Senior Manager, IT Finance

Job description

At Gilead, we’re creating a healthier world for all people. For more than 35 years, we’ve tackled diseases such as HIV, viral hepatitis, COVID-19 and cancer – working relentlessly to develop therapies that help improve lives and to ensure access to these therapies across the globe. We continue to fight against the world’s biggest health challenges, and our mission requires collaboration, determination and a relentless drive to make a difference. Every member of Gilead’s team plays a critical role in the discovery and development of life-changing scientific innovations. Our employees are our greatest asset as we work to achieve our bold ambitions, and we’re looking for the next wave of passionate and ambitious people ready to make a direct impact. We believe every employee deserves a great leader. People Leaders are the cornerstone to the employee experience at Gilead and Kite. As a people leader now or in the future, you are the key driver in evolving our culture and creating an environment where every employee feels included, developed and empowered to fulfil their aspirations. Join Gilead and help create possible, together. Job Description At Gilead our pursuit of a healthier world for all people has yielded a cure for hepatitis C, revolutionary improvements in HIV treatment and prevention as well as advancements in therapies for viral and inflammatory diseases and certain cancers. We set and achieve bold ambitions in our fight against the world’s most devastating diseases, united in our commitment to confronting the largest public health challenges of our day and improving the lives of patients for generations to come. As a Senior Manager – IT Finance you will lead the management and evolution of a broad portfolio of critical finance applications. This role is responsible for end-to-end system ownership, delivery, and optimization across platforms supporting Finance. This leader will oversee strategic initiatives, system lifecycle management, vendor coordination, and program delivery across core ERP platforms and it’s peripheral systems. The role requires strong business partnership, technical understanding, and operational leadership to ensure scalable, compliant, and high-performing solutions across a complex application landscape. This role will report to the Director, IT Finance & Controlling (FICO) lead and is located in Foster City, CA - No Remote available. Key Responsibilities Manage a portfolio of finance and boundary applications, ensuring stability, scalability, and alignment with business needs. Drive end-to-end delivery, including enhancements, implementations, and system lifecycle management. Serve as system owner across key applications, ensuring effective support, governance, and continuous improvement. Lead vendor coordination, including performance management, issue resolution, and roadmap alignment. Partner with Finance teams to deliver high-quality solutions. Oversee program planning and execution across multiple concurrent initiatives. Manage escalations, risks, and dependencies to ensure successful delivery outcomes. Finance Solution Leadership Provide functional and operational leadership across boundary finance systems and applications. Own the BlackLine platform, including: o Account Reconciliations module support, enhancements, and roadmap o Transition and optimization of support models o Continuous improvement and adoption of best practices Oversee and guide system capabilities across key applications, including: o 2Klicks (SAP Lease master data and correction functionality) o GLSU (Journal Entry posting and SAP integration) o Alliant Royalties (Royalties management solution) o OneSource (Indirect tax compliance and VAT filing) o Salesforce PRM (Partner relationship and alliance management) Ensure systems effectively support critical finance processes, compliance requirements, and reporting needs. Business Alignment & Stakeholder Engagement Partner closely with stakeholders across Finance to define priorities and deliver solutions. Translate business needs into actionable system capabilities and enhancements. Act as a trusted advisor to business leaders, providing insight into system capabilities, trade-offs, and opportunities. Drive alignment across teams on priorities, timelines, and expected outcomes. Maintain strong communication with stakeholders on delivery progress, risks, and system performance. Program Delivery & Governance Lead program initiation, planning, and execution for boundary application initiatives. Establish governance frameworks to support delivery, contract management, and vendor oversight. Drive structured processes for: Requirements gathering and prioritization Solution delivery and release management Risk and issue management Ensure adherence to enterprise standards, compliance requirements, and audit controls. Oversee implementation partner engagement, including selection and performance monitoring. Ensure effective escalation management and timely resolution of critical issues. Cross-Functional Integration Ensure seamless integration between boundary applications and core platforms (e.g., SAP S/4HANA). Manage upstream and downstream dependencies across finance, tax, procurement, and partner management systems. Collaborate with enterprise architecture and engineering teams to maintain a cohesive application landscape. Support data consistency, integrity, and flow across interconnected systems. Align with broader IT and Finance initiatives to ensure end-to-end process continuity. Continuous Improvement & Innovation Drive continuous improvement across application support, delivery models, and system performance. Identify opportunities to simplify, standardize, and automate finance processes Lead efforts to modernize platforms, including onboarding new applications and sunsetting legacy systems. Guide product selection and lifecycle activities, including: RFP processes and vendor evaluation Contract negotiation and governance Implementation partner selection Encourage adoption of best practices, scalable solutions, and innovative technologies. Promote a culture of accountability, collaboration, and operational excellence. Leadership Profile Strong execution-focused leader with the ability to manage complex portfolios and deliver results. Highly collaborative, with proven ability to influence cross-functional stakeholders. Skilled in balancing strategic initiatives with operational excellence. Ability to manage ambiguity and drive clarity across multiple workstreams. Committed to continuous improvement, quality delivery, and business value realization. Basic Qualifications: Bachelor's Degree and Eight Years’ Experience OR Masters' Degree and Six Years’ Experience OR Ph.D. ​ Preferred Qualifications: Experience with: BlackLine (Account Reconciliations) OneSource Tax SAP-integrated tools (e.g., GLSU, 2Klicks) Familiarity with SAP S/4HANA finance integrations. Experience working in Life Sciences or regulated environments. Knowledge of compliance frameworks such as SOX. Bachelor’s degree in business, Information Systems, Finance, or related field. 8–12+ years of experience supporting finance systems, enterprise applications, or ERP environments. Strong experience managing finance-related applications and boundary systems. Proven leadership experience managing programs, vendors, and cross-functional teams. Deep understanding of finance processes, including reconciliations, journal entries, tax compliance, royalties, leasing, and partner management. Experience with application lifecycle management, including onboarding, optimization, and decommissioning. Demonstrated ability to lead RFPs, vendor selection, contract negotiation, and implementation governance. Excellent stakeholder management, communication, and problem-solving skills People Leader Accountabilities Create Inclusion - knowing the business value of diver