Sr Associate R&D Operations

Career Category

Project Management

Job Description

Amgen’s Research and Development (R&D) Business Operations organization addresses complex business challenges with outstanding people, tools, and processes. The team delivers on key initiatives and capabilities to support R&D. The senior associate in Transactional Finance is responsible for supporting end to end financial transactions and ensuring the accuracy and efficiency of supplier contracting processes within the Global Business Transactions Center (GBTC). We are looking for talent who have capabilities in resource and expense management, which include but are not limited to, accounting of resources and expenses, data analytical skills to provide insights and enable decision making as well as a strong financial and system acumen. This role requires a solid understanding of Ariba and SAP software and its functionalities, as well as a solid background in general contracting and/or supplier management processes.  The senior associate will collaborate with cross-functional teams, including sourcing, accounts payable, and finance, to ensure smooth and seamless financial operations. We are a team that delivers for our partners!

Required Competencies and Skills:

Key Responsibilities:

Transactional Finance Processing: Execute financial transactions, including purchase order processing, invoice verification, payment processing, and engaging with functions to help plan and manage resources and expenses, using Anaplan, Ariba or SAP software. Ensure compliance with company policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements. Ariba or SAP System Management: Utilize Ariba or SAP software to manage master data, vendor information, and other relevant financial data. Maintain accurate records, update databases, and resolve any system-related issues or discrepancies. Data Analysis and Reporting: Collect and analyze financial data using Smartsheet, Tableau, Ariba or SAP reports. Prepare regular and ad-hoc financial reports, highlighting key insights, trends, and recommendations for process improvement or cost-saving opportunities. Cross-Functional Collaboration: Collaborate with sourcing, accounts payable, and other relevant teams to streamline financial processes and resolve any issues or discrepancies. Ensure effective communication and foster positive working relationships. Compliance and Risk Management: Ensure compliance with internal controls, policies, and regulations. Participate in audits and assist with compliance-related activities as required. Process Improvement: Continuously identify opportunities to improve transactional finance processes, increase efficiency and enhance accuracy. Training and Support: Offer guidance and support to team members or end-users on Ariba or SAP functionalities and processes. Participate in training sessions and create user guides or documentation as needed. Consistent with Amgen’s Healthcare Compliance Policy and Standard Operating Procedures:

Review proposed arrangements via Amgen’s healthcare compliance operations system of record (C3).

Support Amgen staff members with any related questions and/or concerns such as C3 system support.

Knowledge:

• Excellent computer and MS Office skills

• Good writing skills; detail-oriented

• Communicates effectively within and outside department

• Solid understanding of purchasing and supply chain procedures.

• Solid understanding of standard operating procedures (SOPs) and healthcare regulations.

• Solid understanding of standard contracting legal principles. 

Problem Solving:

• Ability to process transactions from end to end, engaging business partners where appropriate.

• Identify and escalate business issues needing resolution.

• Review invoice/expenses and triage or escalate any issues.

• Communicate and escalate contractual and/or payment challenges to leadership team.

• Engage with functions to assist with planning and managing resources and expenses.

• Handling financials for assigned expense collections including tracking and reporting.

• Participating in and contributing to initiatives related to resource and expense management.

• Exercises good judgment.

• Interact with business partners to ensure compliance processes and standards are understood and followed.

• Maintain key relationships by communicating and collaborating with cross-functional partners such as Law, Regulatory and other Worldwide Compliance and Business Ethics groups, and the International Healthcare Compliance group.

• Time management and problem-solving skills.

• Manage payment inquiries that are received from HCPs (Healthcare Professional), RAEs (Responsible Amgen Employee), Service Providers etc. Outcome may include further reviews, research and/or triage.

• Other duties as assigned.

As a creative problem solver with a get it done approach, responsibilities include:

• Handling financials for assigned expense collections including tracking and reporting.

• Participating in and contributing to initiatives related to resource and expense management.

• Administrative tasks such as maintaining external and internal facing SharePoint sites and intake request tools.

• Perform data entry (i.e. for Study Planning), administrative coordination, compliance checks, and document management for business related activities. 

• Provide support as required for Planisware and financial systems, such as Ariba/MyBuy.

• Provide support to resolve issues and ensure compliance with departmental playbook.

• Generation of Purchase Orders and Change Orders within internal system.

• Support for budget confirmation and PO-tracking.

• Resolution of invoice issues and escalations as required.

• Assists with urgent/high profile requests and projects as needed, onboarding and training of new hires.

• Initiation of CDAs, MTAs and other requested agreements.

• Controlled substance requisition approvals.

• Attends meetings as required and support the resolution of procure-to-pay technical issues.

• Supplier onboarding and vendor account updates

• Appropriate document management for business related activities to enable requisition creation to invoice payment.

• Appropriate business administration coordination per playbook

• Data entry into study planning systems per playbook, including study number generation and support of ad hoc inquires.

Bachelor’s degree

OR Associate degree and 2 years of related resource management, paralegal, contracting and/or financial accounting experience.

OR 4 years of related resource management, paralegal, contracting and/or financial accounting experience.

OR High school diploma / GED and 6 years of related resource management, paralegal, contracting and/or financial accounting experience.

Preferred Requirements

• Familiarity with research and clinical development in biopharmaceutical industry as well as medical and scientific terminology.

• Finance, resource, and budget management experience including cost analysis and reporting.

• Experience with analytics software (Microsoft Access, Spotfire, Tableau, Smartsheet), document management applications, portfolio planning tools, supply chain and financial systems (Planisware, Veeva, SAP, Ariba).

• Intermediate Microsoft Office user (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook).

• Experience working with virtual teams and using collaborative tools and platforms.

• Exceptional interpersonal, organizational, critical thinking and verbal/written communication skills

• Ability to work in a highly cross matrixed environment

• Strong planning and project management skills with the demonstrated ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment with multiple high priority projects and minimal supervision.

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