Finance Officer

Financial Officer

We are looking for a Financial Officer to support operational finance activities and act as a key business partner to internal stakeholders. This role is strongly focused on budget accuracy, control, and financial governance rather than pure reporting or system development.

Key Responsibilities

• Own operational finance activities across assigned assets or compounds
• Ensure budget accuracy, control, and clear budget visualisation
• Perform variance analysis and challenge deviations against plan
• Ensure financial information is accurately recorded in systems
• Create and monitor Purchase Orders (POs) and control Statements of Costs (SOCs)
• Support end-of-month activities, including budget reviews and progress check-ins with SMEs
• Act as a finance stakeholder alongside FP&A, ensuring alignment and transparency
• Participate in monthly internal stakeholder meetings and follow-ups
• Review budgeting approaches and challenge assumptions where needed

Stakeholder Management

• Work closely with internal stakeholders through regular monthly catch-ups
• External vendors are managed by internal stakeholders; this role remains internally focused

Systems & Tools

• Oracle (essential)
• Power BI and Power Query
• Use and interpretation of dashboards

Experience & Profile

• Background in finance controlling, FP&A, or audit-related roles
• Strong experience reviewing and challenging budgets
• Proven ability to question numbers and understand the \"why\" behind them
• High level of critical thinking and attention to detail
• Comfortable working in a structured, process-driven environment

Nice to Have

• Experience supporting asset- or compound-aligned financial structures
• Exposure to complex, multi-stakeholder environments

About Planet Pharma:

Planet Pharma is an American parented Employment Business/Agency that provides global staffing services with its head-quarters in Chicago and our EMEA regional office located in Central London. We have invested significantly in creating a robust international platform that enables us to work compliantly in 30+ countries with a current network of 2500+ active contractors globally as well as a very strong permanent / direct hire recruitment offering.

Our specialist knowledge and close relationships with our clients and the wider industry really makes us unique in our field. Just recently we were recognised by FORBES as the 17th best professional staffing firm, and have won multiple awards from industry accredited bodies for our commitment to excellence and service delivery. We have extensive functional expertise including: Regulatory Affairs, Pharmacovigilance, QA, QC, Submissions experts, Clinical development, Quality, Biostatistics, and Medical Affairs / Writing.

We are an equal opportunities Recruitment Business and Agency. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates regardless of their race, sex, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation or age.