Senior Director, Head of Investigator Payments

Job Title: Senior Director, Head of Investigator Payments

Location: Dublin 18

At ICON, it's our people that set us apart.

As a global provider of drug development solutions, our work is serious business. But that doesn't mean you can't have fun while you do it. With our vision to be the partner of choice in drug development, we hire only the best and brightest in the industry! Are you one of them?

At ICON, we have an incredible opportunity for a Senior Director, Head of Investigator Payments to join the team in our Leopardstown, Dublin 18 location.

Summary
The Senior Director of Investigator Payments Group (IPG) is responsible for the day-to-day execution as well as the ongoing evolution and improvement of the organisation's global Investigator payment cycle. He/she will control and report on the organisation's Investigator payment process on a daily/ weekly/ monthly basis and aid the VP Finance/Business Leadership in the decision making process through the provision of superior financial and operational analysis.

The ideal candidate will have proven experience in a complex global organisation, understanding the nuances that various geographies hold. He/she will shape a team of individuals responsible for the day-to-day operation of Investigator payment functions of a multi-location, multi-national distributed business. This role will also require a breadth of organisational leadership as well as change/project management skills, so to ensure that function is responsive and continually provides 'centre of excellence' support to business initiatives and challenges.

The position reports to VP, Finance

This role is pivotal in enabling ICON to successfully connect between ICON sites and ICON patients, devising a strategy to enhance payments and processes which will accelerate speed and accuracy of clinical trials.

The Role:

• To lead, co-ordinate and manage the activities of the global Investigator Payments Group (IPG) in a manner that ensures all timeframes and targets are met, that quality and customer satisfaction is maintained and that costs are kept under control and provide leadership and effective management of the Investigator Payments Group (IPG).
• Refine and drive ICON strategy on global site payments
• Lead cross-functional efforts to identify and implement improvements to the global payments processes, systems and tools.
• Final decision maker for strategy changes and guide teams as to appropriate level of risk taking
• Subject Matter expert for global site payments queries and approaches.
• As a Director, the employee is expected to recognize the importance of and create a culture of process improvement with a focus on streamlining our processes adding value to our business and meeting client needs.
• Ensure that ICON IPG has a strong presence within the global marketplace
• Be responsible for IPG input into the development of proposals and costings, participate in Bid Defense and pre-selling meetings as required
• Function as a key, senior level liaison for ICON with clients, as appropriate.
• Drive process improvement initiatives within IPG and in the wider organisation
• Drive system performance, compliance & change within IPG
• Ensure that study, department and employee performance is objectively & systematically measured. improved and reviewed on a regular basis
• Oversee management of projects and/or direct projects to ensure they are conducted in an effective manner, meeting sponsor timelines and expectations and in adherence with ICON KPls, SOPs, appropriate regulations and ICON's quality standards.
• Provide financial oversight to ensure appropriate profitability / Liaise with other managers to improve the effectiveness of the organisation
• Optimise staff utilisation/recovery
• Comply with ICON's project governance system; keep senior management informed of project/departmental status in relation to payment quality, cost and timelines.
• To provide leadership and effective management of the IPG.

Qualifications

• A relevant honours degree from a third level institution
• Membership of a recognised, professional accountancy body.

Background

• 10+ years' post qualification experience, of financial accounting, revenue recognition or audit experience, with a minimum of eight years in a management capacity
• Ideally, work experience in a publicly quoted environment

Experience, Skills & Knowledge Requirements

• Leadership in all technical finance matters through building organisation wide 'centre of excellence' for revenue recognition; continually aligning this function with the emerging needs of the business
• Multi-skilled professional comfortable working with all levels of the organisation
• Advanced business analysis skills to evaluate, select and implement 'best in class' payment solutions capable of making a substantial contribution to the organisation's capability to grow its business.

Personal Qualities

• Takes responsibility for own actions and visibly supports the senior leadership team and their agenda
• Results-focused - understands what is important to senior management and the wider community of employees
• Excellent interpersonal skills - with the ability to influence and negotiate
• A strong communicator who invites participation and engagement
• Displays integrity - is sincere in own behavior and in dealings with others
• Takes a broad interest in the success and development of the finance function as a whole
• Sound judgment, in terms of dealing with people, and his/her ability to demonstrate good decision making across a broad range of operational areas
• Track recording of thriving in a complex, fast-paced and potentially ambiguous environment
• Team player - capable of working across all levels to achieve objectives
• Track record for rapid career advancement to date, in recognition for individual performance in roles
• A natural collaborator - comfortable interacting with the various business units.

Soft Skills

• A self-confident, decisive personality whose superior interpersonal skills invite participation and engagement through effective communication and the ability to influence and negotiate
• A natural networker with presence and gravitas who builds and nurtures relationships both internally and externally
• An accomplished leader with a reputation for tenacity, determination and professionalism while able to accommodate compromise
• A dedicated professional, committed to delivering superior service through having an open disposition and a willingness to listen and learn
• Comfortable with operating in a multinational working environment and will be cognisant of and empathetic with cultural issues.

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