Head of UK Pharma Finance Operations

Job description

At Roche you can show up as yourself, embraced for the unique qualities you bring. Our culture encourages personal expression, open dialogue, and genuine connections,  where you are valued, accepted and respected for who you are, allowing you to thrive both personally and professionally. This is how we aim to prevent, stop and cure diseases and ensure everyone has access to healthcare today and for generations to come. Join Roche, where every voice matters. The PositionFunction Purpose / SummaryThe UK Finance Operations function safeguards Roche UK Pharma’s financial integrity and licence to operate while enabling the organisation to work efficiently and make sound business decisions. The function brings together Accounting, Internal Controls & Financial Compliance (“ICFR”), Audit, and Procurement, providing clear local accountability while connecting Roche UK with Roche Services & Solutions (RSS), Group Finance, Tax and other global specialist organisations. The function ensures that the  Finance requirements of the Roche Group,  UK statutory reporting,and all other regulatory obligations are translated into effective local processes, controls and practical business solutions. Job Purpose / SummaryThe Head of UK Finance Operations is the senior leader accountable for the integrity, compliance and effectiveness of Finance Operations across Roche UK. Serving as Site Controller and the senior point of accountability for operational finance matters across the UK site, the role maintains a holistic view of financial topics affecting the legal entity and site. The role leads a team of specialist individual contributors across Accounting, Internal Controls & Financial Compliance, and Procurement, setting direction, developing capability and ensuring effective execution of critical finance activities. Working closely with RSS, the Chief Country Accountant, UK Tax, Group Finance, business finance and functional site leaders (such as R&D), the Head of UK Finance Operations ensures that globally delivered finance services and locally owned activities operate as one effective finance system. This is both a leadership and a hands-on role. The role holder will lead a team, including senior experts (with global grading 8) and is expected to provide senior judgement, resolve complex financial and control matters, challenge existing practices, and personally engage where issues are material to Roche UK's financial integrity, compliance or business continuity. The role is also accountable for driving the modernisation of Finance Operations, actively applying technology, automation and AI to redesign workflows, improve productivity and control effectiveness, and enable the team to focus its capacity on higher-value activities. The OpportunityThe Head of UK Finance Operations is a pivotal member of the UK Finance and Business Services leadership community, with responsibility for ensuring Roche UK has a strong, efficient and future-ready operational finance environment. The role provides leadership across several distinct finance disciplines while acting as a connector between the UK organisation and Roche's global finance infrastructure. You will shape how Finance Operations works across Roche Pharma UK, build strong partnerships with local and global stakeholders, simplify and strengthen controls and processes, and ensure that operational finance enables rather than constrains the organisation. You will also act as a trusted adviser on complex accounting, controls, procurement and financial governance matters, balancing commercial realities with Roche's fiduciary responsibilities and standards. Where external partners are involved with the Finance Operation of the company (auditors, actuaries etc), this role would be the main local point of contact. Key ResponsibilitiesAct as Site Controller for Roche UK Pharma, maintaining oversight of significant financial matters across the site and providing a senior finance perspective on topics affecting the UK legal entity. Lead the UK Finance Operations team, with direct leadership responsibility for specialist colleagues across Accounting, ICFR/Internal Controls & Financial Compliance, and Procurement. Set clear priorities, coach and develop the team, build succession and ensure the right capabilities are available for current and future organisational needs. Act as a senior authorised Finance signatory for Roche UK Pharma, exercising delegated financial authority in accordance with Roche Group and local governance requirements. Review and approve significant financial transactions, commitments, payments and other matters requiring Finance authorisation, ensuring appropriate financial judgement, supporting evidence, segregation of duties and escalation where required. Own the overall financial compliance environment for Roche UK, ensuring Roche Group requirements and applicable UK statutory and regulatory obligations are translated into clear, proportionate and effective local policies, processes and controls. Provide senior oversight of accounting and financial reporting, including complex accounting judgements, revenue recognition including accounting for VPAG (Voluntary Scheme for Branded Medicines Pricing, Access and Growth) and other contracted rebates, accruals, treasury, CAPEX, payroll-related finance processes, pensions and other material operational accounting topics. Ensure the effectiveness of Roche UK's Internal Control over Financial Reporting environment, including risk assessment, control design, ICFR testing, remediation and segregation of duties. Own the UK external audit process from the local lens and be the local point of contact with Roche UK's external auditors, ensuring effective planning and execution of the audit, timely resolution of significant accounting and control matters, and appropriate engagement and escalation with UK and Group leadership. Oversee coordination with RSS and other Roche teams contributing to the audit. Act as the senior local finance lead for financial compliance, internal audit and assurance matters, proactively identifying risks and ensuring appropriate remediation and escalation. Ensure Roche UK meets relevant transparency and Transfer of Value reporting requirements, including applicable ABPI, Roche Group and other local or global reporting obligations. Provide leadership and oversight of local site Procurement, ensuring the organisation obtains value from third-party spend while maintaining appropriate sourcing, supplier-management, risk-management and compliance standards. Act as the key UK Finance Operations interface with RSS, particularly the Chief Country Accountant and finance service teams, ensuring clarity of accountability, strong service delivery and timely resolution of operational or control issues. Build strong relationships with UK Tax, Group Finance, Group Financial Compliance, Procurement networks and other global Finance organisations, representing UK requirements and ensuring effective adoption of Roche standards and solutions. Serve as a trusted adviser to UK Finance and business leadership, connecting operational finance, control and business insights and providing clear recommendations on complex or material financial matters. Ensure critical foundational finance activities are delivered accurately and on time while continually challenging how the work is performed, simplifying processes, eliminating unnecessary activity and leveraging global capabilities, automation and technology wherever appropriate. Lead the technology-enabled transformation of UK Finance Operations, identifying and implementing opportunities to embed AI, automation and digital solutions into finance and procurement workflows. Within the remits of Group Technology infrastructure, ensure technology is used to simplify processes, strengthen controls, improve decision-making and materially increase the productivity and impact of the function. Ensure critical foundat