Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Financial Business Partner Lead

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation$173K — $259K *
Pharmaceuticals & Biotech
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 10-15+ years of experience in progressive finance roles within pharma or biotech; Global Health experience is advantageous.
  • Bachelor's degree in business, finance, accounting or related field required; MBA or degree in biological sciences preferred.
  • Strong financial acumen with expertise in financial analysis, budgeting, forecasting, and long-range planning.
  • In-depth understanding of drug development from preclinical stages to commercialization.
  • Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, with a team-first mentality.
  • Ability to convey financial concepts effectively to diverse audiences, including senior management.
  • Proficient analytical and problem-solving capabilities, with a focus on meeting deadlines.
  • Demonstrated integrity and awareness of risk and reputational issues in a corporate environment.
  • Self-motivated and results-driven, comfortable with ambiguity in a fast-paced biotech setting.
  • Advanced Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint skills, familiarity with Adaptive Insights and ClearTrial is a plus.

Responsibilities

  • Act as a finance business partner and thought leader to Global Product Teams, aligning financial plans with development strategies.
  • Provide strong financial leadership to R&D functions, ensuring alignment with organizational goals.
  • Translate financial data into actionable insights for non-financial stakeholders to aid strategic decision-making.
  • Drive financial accountability through reporting, analytics, and educational initiatives across teams.
  • Collaborate with the Head of Business Planning & Analysis to enhance financial analytics for programs and functions.
  • Manage the financial aspects of the long-range planning process in partnership with Program Teams and Functions.
  • Prepare clinical trial cost estimates and timelines in collaboration with relevant teams.
  • Evaluate financial implications of new initiatives, investments, and business cases.
  • Work with leadership on financial modeling and potential external partnership deals.
  • Contribute to a collaborative finance and accounting team focused on process development and improvement.

Benefits

  • Flexible work arrangements, with 50% on-site requirements for local candidates.
  • Competitive relocation package for candidates moving to the Cambridge, MA area.
Full Job Description

The Institute MRI offers flexible work arrangements for local candidates (50% on site) and a competitive relocation package for those looking to move to the Cambridge, MA area for this on-site role.  Remote arrangements are not available at this time for this role.

THE POSITION
We are seeking a Financial Business Partner Lead to support strategic decision-making across the business. This role will act as a key liaison between Finance and operational teams, providing financial insight, challenging assumptions, and driving performance improvement from a financial lens. Reporting to the Head of Business Planning & Analysis, the role will assume financial leadership of several programs, in addition to serving as the finance business partner to our research & development (R&D) functions at Gates Medical Research Institute. Core responsibilities will include: 

  • Finance business partner and thought leader to Global Product Teams (GPTs), translating development strategy and timelines into financial plans and contributing to our portfolio and organizational strategy.

  • Finance business partner to the R&D functions, providing strong financial leadership and ensuring alignment between the functions and program strategy 

  • Translate financial data into clear, actionable insights for non-financial stakeholders. Ensure the information readily connects operational performance to financials and can be used to support better strategic decision-making at the program and functional level. 

  • Drive financial accountability across GPTs and functions through reporting, analytics and other educational initiatives.  

  • Strategic partner to the Head of Business Planning & Analysis; developing and/or enhancing meaningful financial analytics for programs and functions.

  • Partner with the Program Teams and Functions to plan and manage the financial aspects of the long-range planning process. 

  • Prepare clinical trial cost estimates and timelines in collaboration with the Head of Business Planning & Analysis and Global Health Strategy Finance Teams. 

  • Provide financial evaluation of new initiatives, investments, and business cases 

  • Work with the Head of Business Planning & Analysis and CFO on financial models and potential partnership and collaboration deals with external third parties. 

  • Join a close knit, collaborative, finance, and accounting team. Contribute to process development and continuous improvement as we shape our group to better serve our organizational needs. 

QUALIFICATIONS

  • 10-15+ years of experience in progressive finance roles in the pharmaceutical or biotech industry. Global Health experience is a plus.

  • A bachelor’s degree in business, finance, accounting or related field required. An additional degree in the biological sciences or MBA is a preferred.

  • Strong financial acumen and experience in financial analysis, business case development, budgeting, forecasting and long-range planning.

  • Deep understanding of drug development; from preclinical through commercialization.

  • Team-first mentality with strong interpersonal, communication and influencing skills.

  • Ability to translate financial concepts to employees at all levels and across all functions. Comfortable communicating with senior management.

  • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to set priorities and meet stated deadlines.

  • The highest level of integrity and understanding risk and reputational issues impacting an enterprise.

  • Self-starter and results-oriented individual who is comfortable with the ambiguity related to working in a fast-paced, development-stage biotech environment.

  • Strong Microsoft Excel & PowerPoint skills. Experience with Adaptive Insights & ClearTrial experience a plus.

In recognition of high-wage market differences such as the Cambridge, MA area where this position is located, the salary range for this role is $173,100 to $259,700. As a mission-driven organization, we strive to balance competitive pay with our mission.  New hires salaries are typically between the range minimum and the salary range midpoint. Actual placement in the range will depend on a candidate’s job-related skills, experience, and expertise, as evaluated during the interview process.

About Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is a private foundation founded by Bill and Melinda Gates. The foundation was launched in 2000 and is based in Seattle, Washington. The primary goals of the foundation are to enhance healthcare and reduce extreme poverty, and to expand educational opportunities and access to information technology. The foundation is one of the largest charitable organizations in the world, with an endowment of over $50 billion. The foundation has made significant contributions to global health, including the eradication of polio in India and the development of new vaccines for malaria and tuberculosis. The foundation also supports a variety of educational initiatives, including the development of new technologies for teaching and learning.
Learn more about Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Size
1,600 employees
Industry
Founded
2000

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