Associate Director, Finance

• Monitor and report relevant CDMO operating indicators, such as backlog conversion, capacity utilization, labor recovery, throughput, project margin, inventory exposure, and working capital.

• Partner with Commercial and Program Management teams on pricing models, proposals, contract economics, change orders, and customer financial reviews.

• Support financial analysis for technology transfers, scale-up activities, new service offerings, equipment investments, and site expansion.

Cost Accounting, Inventory and Manufacturing Support

• Oversee or support standard costing, job and project costing, inventory valuation, overhead allocation, and manufacturing variance analysis.

• Analyze labor, material, subcontractor, and overhead costs to identify margin improvement and cost control opportunities.

• Partner with Supply Chain and Operations on inventory controls, reserves, cycle counts, physical inventories, obsolescence, and excess or slow-moving materials.

• Ensure financial data supports traceable and reliable reporting in a regulated, quality-focused operating environment.

Financial Systems, Reporting and Process Improvement

• Optimize ERP, planning, reporting, and analytics tools to improve data quality, close efficiency, forecasting, controls, and management visibility.

• Develop repeatable reports, dashboards, and financial models using advanced Microsoft Excel and, where applicable, business intelligence tools.

• Support finance system implementations, upgrades, integrations, master data governance, testing, and user adoption.

• Identify and implement process improvements, automation opportunities, and scalable finance practices.

Leadership and Collaboration

• Lead, coach, and develop finance and accounting employees, as assigned.

• Establish clear priorities, service expectations, and ownership across finance activities.

• Maintain a high level of integrity, professionalism, discretion, and confidentiality when handling company, client, and employee information.

• Demonstrate Ardena's WE CARE values in decision-making, collaboration, and delivery.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, or a closely related field required.

• Minimum of 9 years of progressive accounting and finance experience required.

• Demonstrated experience with P&L management, budgeting, forecasting, financial statement preparation and analysis, and management reporting required.

• Experience in a CDMO, CRO, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, life sciences, GMP manufacturing, or other regulated manufacturing environment strongly preferred.

• Experience with project accounting, revenue recognition, inventory accounting, standard costing, and manufacturing finance preferred.

• CPA, CMA, MBA, or other relevant advanced credential preferred.

• Prior team leadership or supervisory experience preferred.

Systems and Technical Skills

Required and preferred systems experience may include:

Priority

Required

System / Tool: Microsoft Excel

Application: Advanced proficiency, including pivot tables, XLOOKUP/VLOOKUP, complex formulas, financial modeling, data analysis, and dashboard reporting.

Preferred

System / Tool: Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central

Application: ERP experience supporting general ledger, reporting, budgeting, project, purchasing, inventory, or manufacturing-related finance processes.

Relevant examples

System/ Tool: SAP S/4HANA, Oracle Fusion Cloud ERP, Oracle NetSuite, Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance, Infor CloudSuite, JD Edwards

Application: Comparable ERP platforms that may be used in regulated manufacturing or CDMO finance environments.

Relevant examples

System / Tool: Workday Adaptive Planning, OneStream, Anaplan, Vena

Application: Financial planning, forecasting, consolidation, and performance management platforms.

Relevant examples

System / Tool: Microsoft Power BI, Tableau

Application: Business intelligence, dashboarding, and management reporting tools.

Relevant examples

System / Tool: ERP project accounting, MRP, inventory, standard cost, capacity planning, and revenue recognition modules

Application: Operational and financial modules that connect client programs, materials, labor, manufacturing activity, revenue, and margin reporting.

Knowledge, Skills and Capabilities

• Strong knowledge of accounting principles, financial statements, internal controls, and financial reporting.

• Excellent analytical, critical-thinking, and problem-solving capabilities, with the ability to identify root causes and convert data into recommendations.

• Strong business acumen and understanding of the financial drivers of project-based, client-service, and manufacturing operations.

• Ability to communicate complex financial information clearly and influence decisions across functions and leadership levels.

• High attention to detail, sound judgment, and the ability to manage competing priorities and deadlines.

• Commitment to continuous improvement, accuracy, accountability, and reliable execution.

Physical Requirements and Work Environment

• Ability to sit and work at a desk and computer for extended periods.

• Ability to use standard office equipment, communicate in person and electronically, and maintain focus while performing detailed work.

• Ability to occasionally stand, walk, bend, reach, and lift or move items up to 15 pounds.

• Work is primarily performed in a professional office environment with periodic interaction in laboratory, warehouse, or manufacturing areas, as business needs require and subject to applicable safety and gowning requirements.