Manager – Commercial Finance

Job Description: 

As the AZ India Commercial Finance Manager, you will support the AZ India Country Finance Business Partner (CBP)/ Controller in ensuring robust cash collection processes, pricing compliances, manage credit risks, automate and simplify finance processes, support distribution & business teams and ultimately drive achievement of the agreed growth drivers and country Financials.   

This role is a key local role, providing robust and insightful decision support to CFO, Controller FP&A and Business Unit Directors to enable delivery of our financial objectives at both operational and strategic level. 

Major Responsibilities & Deliverables: 

• Manage entire Commercial Finance – Support Order to Cash Process for smooth billing & execution, Collaborate with Sales, Marketing & Distribution teams on new product launch & readiness, application of best possible financial compliance as per AZ Commercial Policy 

• Government Institution Business Finance Partnering – Approval for tender submissions, Review of Govt. overdue outstanding and timely follow up actions 

• Monitor & manage the credit control function independently, ensuring compliance with credit policies & procedures, provide suggestions for improving credit policies 

• Complete hold on Account Receivable management including order hold release, DSO forecast submission, monthly/quarterly receivables position review with senior management, variance analysis and net realisation feasibility vs. budget/forecast 

• Lead the pricing function - Preparation & Issue of Price Circular as per NPPA norms, timely communication of price changes to stakeholders, develop and monitor controls to ensure accurate Maximum Retail Price (MRP) and discounts updation in SAP system  

• Periodical review of NRV for all the ongoing PAP schemes and preparation of workings for new PAP schemes 

• Collaboration with Financial Planning & Analysis team on Sales, Sales return, AR, Bad debts provision planning & and detailed variance analysis at month end 

• Responsible for monthly reporting to support Sales Management including month end closure and co-ordination with shared services team 

• Co-ordinate with IT business support team on implementation of new customized user requirements in SAP on ad hoc basis 

• Review and strengthen existing distribution, discount and PAP processes including digitisation where required. 

• Simplify and automate finance processes, create Power BI dashboards and lead other automation projects to improve efficiencies 

• Support the FP&A team with planning processes, monthly reports, pricing updates and other ad hoc requirements 

• Statutory Audit/ Internal Audit/ Global Audit coordination 

• Ensure statutory compliance pertaining to SOTC, GST/ Income Tax pertaining to Sales 

Key Stakeholder interactions: 

• Sales & Marketing Teams 

• BU Directors and Country Leadership team 

• Finance Controller, FP&A team, Tax and Risk Management teams 

• Distribution team 

• Regional Finance teams 

• Market Access team 

• External stakeholders – government institutions, authorised trade distributors, hospitals, etc 

Essential Requirements: 

• Chartered Accountant with 5 to 7 years of experience in Sales & distribution finance, Credit Control, AR Management, Pricing, preferably in Pharmaceutical, Medical Devices/ Healthcare/ Diagnostics Industry 

• Strong academic background with good business acumen. 

• Independently manages stakeholders with minimum supervision. 

• Ability to independently set, adapt and communicate priorities with multiple concurrent projects. 

• Sound analytical skills with profound knowledge in MS Tools (Excel, PowerPoint, Power BI) & ERP (SAP knowledge preferable). 

• Excellent communicator, able to build good working relationships with highly diverse internal stakeholders at Country & Regional level. 

• Ability to develop Strategic Partnerships. 

• Demonstrate AZ Values consistently.