Are you passionate about building and ensuring scalable finance processes, process optimization, and process automation for newly established affiliates? Do you have extensive experience within finance and leadership? If so, now is your chance to join Ascendis Pharma as our new Commercial Finance Director in Madrid. Ascendis Pharma is a fast-growing biopharmaceutical company with locations in Denmark, Germany, the United States, France, UK, Italy, and Spain. We are applying our TransCon technology to build a leading, fully integrated biopharmaceutical company focused on making a meaningful difference in patients' lives. Guided by our core values of patients, science, and passion, we use our TransCon drug development platform to fulfill our mission of developing new and potentially best-in-class therapies to address unmet medical needs. Today, we have a growing pipeline of prodrug therapies in development, each designed to be a best-in-class therapy. We have successfully launched our first innovative product in the United States and Germany, and we are on the verge of rapid expansion in Europe with our second innovative product. In this role, you will have the opportunity to contribute to the launch of our endocrinology pipeline and have a significant impact on our commercial expansion. We are seeking a passionate Commercial Finance Director for Europe II to join our rapidly expanding global organization. As a key member of the Ascendis Pharma team, you will play a crucial role in building and leading the financial organizations and capabilities in the Spanish, Italian and French affiliates. The new Commercial Finance Director of Ascendis Pharma will report directly to Jette Gudmandsen, VP of Finance Operations, in Denmark, while you will be operating from a base in Madrid, Spain. This role entails global responsibilities with a direct impact on local operations in Spain, Italy and France (Europe II). The Finance Operations is a well-established team consisting of +20 colleagues, including your counterpart the Commercial Finance Director for Europe I (Germany, UK and the Nordics). The Iberian affiliate in Madrid, where your will be based, is a new established office consisting of a handful of colleagues. The number of colleagues in Ascendis Pharma Iberia is budgeted to grow significantly in 2024 and 2025. For the right person, this is an exciting opportunity to become part of a fast-paced environment, collaborate with cross-functional, global teams working together to achieve extraordinary results. Key responsibilities: Financial Operations Leadership : Oversee all accounting operations, including monthly, quarterly, and year-end closings, in adherence to IFRS, while collaborating closely with HQ in Denmark. Team Management : Lead the Europe II finance team, providing support to finance managers in Italy and France, and ensure effective internal controls and processes are implemented and maintained. Process Improvement : Drive continuous enhancement of financial tools and accounting processes to accommodate the company's growth trajectory. Revenue and Expense Management : Ensure accurate booking of revenue and rebate provisions, manage payment approvals, expense processing, and maintain communication with local banks for the Europe II entities. Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A): Act as a financial partner to the commercial organization in Europe II, assisting in new contract financial assessments, forecasting, and providing analytical support to affiliate leadership. Reporting and Compliance : Interact with group reporting on technical accounting matters, ensure compliance with local reporting requirements, and collaborate with Group Tax to ensure tax compliance and timely payments. Administrative Responsibilities : Oversee administrative tasks such as HR support, payroll, and office management, including occasional travel as needed. Additionally, maintain communication and reporting to HQ on finance matters. Qualifications and Skills: You hold a relevant academic degree – preferably a CPA or other relevant degree – and min. 5 years of experience within region and global finance processes. Furthermore, you have: Experience/knowledge with drug price composition (i.e., gross to net components) in Spain, and preferably insights into Italian and French compositions as well. Strong experience in revenue and cost budgeting & forecasting. Demonstrated ability to lead people and get results through others. Knowledge about Spanish GAAP, IFRS, Spanish Taxes and VAT requirements. Hands on experience with ERP and accounting systems Able to work within Spanish Distribution setups in Pharma, outsourced Payroll, and outsourced Accountants. Excellent English language skills, both written and verbal. Key competencies: You are a proactive leader and team player, with strong analytical and problem-solving skills. The right candidate is both strategic and operational and have the ability to play a key role in developing and implementing efficient processes that will scale with the company. You possess an entrepreneurial mindset and can thrive in an informal, open environment where innovation and change are key. To succeed in this role, we also expect you to possess the highest standards of accuracy and precision; extremely organized, detail-oriented, and mindful of deadlines and internal controls. Travel : 30-50 days per year. Office : Calle de Isabel Colbrand, 6-8, Las Tablas, Madrid, Spain. Walking distance to Las Tablas stop on ML1. Apply now. Applications will be evaluated when received, so please apply as soon as possible. All applications must be submitted in English and are treated confidentially. For more details about the position or the company, please contact Jette Gudmandsen, VP of Finance Operations, via ****** or visit out website www.ascendispharma.com
