Director External Reporting & Consolidation (f/m/d)

Today, Lonza is a global leader in life sciences operating across five continents. While we work in science, there’s no magic formula to how we do it. Our greatest scientific solution is talented people working together, devising ideas that help businesses to help people. In exchange, we let our people own their careers. Their ideas, big and small, genuinely improve the world. And that’s the kind of work we want to be part of.

The Director External Reporting & Consolidation is an integral part of the External Reporting and Consolidation team and acts as a business partner for the Division finance teams and business functions for technical IFRS accounting and reporting issues of a global CDMO (contract development and manufacturing organization) company.

The role works with and supports the Global Head of External Reporting & Consolidation in setting Lonza Group’s financial accounting policies in accordance with IFRS standards and preparing Lonza’s bi-annual external financial reporting. This position is crucial for maintaining effective group-wide governance in accounting. It ensures transparent, reliable, and accurate internal and external reporting in line with IFRS and Swiss Stock Exchange regulations. Additionally, the incumbent is an IFRS accounting expert and provides advice and supports knowledge building in technical IFRS accounting for finance and non-finance functions.

Key responsibilities:

• Assists Lonza's finance and non-finance functions by providing technical expertise in resolving highly complex IFRS accounting and reporting issues, with a focus on the unique requirements of a global CDMO company.
• Acts as a business partner for finance and business functions and provides advice in applying IFRS topics, e.g. providing support to the business in setting up customer agreements.
• Supports knowledge building in technical IFRS accounting matters for finance and non-finance functions (including members of senior management).
• Prepares Half Year and Full Year external financial reporting aligned with IFRS and the Swiss Stock Exchange regulations.
• Prepares technical accounting position papers for complex accounting matters and handles the relationship with the external auditors of Lonza Group.
• Runs the group’s monthly Financial Consolidations for the purpose of internal reporting to Lonza’s management.
• Sets Group’s global financial accounting policies for internal and external reporting based on IFRS standards and exercises group-wide governance in accounting to ensure compliant, transparent, reliable and accurate internal and external reporting.
• Leads accounting-related projects with group-wide implications, e.g. implementation of new accounting standards or global consolidation tool.
• Leads Corporate Accounting workstreams in merger & acquisition projects.
• Represents Lonza at external industry peer meetings.

Key requirements:

• Expertise in technical IFRS required, including knowledge of accounting for a CDMO company.
• Proven skills in partnering with finance and non-finance functions, offering strong advisory capabilities and implementing effective governance strategies through influential approaches.
• Presentation skills; summarize complex matters in a clear, concise, accurate, and unambiguous way.
• Cross functional collaboration skills.
• Ability to onboard to a new environment and understand the accounting matters of a global CDMO company very quickly.
• Experience in leading global project teams.
• Very good knowledge of financial consolidation systems (e.g. Hyperion, SAP BPC) and Financial ERP Systems (e.g. SAP).