Corporate Vice President, Business Finance - Safety Assessment

Job Summary

Provide financial leadership, direction, and advice to the global SA leadership and Finance teams to develop and implement a strategy for the business, ensuring alignment with the company’s overall business and financial strategies. Accountable for planning, directing, and controlling the finance functions for global SA, including budget development and control, financial analysis, forecasting and merger & acquisition (M&A) activities. Leads a high-performing global team and develops finance talent.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Member of the global SA and Corporate Finance senior leadership teams to:
  • shape and influence strategic direction of business segment with focus on profitability
  • develop long-term strategic business plans for the business segment consistent with the established corporate goals and objectives, and ensuring timely and cost-effective execution within budget
  • harmonize and integrate financial activities across the various global sites/businesses, driving synergies and standardization in the use of corporate financial tools, processes, and technologies
• Communicate effectively with staff at all levels of assigned business units to understand the full function of the business to shape strategy, generate insights and provide accurate forecast information. 
• Oversee operations of Project Coordination teams and collaborate with internal and external customers to provide high quality service. 
• Direct, consolidate and administer annual budget preparation and in-year forecast updates.
• Oversee the consolidation of financial reporting for business reviews (e.g., analyze, prepare and present budgets, strategic plans and regular in-year updates to senior corporate management).  
• Perform complex analyses to drive margin improvement and operating leverage. 
• Direct finance activities related to M&A and divestiture projects and subsequently oversee the integration of new business/acquisitions into CRL’s financial processes.
• Develop new approaches, processes or methods to solve new business problems, act as an agent of change and continuously reevaluating process to achieve earnings growth.
• Coordinate and evaluate efficiency and procurement initiatives to ensure optimized margins, and proactively work with other segments to share best practice.
• Shape capacity planning and optimize free cash flow. Oversee capital expenditure programs and projects (e.g., comprehensive Capital Expenditure Requisition (CER) review, including analysis of payback and ROI, tracking assigned CERs and resolving budgetary discrepancies) and inventory management.
• Working with Corporate Accounting, the business unit finance teams and Internal Audit staff, ensure adherence to corporate governance standards (e.g. Sarbanes-Oxley), pertinent regulatory requirements and to corporate finance/accounting policies, practices and procedures.
• Working with business units and corporate IT, ensure optimization of operating and financial systems, including the company’s Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system.
• Provide leadership to all Finance personnel across all sites/businesses. 
• Responsible for people management activities of individuals and groups such as: personnel actions (hiring, promotions, transfers, etc.), training, development and succession planning, providing regular direction and feedback on performance, disciplinary actions and preparing and delivering annual performance and salary reviews.
• Develop short and long-range operating objectives, organizational structure, staffing requirements and succession plans.
• Develop and oversee the implementation of training programs, including orientation, and, as appropriate, education to non-finance staff.

Qualifications

• Education:  Bachelor’s degree (B.A./B.S.) or equivalent required.  MBA preferred.
• Experience:  15+ years related experience in accounting/finance function in a large organization, with at least five years in international finance and reporting and an additional five years of experience in financial analysis.  An equivalent combination of education and experience may be accepted as a satisfactory substitute for the specific education and experience listed above.
• Certification/Licensure:  Recognized professional accounting designation (e.g., CPA, CA, CMA) required.  
• Other:  Previous senior management experience and excellent communication skills required.

Competencies

People Management/Leadership

• Ability to communicate clearly with business leaders on finance initiatives, vision, strategy, and goals.
• Effective change agent and business partner by managing by influence across business units and corporate functions. 
• Strong interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to lead people and get results through others

Communication and Influence

• Viewed as a trusted advisor, partner, and change agent by other executives
• Diplomatically handles complex topics, varied audiences, difficult questions, and continuous objections
• Effectively collaborates with internal and external audiences.  Able to win concessions without damaging relationships and to be direct as well as diplomatic
• Excellent presentation and communication skills are required 

Project Management and Process Improvement

• A change agent – able to work effectively with stakeholders, gain alignment and build best in class functions
• Can organize resources and orchestrate multiple activities without losing focus on routine responsibilities
• Ensures that staff use effective project management techniques and tools
• Is focused on continuous process improvement.  Is known for finding new and improved ways of doing things.
• Can simplify complex processes and see improvement opportunities where others can’t
• Measures results with appropriate metrics

Collaboration and Teamwork

• Builds and maintains a productive cross-functional, global network
• Builds institutional support for initiatives and overcomes obstacles needed to achieve results
• Maintains strong business and functional relationships within and outside of CRL
• Finds a way to build higher levels of teamwork and collaboration within and between groups, divisions, and functions and resolves conflicts with minimal disruption
• Shares opinions freely and listens to others without prejudgment

Decision making

• Demonstrates sound judgment on highly complex, high impact decisions
• Demonstrates courage and welcomes accountability for high-impact decisions
• Delegates decisions to build judgment and empower others
• Includes the right stakeholders in discussions

Work Environment

⦁    General office working conditions

Travel:
⦁    This position requires domestic and international travel.