General Information
Job Advert Title Department Head Operations, International Business AICL Location Ireland Function/Business Area Strategy Employment Class PermanentDescription
Department Head Operations, International Business AICLAbout Astellas:
At Astellas we are making treatments that matter to people.
We are tackling the toughest health challenges putting the patient at the heart of every move we make.
Our global vision for Patient Centricity is to support the development of innovative health solutions through a deep understanding of the patient experience. At Astellas, Patient Centricity isn’t a buzzword - it’s a guiding principle for action. We believe all staff have a role to play in creating a patient-centric culture and integrating an awareness of the patient into our everyday working practices, regardless of our role, team or division.
We have developed ground-breaking, innovative medicines in immunology, oncology and urology. Our medicines are extending and saving the lives of cancer patients, making transplantation possible and improving the quality of life for those living with conditions where needs are often overlooked.
We take a patient-focused approach, that allows us to convert brilliant early science into treatments and solutions that directly improve and save patients’ lives.
From lab to clinic to patient, we focus on the most promising science, empower the best talent to pursue it, and develop life-changing solutions alongside the best partners.
The Opportunity:
As the Department Head of Operations, International Business (IB) at AICL, your primary responsibility is to manage the day-to-day operations of AICL’s Intellectual Property (IP) Business across various products and territories worldwide. This includes overseeing Ex-factory sales flows, transfer pricing, sales and marketing, R&D costs, and royalty payments.
In your role as a strategic business partner, you work closely with the Head of IB to build and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders involved in AICL’s IP products and territories—both within Astellas and with external third parties.
Hybrid Working:
At Astellas we recognise the importance of balancing your work and home life. This role offers a remote working solution so you can optimise the most productive work environment for you to succeed and deliver.
Responsibilities:
- Strategic Leadership: Partners with Head, IB to drive departmental strategy and IP portfolio growth; co-represents IB at stakeholder and board meetings.
- Governance & Representation: Presents IB updates and decisions to the AICL BoD and IB Executive Management (EM); Manages the AICL IB EM meeting and ensures alignment with Astellas corporate governance and legal policies.
- Stakeholder Engagement: Builds strong global relationships with Franchise/Brand Directors, Finance, Asset Maximisation Teams, and external partners to stay embedded in IP-related decisions.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Works with commercial, development, supply chain, and tax teams to align IB activities with broader business objectives.
- Tax & Transfer Pricing: Supports global tax and Transfer Pricing strategy; manages annual Transfer Price setting and ensures alignment with OECD BEPS and Astellas Global Tax Model.
- Financial Oversight: Manages ex-factory sales, S&M and R&D recharges, and approves sales price adjustments (SPACs), stock provisions, and credit notes.
- Operational Management: Oversees process flows for licensed products, ensures correct billing, and handles returns/scrappage processes in line with GDP.
- Reporting & Forecasting: Leads budgeting, forecasting, and monthly performance reporting (BPC/SAP S4) for IB licensed products; co-manages AICL’s Financial Accounting budget and forecasts.
- Team Leadership: Manages and develops a team of 3; fosters collaboration and drives best practices across EMEA IP holders.
- Process Improvement: Owns and drives IB process improvement projects; actively uses tools such as Power Query, Qlik Sense, and participates in knowledge-sharing workshops.
- Wholesale Distribution Authorisation: Oversees and maintains along with the AICL Responsible Person, the AICL IB Quality Management System in compliance with EU GDP guidelines, ensuring all supply and procurement activities meet regulatory standards, managing master data and change controls, and escalating issues to senior management and the Responsible Person as needed
- Compliance & Risk: Ensures policy compliance and manages material financial and control risks at internal and external meetings.
Essential Knowledge & Experience:
- Previous experience in an accounting environment preferably Pharma with some IP knowledge.
- Expertise in utilising a SAP platform, (or similar ERP System) with knowledge of SAP FI/CO, PP, SD, and MM modules preferable.
- Good working knowledge of all Microsoft packages including MS Powerpoint, Word and particularly Excel.
Education:
- Degree qualified.
- Professional Accounting Qualification (ACA, CIMA, ACCA, CPA) with at least 10 years PQE.
Additional information:
- This is a permanent full-time position.
- This position is based in Dublin – Ireland
- This position follows our hybrid working model. Role requires a blend of home and a minimum of 1-2 days per week in our Dublin office. Flexibility may be required in line with business needs. Candidates must be located within a commutable distance of the office.
- The position may require travel to one of the global Astellas offices
We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
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