Plant Finance Lead
Moderna · Oxford
The Role
Joining Moderna means advancing mRNA science to transform medicine. Work with exceptional global teams on a broad pipeline and build a career that makes a real difference for patients. Play a pivotal role in shaping the financial performance of advanced manufacturing operations across the UK, Canada, and external manufacturing partners. As a strategic finance business partner, you will combine operational insight with financial expertise to influence decision-making, optimize manufacturing performance, and support the continued growth of Moderna's global mRNA platform. Working across Harwell, Laval, and an external Drug Product CMO, you'll collaborate with leaders across Finance, Manufacturing, Engineering, Supply Chain, Quality, and External Operations while gaining exposure to innovative digital and Generative AI-enabled approaches that enhance financial analysis, forecasting, and operational decision-making.
Here’s What You’ll Do
As the Plant Finance Lead, you will provide financial leadership and business partnership across manufacturing operations supporting Harwell (UK), Laval (Canada), and an External Drug Product CMO. You will be responsible for delivering financial transparency, operational excellence, and informed decision-making while ensuring efficient, compliant manufacturing operations.
Your responsibilities will include:
Leading annual budgeting, quarterly forecasting, and long-range planning across both manufacturing sites and the External CMO.
Delivering monthly financial analysis, variance reporting, and operational performance insights to site leadership and Corporate Finance.
Developing and monitoring key performance indicators related to manufacturing efficiency, labor utilization, overhead absorption, and inventory management.
Supporting scenario modelling and financial analysis for operational initiatives, capacity expansion, and process improvement projects.
Overseeing standard costing, product costing, inventory valuation, and manufacturing variance analysis.
Ensuring accurate accounting and reporting for raw materials, work-in-process, and finished goods inventory.
Analyzing labor, material usage, scrap, yield, and overhead absorption variances while partnering with Operations to identify cost reduction opportunities and improve manufacturing performance.
Leading monthly, quarterly, and annual financial close activities across both sites.
Preparing journal entries, accruals, reconciliations, site-level financial reporting packages, and executing month-end process order settlements.
Coordinating with Corporate Accounting, Internal Audit, and External Auditors to ensure timely, accurate reporting in accordance with company policies and applicable accounting standards.
Partnering with Engineering and Operations to evaluate capital investment proposals, develop business cases, monitor capital project spend, manage capitalization and project close-out activities, and perform NPV, ROI, and payback analysis.
Supporting Supply Chain, Warehouse teams, and External CMO operations to improve inventory accuracy, inventory turns, working capital performance, inventory controls, physical inventory programs, cycle counts, inventory reserves, obsolescence management, and supply chain optimization initiatives.
Maintaining strong internal controls across manufacturing finance processes while ensuring compliance with SOX requirements, company policies, and regulatory standards.
Supporting audit activities, remediate control findings, and driving process standardization and continuous improvement across both manufacturing sites.
Acting as a trusted advisor to Site Leadership, translating financial data into actionable operational insights, supporting strategic initiatives, operational improvements, and productivity programs.
Collaborating across international, cross-functional teams while mentoring finance colleagues as appropriate.
The key Moderna Mindsets you’ll need to succeed in the role:
We behave like owners. The solutions we’re building go beyond any job description.
We act with dynamic range, driving strategy and execution at the same time at every step.
Here’s What You’ll Need (Basic Qualifications)
Bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance required
5+ years of progressive finance or accounting experience, including significant experience in manufacturing finance
Prior experience as a Plant Controller, Operations Finance Lead, or similar manufacturing finance role preferred.
Strong understanding of cost accounting, inventory accounting, and manufacturing operations.
Experience in pharmaceutical, biotechnology, life sciences, or highly regulated manufacturing environments preferred
A desire to be part of a high-growth, transformational company that is Bold, Relentless, Curious and Collaborative
Detail-oriented, ensuring accuracy in reporting and data analysis
Adaptability and the ability to work in a fast-paced environment with shifting priorities
Strong collaboration and teamwork skills in a global, cross-functional context.
High degree of initiative, proactiveness and problem-solving attitude
Advanced Excel skills and experience with ERP systems (SAP, Oracle, or similar).
Here’s What You’ll Bring to the Table (Preferred Qualifications)
Strong business acumen: proven ability to effectively scrutinize and challenge assumptions and interpret the strategy and priorities of the organization in financial terms
Excellent project management / leadership skills with demonstrated track record and ability to engage teams to work together towards common deadlines
Strong presentation skills to deliver succinctly and effectively deliver recommendations to senior leaders, frames complex concepts
Excellent problem-solving and analytical abilities, with proficiency in Excel-based financial modeling
Exceptional attitude, diligence, and ability to motivate teams to do the same
A desire to make an impact as part of a high-growth, transformational company that is Bold, Relentless, Curious, and Collaborative
As part of Moderna’s commitment to workplace safety, this role may require an enhanced pre-employment check.
Pay & Benefits
At Moderna, we believe that when you feel your best, you can do your best work. That’s why our benefits and well-being resources are designed to support you—at work, at home, and everywhere in between.
- Competitive healthcare, plus voluntary benefit programs to support your unique needs
- A holistic approach to well-being with access to fitness, mindfulness, and mental health support
- Family building benefits, including fertility, adoption, and surrogacy support
- Generous paid time off, including vacation, bank holidays, volunteer days, sabbatical, global recharge days, and a discretionary year-end shutdown
- Savings and investments to help you plan for the future
- Location-specific perks and extras
The benefits offered may vary depending on the nature of your employment with Moderna and the country where you work.
About Moderna
Since our founding in 2010, we have aspired to build the leading mRNA technology platform, the infrastructure to reimagine how medicines are created and delivered, and a world-class team. We believe in giving our people a platform to change medicine and an opportunity to change the world.
By living our mission, values, and mindsets every day, our people are the driving force behind our scientific progress and our culture. Together, we are creating a culture of belonging and building an organization that cares deeply for our patients, our employees, the environment, and our communities.
We are proud to have been recognized as a Science Magazine Top Biopharma Employer, a Fast Company Best Workplace for Innovators, and a Great Place to Work in the U.S.
As we build our company, we have always believed an in-person culture is critical to our success. Moderna champions the significant benefits of in-office collaboration by embracing a 70/30 work model. This 70% in-office structure helps to foster a culture rich in innovation, teamwork, and direct mentorship. Join us in shaping a world where every interaction is an opportunity to learn, contribute, and make a meaningful impact.
If you want to make a difference and join a team that is changing the future of medicine, we invite you to visit modernatx.com/careers to learn more about our current opportunities.
Moderna is a smoke-free, alcohol-free, and drug-free work environment.
Moderna is a place where everyone can grow. If you meet the Basic Qualifications for the role and you would be excited to contribute to our mission every day, please apply!
Moderna is committed to equal opportunity in employment and non-discrimination for all employees and qualified applicants without regard to a person's race, color, sex, gender identity or expression, age, religion, national origin, ancestry or citizenship, ethnicity, disability, military or protected veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, marital or familial status, or any other personal characteristic protected under applicable law. We consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements.
We’re focused on attracting, retaining, developing, and advancing our employees. By cultivating a workplace that values diverse experiences, backgrounds, and ideas, we create an environment where every employee can contribute their best.
Moderna is committed to offering reasonable accommodation or adjustments to qualified job applicants with disabilities. Any applicant requiring an accommodation or adjustment in connection with the hiring process and/or to perform the essential functions of the position for which the applicant has applied should contact the Accommodations and Adjustments team at leavesandaccommodations@modernatx.com.
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