Associate Director, Project Financial Analysis

Description

Verista’s 500 experts team up with the world’s most recognizable brands in the life science industry to solve their business needs. The nature of our business is to empower growth and innovation within the scientific community and to help researchers, organizations, and companies solve some of the world’s most pressing healthcare challenges. Verista provides innovative solutions and services that empower informed decision-making and are the result of our significant investment in our people and our capabilities.

Our ability to grow is driven by world-class people who thrive in a team environment and share our mission to enable life sciences clients to improve lives. Our talented and dedicated professionals are committed to making an impact every day.

Company Culture Guidelines & Values:

• We empower and support our colleagues
• We commit to client success at every turn
• We have the courage to do the right thing
• We encourage an inclusive environment where our colleagues feel respected, engaged, and challenged.
• We constantly acquire new skills and learn from our experiences to enhance our collective expertise

Job Function:

The Associate Director, Project Financial Analysis (PFA) is a critical leadership position on the team that will work closely with the Director of Finance in driving continuous improvements to the company’s revenue forecasting, budgeting, and reporting processes and explaining variances to the prior revenue forecast. The incumbent is responsible for providing financial and analytical support to department leaders and Project Management through performance reporting and financial analysis with a team of Project Finance Analysts. The incumbent will serve as the liaison between Verista’s project managers (Client Partners and Delivery Leads) and Director of Finance and Controller, making recommendations for process and profit improvement. Equally as important, the Associate Director, PFA will be an agent of change helping to drive process improvements throughout the rapidly growing organization, in addition to being able to inform business decision-making and execution.

Primary Duties/Responsibilities:

• Responsible for the direct management and development of assigned PFA team members, including performance management, career development & growth, training, and employee relations
• Responsible for participating in team Therein, assists with assessing hiring needs, interviews, and hires to align with the needs of the department
• Partner with business leaders and project managers to proactively review project financials and prepare project revenue forecasts
• Take a proactive approach to managing changes in project scope and inform department leaders of any project financial issues
• Oversee ongoing financial resource planning, management, and analysis, to include monitoring of resource levels and measuring impact on profitability
• Support project management in developing actual/forecasts versus the budget for both time & materials projects, as well as fixed-fee projects
• Coordinate with Controller the coordination of month end responsibilities with revenue forecasts, variance analysis, profitability/margin analysis and any other reporting needs as required; streamlines and improve project revenue and project forecast models through systems and/or more efficient modeling calculations
• Own and manage the change order review process along with business leaders; streamlines overall process through creating efficiencies
• Drive and develop ongoing overall company, department and project financial forecast and financial project metrics, review and finalize project metrics in cooperation with Project Managers and Department heads
• Conduct advanced financial analyses to support ad-hoc requests utilizing complex scenario planning
• Lead and/or participate in corporate compliance activities as it relates to PFA including development and review of department policies, SOPs, and other controlled documents, as well as participation in client audits
• Serve as a champion of continuous process improvement within the department, to bring efficiencies and best practices to the organization through the design and implementation of new or updated procedures or workflows
• Lead by example and models core values in all actions; ensures a positive, respectful team environment, fostering collaboration and development
• Assist in the assessment and implementation of new finance technologies
• Performs other duties as assigned

Required Knowledge/Experience:
This position requires the following skills/job knowledge:

• Bachelor’s degree in business, Accounting, Finance required or relevant experience
• 8 years of progressive project finance experience, including a minimum of 5 years in a management role required; professional services experience required in a CRO, healthcare, service, or project related field preferred

Required Skills:

• Prior experience in project analysis and Time and Material revenue recognition required
• Strong financial, analytical, and modeling skills required
• Ability to present financial data in a clear and concise manner identifying major issues/concerns and potential corrective actions
• Demonstrated ability to think “big picture” and strategically leverage expertise, to serve as a consultant and business partner with internal and external customers
• Advanced proficiency of Microsoft Office Suite required (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Prior experience in bookings forecast is preferred
• Applicants with a strong knowledge of Salesforce, DataRails reports development, and Power BI would have a considerable advantage

Required Abilities: 

• Excellent financial, communication, and interpersonal skills as well as an elevated level of personal motivation to achieve
• Strong written communication skills
• Strong quantitative and analytical competency
• Ability to adapt to a quickly growing organization and its needs
• Effective time management and prioritization skills, to manage multiple projects or tasks simultaneously
• Understanding of Professional Service Administration systems preferred

Supervisory Requirements:

• Directly supervises a team of two Project Finance team members
• Indirectly supervises a project forecasting accountant

Work Environment and Physical Demands:

• FLSA executive and professional positions paid on salary
• Work hours due to project requirements and tight client deadlines may require hours more than 40 hours (including weekends or holidays)
• Work location is flexible, either remote or at a Verista office/satellite Training conducted on site at Fishers, IN
• Ability to travel as required in support of client and management projects
• Prolonged periods working on a computer
• Lifting requirements – 35 per OSHA requirements
• Business development opportunities and tight project requirements may demand significant hours beyond 40 and hours on the weekend. Average work hours are approximately 45-50 hours/week.

This position description merely illustrates this position. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change with or without notice.

Benefits

Why Choose Verista?

• High growth potential and fast-paced organization with a people-focused culture
• Competitive pay plus performance-based incentive programs
• Company-paid Life, Short-Term, and Long-Term Disability Insurance.
• Medical, Dental & Vision insurances
• FSA, DCARE, Commuter Benefits
• Supplemental Life, Hospital, Critical Illness and Legal Insurance
• Health Savings Account
• 401(k) Retirement Plan (Employer Matching benefit)
• Paid Time Off (Rollover Option) and Holidays
• As Needed Sick Time
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Team Social Activities (We have fun!)
• Employee Recognition
• Employee Referral Program
• Paid Parental Leave and Bereavement

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For more information about our company, please visit us at Verista.com