- Location
- UK - Basingstoke - Wade Road - Remote, United Kingdom
- Workplace
- Hybrid, Remote
- Type
- Full-time
- Department
- Finance
- Seniority
- Senior
- Source
- Workday
Description
Work Schedule
Standard (Mon-Fri)Environmental Conditions
OfficeJob Description
Thermo Fisher Scientific recently announced that it has entered into an agreement to sell its microbiology business to Astorg, a leading pan-European private equity firm with deep expertise in healthcare, focused on a select set of subsectors, including pharmaceutical services and technology, medtech and related services, life science tools and diagnostics.
This decision follows a thoughtful evaluation as part of Thermo Fisher’s ongoing business strategy to actively manage and strengthen our portfolio.
We expect the transaction will be completed in the second half of 2026, subject to customary closing conditions and applicable regulatory approvals. Until the transaction is complete, Thermo Fisher will continue to operate the business.
If you join the microbiology business prior to the close of the transaction, your employment is expected to transition to Astorg.
For more information, please review:
How you will make an impact
This is a unique opportunity to shape the Finance Systems and Transformation capability from the ground up.
As part of the Finance team, you will lead the Transformation Finance function through one of the most significant periods of change in the organisation's history. This role will be responsible for establishing and leading a high-performing team that delivers finance systems transformation, ERP governance, reporting capability, data quality, and finance technology solutions to support the divestiture and future standalone operating model.
Reporting into Finance leadership, you will lead a team of strong Finance Systems professionals, providing strategic direction while partnering closely other finance areas and business leaders to deliver critical transformation initiatives.
A key responsibility of this position will be establishing and maintaining the Finance IT Controls Framework, ensuring robust governance over SAP and other finance applications, supporting compliance, audit readiness, and effective risk management across the finance technology landscape.
This is a highly visible leadership role requiring a combination of finance expertise, systems knowledge, programme leadership, and strong stakeholder management to deliver sustainable transformation and operational excellence.
Key Responsibilities / What you will do
Lead and develop the Transformation Finance team, providing coaching, direction, prioritisation and talent development while supporting a high-performing organisation.
Establish the Finance IT Controls Framework, ensuring appropriate governance, documentation, testing, monitoring and continuous improvement of application controls across finance systems.
Own finance systems governance, ensuring strong compliance, internal controls, company policies and audit requirements.
Act as the Finance functional lead for SAP, providing subject matter expertise across financial processes, system configuration, governance and optimisation.
Partner closely with IT, Cyber Security, Internal Audit and external auditors to ensure finance applications remain compliant, secure and fit for purpose.
Lead finance systems workstreams supporting the divestiture, TSA execution, ERP readiness and transition to the standalone operating model.
Drive finance systems strategy, including reporting, analytics, automation, master data governance and process standardisation.
Oversee SAP financial processes and integrations, ensuring effective change management and system controls.
Lead finance transformation initiatives focused on digitalisation, reporting automation, process optimisation and continuous improvement utilising technologies including Microsoft Fabric, Azure Cloud, Power BI, SQL, Python, and R.
Establish governance around finance master data, reporting standards and system documentation.
Provide leadership for finance technology projects, ensuring successful delivery against quality, timeline and budget objectives.
Support external and internal audit activities relating to finance systems, application controls and ERP governance.
Promote Lean, PPI and continuous improvement methodologies across finance processes and technology.
How you will get here
Knowledge, skills and competencies
Professional accounting qualification (ACA, ACCA, CPA, CIMA or equivalent) or equivalent experience in Finance Systems, ERP Governance or Finance Transformation.
Significant experience leading Finance Transformation, Finance Systems or ERP programmes within a complex multinational organisation.
Proven experience leading and developing high-performing technical teams.
Extensive SAP experience is essential, including strong knowledge of finance modules, ERP governance and financial processes.
Experience designing and implementing in IT control frameworks and governance frameworks, including IT General Controls (ITGCs), application controls, finance compliance and audit readiness.
Strong understanding of financial processes including Record to Report, Procure to Pay and Order to Cash.
Experience leading finance systems implementations, upgrades or major transformation programmes.
Experience working with reporting and analytics platforms including Power BI, SAP reporting tools and a good working knowledge of technologies such as Microsoft Fabric, Azure Cloud, Power BI, SQL, Python, and R.
Experience working within Life Sciences, Healthcare, Manufacturing or other regulated multinational environments.
Deep SAP functional knowledge with the ability to translate business requirements into system solutions.
Outstanding communication and stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence senior leaders across Finance, IT and the wider business.
Comfortable leading through ambiguity and organisational change while delivering strategic outcomes.
