Director, Financial Planning & Analysis - R&D

Vertex Pharmaceuticals seeks a Director of Financial Planning & Analysis for R&D to serve as the primary finance partner to Discovery Research and Preclinical Sciences. This role leads financial planning, forecasting, and investment analysis for early-stage research portfolios while managing two direct reports and collaborating with senior scientific leaders.

Responsibilities

• Partner with VP- and SVP-level leaders to provide financial analysis and decision support for research investments, portfolio progression, and resource allocation
• Lead annual budgeting, quarterly forecasting, and long-range planning for Discovery and Preclinical Sciences functions
• Build and maintain driver-based financial models including FTE capacity, external spend tracking, and program-level cost models
• Develop multi-scenario financial models supporting candidate advancement decisions and pipeline investment tradeoffs
• Lead adoption of AI-enabled FP&A tools and digital transformation initiatives to improve forecasting accuracy and operational efficiency

Requirements

• Exceptional financial acumen with strategic business partnership experience in research or life sciences
• Deep understanding of drug discovery and preclinical development processes
• Advanced proficiency in financial modeling, scenario analysis, and driver-based planning
• Experience with AI-enabled FP&A tools such as Power BI or equivalent analytics platforms
• Demonstrated ability to influence senior leaders without direct authority and manage ambiguity
• Team leadership experience with capability building and coaching direct reports
• Knowledge of R&D accounting, capitalization rules, and internal controls