FP&A Lead

Job Description

Financial Planning, Forecasting & Budgeting

• Lead the development and maintenance of detailed monthly, quarterly, and annual forecasts for revenue, expenses, and cash flows.
• Build financial models and reporting frameworks from scratch to support dynamic forecasting needs.
• Analyze actuals vs. forecast/budget and provide clear, data-driven variance explanations.
• Develop and maintain cash flow forecasts to ensure effective liquidity planning and working capital management.
• Drive long-range financial planning and support strategic initiatives in collaboration with cross-functional teams.
• Act as a Finance Business Partner, supporting department heads and project leads in financial decision-making.
• Partner with the CFO to lead and execute financial and operational projects.

Project & Contract Financial Management

• Forecast revenue for clinical studies, incorporating site-level data, enrollment trends, and contract terms.
• Prepare and manage site-specific and project-level budgets aligned with study protocols and financial targets.
• Design and maintain budget templates and financial models to track costs, revenue, profitability, and cash flows.
• Identify and resolve revenue leakages, optimize cost structures, and ensure financial efficiency across projects.
• Ensure financial compliance with contract terms and maintain audit-ready documentation.
• Deliver site-wise and project-level financial reports, including cost vs. budget variance analysis to support project performance and decision-making.

Reporting & Analytics

• Develop and present key financial dashboards and reports (revenue, cost, cash flow) for leadership review.
• Create executive-level dashboards and KPIs using tools such as Power BI and Looker to support data-driven decision-making.
• Automate reporting workflows and ensure data integrity across financial and operational systems.
• Provide project and contract-specific analytics to identify trends, risks, and opportunities for improvement.

Audit, Controls & Process Improvements

• Coordinate financial audits by preparing required documentation, schedules, and reconciliations.
• Maintain audit-ready records for revenue, accruals, and project costs.
• Evaluate internal controls and contribute to continuous process improvements.
• Support transitions during project implementations and process migrations.
• Recommend best accounting and process practices to enhance financial accuracy and reporting reliability.
• Establish and document financial processes and frameworks from scratch, ensuring scalability and compliance.

Preferred Skills

• Proven experience in FP&A, financial operations, and project finance, with expertise in budgeting, forecasting, and reporting.
• Prior experience in Site Management Organizations (SMOs), Contract Research Organizations (CROs), or other clinical research environments.
• Strong understanding of clinical trial budgeting, including site-level budget preparation, cost drivers, and protocol-driven financial planning.
• Strong understanding of revenue recognition principles, accrual accounting, general ledger concepts, and financial close processes.
• Experience in customer-facing finance roles, including contract financials, dispute resolution, and collections strategy.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel (financial modeling, pivot tables, dashboards); experience with Excel macros/VBA is an added advantage.
• Strong hands-on experience with Power BI and Looker for building dynamic visualizations and executive dashboards.
• Working knowledge of CRIO CTMS and SAGE is an added advantage.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to present financial data to diverse stakeholders.
• Strong stakeholder management, including collaboration with cross-functional and international teams.
• Demonstrated problem-solving skills and attention to detail in financial analysis and variance reporting.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and perform under pressure.
• Self-driven and collaborative, with a proactive approach to new responsibilities.
• Flexibility to extend work hours in the evening to support US stakeholders and global business needs.