tax and audit regulations
• Good understanding of pharmaceutical regulatory frameworks, including knowledge of compliance issues specific to marketing, pricing, and market access.

YOUR KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Your responsibilities include, but not limited to:

Financial Strategy and Leadership :

• Supports business leaders of Cluster in developing financial strategies to drive growth, profitability, and market share.
• Ensure that the Cluster financial performance aligns with Cluster and company objectives and strategic plans.
• Act as a key member of the Northern Cluster Leadership Team, contributing to strategic business decisions and ensuring financial alignment with overall business goals.
• Leads the Northern Cluster Finance team.

Budgeting and Forecasting :

• Oversee the development of annual budgets and long-term financial forecasts for the geography, ensuring alignment with company and Northern Cluster goals.
• Lead the financial planning process, incorporating business trends, market conditions, and regulatory factors affecting the pharmaceutical industry.

Financial Reporting and Analysis :

• Ensure accurate and timely financial reporting and compliance with local and international financial regulations, including IFRS, GAAP, and pharmaceutical-specific industry standards.
• Analyze Cluster financial performance and provide insights into sales performance, profitability, cash flow and cost management.
• Lead monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reporting processes, ensuring all key stakeholders receive relevant and actionable information.

Risk Management and Compliance :

• Identify and mitigate financial, operational, and regulatory risks within the geography, particularly those related to financial regulations and compliance.
• Ensure adherence to all internal controls, auditing, and compliance requirements, safeguarding the organization against financial and reputational risk.

Resource Allocation and Investment :

• Drive resource allocation decisions, assessing investment opportunities and their alignment with the company’s strategic direction.

Leadership and Team Development :

• Build and lead a high-performing finance team, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Provide mentorship and professional development opportunities to finance team members, enhancing their expertise and capacity to support the company goals.

Stakeholder Communication :

• Serve as a key liaison between the finance department and other functions (e.g., operations, sales, regulatory, etc.) as well as between local and Northern Cluster Finance.
• Present financial results and strategic insights to Northern Cluster leadership and external stakeholders, such as auditors.

Pharmaceutical Industry Expertise :

• Stay up to date on industry trends, regulatory changes, and global market dynamics affecting the pharmaceutical sector.
• Assess the financial implications of new product launches, pricing strategies, and market access initiatives.

As Country CFO UK&IE :

• Performs all above mentioned key responsibilities relevant for UK&IE business and Finance team.