Finance Director - Cell Therapy R&D

Finance Director - Cell Therapy R&D

Are you ready to shape how we invest in Cell Therapy science and turn bold ideas into measurable value for patients and the business? Do you thrive at the intersection of scientific ambition, portfolio strategy, and hands-on partnership with leaders who are moving at speed? 

As Finance Director – Cell Therapy R&D , you will be central to delivering our Cell Therapy ambition by turning data into direction, resources into results, and plans into outcomes. Reporting to the Sr. Finance Director – Cell Therapy R&D, you will partner with multiple R&D functional leadership teams, lead core forecasting cycles, and provide rigorous, insight-rich financial stewardship across a rapidly expanding portfolio. Your work will ensure a clear line of sight from functional investment decisions to portfolio impact, enabling senior leaders to move decisively on the opportunities that matter most. 

Accountabilities:

• Financial Forecasting Leadership: Lead annual financial forecasting processes (RBU1, RBU2, MTP, Budget) and hold functions accountable for delivering enterprise financial commitments; drive clarity on trade-offs and outcomes.
• Strategic Business Partnering: Serve as the primary finance business partner to several Cell Therapy R&D functions, acting as a thought partner to shape strategy, optimize investments, and unlock capacity for high-value science.
• Decision Support and Business Cases: Build and improve decision frameworks and business cases, including optimal resourcing models and opportunities for AI-driven efficiencies; translate complex options into clear recommendations for senior stakeholders.
• Portfolio Reporting and Insights: Further develop portfolio-level reporting for Cell Therapy projects, creating readily accessible financial metrics and insights that inform portfolio choices and accelerate value creation.
• Process Harmonization and Governance: Work across functions and projects to create and improve financial processes, ensuring underlying assumptions and ways of working are consistent and scalable across Cell Therapy R&D.
• Enterprise Impact and Capability Building: Introduce novel approaches to financial management, mentor partners in the use of decision support tools, and embed data-driven, forward-looking practices that raise the bar for the organization.

Essential Skills/Experience:

• Bachelor degree in Finance, Accounting, or related field is required; MBA preferred
• 8+ year of relevant experience
• Problem solving & collaborative working
• Ability to build strong relationships with excellent communication and interpersonal skills across levels
• Persistence, determination and resilience
• Deep analytical thinking. Experience developing business cases and use of decision support
• tools and mentoring others in their development and use
• Qualified finance professional with experience working as Finance Business Partner with exposure to senior management
• Future focus & interest in the evolving healthcare environment, in particular Cell Therapy and Oncology
• Ability to adapt to constantly changing needs with an open and constructive mindset 

Desirable Skills/Experience:

• R&D finance experience within cell or gene therapy, oncology, or other complex development portfolios
• Proven track record building portfolio analytics and scenario models that guide investment decisions
• Expertise with enterprise planning and reporting technologies (e.g., SAP, BPC, Anaplan, Power BI) and advanced Excel modeling
• Experience establishing forecasting and governance rhythms in high-growth or transformation environments
• Demonstrated impact leveraging automation or AI-enabled tools to improve finance processes and insights
• Ability to influence and coach senior scientific leaders and cross-functional teams through ambiguity and change

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.

Why AstraZeneca:

Join a global, high-performing team where finance fuels science with sharp insights and real-time decision support. We bring diverse experts together to solve complex problems, apply cutting-edge digital tools, and accelerate ideas into therapies that can transform patients’ lives. Here, you will influence enterprise priorities, build visible impact across a fast-scaling Cell Therapy portfolio, and grow alongside ambitious peers who value kindness as much as drive. Your leadership will help set the pace for how we operate today and prepare for the breakthroughs of tomorrow.

Seize the opportunity to lead the financial engine of Cell Therapy R&D and turn strategic ambition into outcomes that matter—share your interest today and let’s define what’s next together. 

The annual base pay (or hourly rate of compensation) for this position ranges from $154,968 to $232,453. Our positions offer eligibility for various incentives—an opportunity to receive short-term incentive bonuses, equity-based awards for salaried roles and commissions for sales roles. Benefits offered include qualified retirement programs, paid time off (i.e., vacation, holiday, and leaves), as well as health, dental, and vision coverage in accordance with the terms of the applicable plans

Date Posted

Closing Date

Our mission is to build an inclusive environment where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and employees. In furtherance of that mission, we welcome and consider applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of their protected characteristics. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please complete the corresponding section in the application form.