[Japan] R&D Finance Specialist

Santen is a pharmaceutical company with a 130-year history specializing in ophthalmology. As a global company originating from Japan, we have bases in over 60 countries, providing various innovative treatments and digital solutions for eye health, and addressing social issues related to vision for people around the world.

R&D Finance, acting as a business partner supporting research and development from a financial perspective, supports R&D activities through budgeting, budget vs. actual management, and financial analysis. While collaborating with R&D stakeholders in Japan and overseas, we work on providing financial information necessary for management decisions and improving business processes. This is a team that contributes to value creation from a position close to the business while leveraging finance expertise in a global environment.

In this position, you will primarily be responsible for the following duties:

• Support the development of budgets and forecasts for the R&D pipeline and R&D departments
• Monitor actual R&D expenditures and analyze variances against budgets and forecasts
• Identify variance drivers based on financial and project status, and provide information necessary for decision-making
• Provide support to pipeline and R&D department stakeholders as a finance business partner
• Perform accounting tasks related to R&D expenditures based on IFRS
• Drive the improvement, simplification, and automation of related business processes and systems

-- R&D Finance serves as a finance business partner supporting research and development activities through budgeting, forecasting, and financial analysis. Working closely with R&D stakeholders in Japan and across global regions, the team provides financial insights to support management decision-making and drives continuous process improvement initiatives. The team contributes to value creation by working closely with R&D stakeholders while leveraging finance expertise in a global environment.The primary responsibilities of this position include: Support the development of budgets and forecasts for the Pipeline and R&D organization. Monitor actual R&D expenditures and perform variance analyses against budget and forecast. Identify variance drivers based on financial and project status, and provide information to support management decision-making. Act as a finance business partner to Pipeline and R&D stakeholders, providing financial support and fostering collaborative working relationships. Perform statutory accounting activities related to R&D expenditures in compliance with IFRS. Drive continuous improvement, simplification, and automation of related processes and systems.

• Practical experience in statutory accounting or management accounting.
• Numerical management skills and IT literacy necessary for the aggregation and analysis of R&D expenses.
• Communication skills to build and maintain effective collaborative relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• A proactive approach to communication using English.
• Knowledge or experience regarding R&D-related operations or business partnering is a plus.

-- Practical experience in statutory accounting and/or management accounting. Strong numerical and analytical skills, as well as IT literacy, required for managing and analyzing R&D expenditure data. Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to proactively build and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders. Willingness and ability to communicate effectively in English in a global business environment. Knowledge of and/or experience in R&D-related functions and business partnering is preferred.