Senior VP, Global Finance

As a CDMO to pharmaceutical companies across the world, Sterling delivers comprehensive small molecule, bioconjugation and peptide services spanning discovery, development and manufacturing. Key to this delivery is our experienced and passionate team. Widely recognised for its expertise in complex, hazardous chemistry and its service-oriented customer experience, Sterling is a proven and trusted partner to the world's most innovative biotech and leading pharmaceutical companies.

Sterling has a 50+ year track record of providing a range of complementary services, with the capacity to seamlessly support products through their entire lifecycle. This experience, combined with a commitment to embracing emerging technologies, enables Sterling to add value at every stage in a customer's project. Sterling's service offering is distinctive in the way it approaches each project. The business firmly believes that whilst science can be complex, working with an outsourced partner shouldn't be.

Sterling prides itself on being easy to do business with and doing the right thing.

The Senior VP Global Finance serves as the strategic right hand and Second-in-Command to the Chief Financial Officer (CFO). In this high-impact leadership role, you will oversee the group finance organisation, driving financial excellence, operational scale, and strategic growth. You will step in for the CFO (as required), drive systems and process improvements in the business, support lender and investor discussions and ensure seamless continuity of financial leadership across all global entities.

• CFO Deputy:
  Act as the primary proxy for the CFO, representing the finance function at Executive Committee (ExCom) meetings and Audit and Risk committee meetings as required.
• Corporate Strategy and projects:
  Partner with the CFO to shape long-term corporate strategy, evaluating mergers and acquisitions (M&A), capital allocation, liaison with banks and lenders and finance projects.
• Transformation Driver:
  Lead financial transformation initiatives, upgrading global systems, data analytics, and automation to support scaling.
• Drive the end-to-end design and execution of our global tax strategy, ensuring full regulatory compliance while optimizing tax efficiency across all direct and indirect operations.

• Financial Oversight:
  Direct all global finance work streams, including financial planning and analysis (FP&A), accounting, treasury, tax, and internal controls.
• Performance Management:
  Establish and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) across global business units to optimize profitability and cash flow.
• Governance, Risk and Controls:
  Lead the development and maintenance of an effective global financial governance, risk and control framework, ensuring appropriate policies, delegated authorities and internal controls are designed, implemented, documented and operating effectively. Establish and oversee a risk-based control-testing programme, ensure deficiencies are remediated promptly, manage internal and external audit relationships, and support the CFO and Audit and Risk Committee through clear reporting, insight and assurance.
• Deliver and assist in hands-on operational finance work with appropriate complexity to support wider business needs.
• Ensure the accuracy, transparency and usefulness of financial reporting and analysis, presenting clear insights, trends and key performance indicators.
• Provide timely, relevant financial information that enables informed decision-making and direct action by key stakeholders.
• Work as a strategic business partner with business leaders.
• Support CFO with financial due diligence for potential M&A activity.

• Talent and Capability Development:
  Lead the development and execution of a structured global finance capability and upskilling plan, aligned with the organisation’s strategic priorities and future requirements. Build the skills, knowledge, leadership capability and career pathways of finance colleagues across all regions, strengthening succession and developing the team into a high-performing, world-class global finance organisation.
• Stakeholder Relations:
  Support the CFO in building effective relationships with the Board, shareholders and investors, banks and lenders, auditors, advisers and other external stakeholders. Lead the preparation and delivery of…