BMGF Finance Associate, Global Health in Seattle

Background

The Global Health Finance team is seeking an energetic, collaborative Finance Associate to provide business and financial support to Global Health program teams. This role is part of the Global Health Finance Team and will directly support Program Strategy Teams (PST), partnering with experts in drug and vaccine science on making and managing investments which the Gates Foundation funds. Key responsibilities include assessment of grantee/vendor financial position, evaluation and negotiation of investment budgets, investment structuring and continued financial monitoring of multi-year investments. Other key responsibilities include financial planning and forecasting to support the PST Director in resource allocation decisions, as well as project work to strengthen the Global Health Division in managing financial aspects of its R&D pipeline and individual clinical programs.

The Finance Associate must be successful at influencing through effective partnership and communication skills and should have experience using financial analysis and modeling skills in advisory roles. Other critical skills for success include solution-orientation and a proactive approach to responsibilities. The ability to synthesize data is key, and strong analytic skills, both at a conceptual level and at a technical tool level are highly valued. Most importantly, the candidate must be passionate about the foundation’s mission, particularly in addressing the global health inequities that exist today. Financial and data analytics experience in Biotech/Pharma industry or related area is strongly preferred. This role is based at the foundation’s Seattle headquarters and may involve travel up to 25%.

Core Responsibilities

Investments

Partner with technical experts (Program Officers specializing in drug, vaccine and diagnostic R&D) to provide financial and business perspectives in investment-making
Perform financial due diligence of grantees/vendors, evaluating their financial position and risks
Collaborate with grantees/vendors to develop and negotiate investment budgets for projects in drug, vaccine and diagnostic development
Benchmark costs where possible to inform recommendations and advise to Program Officers
Structure investments to optimize cash disbursements in consideration of scientific and operational risks, factoring in milestones and other aspects of the product development cycle

Financial Planning & Pipeline Management

Work closely with PST leadership and Program Officers to translate PST strategy into long-range forecasts and annual plans
Perform analysis and provide PST leadership with strategic and financial information to support dynamic financial resource allocation and decision-making
Manage forecast preparation, variance analysis and review process for PST Director.
Create and manage financial planning tools that support decision-making and communication with senior leadership

Data & Analytics and Other Projects

Oversee the Global Health Finance team’s dashboard and data visual reporting (e.g. Tableau, Power BI, etc.), and serve as liaison to the central Data, Reporting and Analytics team in order to fully leverage the Foundation’s data infrastructure for the Global Health Division
Conduct data analyses to generate new insights on the Gates Foundation’s large Global Health investment portfolio, leading to improved allocation of resources and operational efficiency
Participate in complex transactions and special projects for PSTs with significant financial analysis component
Participate in cross-foundation projects to improve tools and practices in support of effective investment-making, pipeline management and operational excellence
Respond to complex and ad-hoc requests data analysis for from leadership

Core Knowledge and Skills

Experience within biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry preferred
Knowledge of Global Health and/or infectious diseases preferred
Experience with finance processes, such as budgeting, forecasting, reporting, financial statement analysis, etc.
Experience with organizational due diligence through financial statement analysis
Advanced data & analytics skills, including experience with database, statistics and visualization tools
Understanding of data structures and SQL preferred
Expertise in developing, maintaining and managing dashboards and critical reports/visualizations, preferably with Tableau and/or PowerBI
Strong analytical skills, ability to absorb and synthesize data, build quantitative models and distill key insights
Experience working at or with CRO/CMOs preferred
Experience with R&D portfolio management preferred
Advanced Excel skills
Strong relationship building skills and ability to influence without formal authority
Ability to communicate complex data and financial concepts to partners with diverse backgrounds, including leadership, program staff, grantees/vendors and other stakeholders
Ability to conduct high quality interactions and ensure clear and consistent communications with external parties (grantees/vendors and other partners
Ability to manage multiple projects and navigate multidisciplinary teams in a matrixed organization
Ability to work independently with solution-oriented mindset, intellectual curiosity and a good sense of humor

Education and Experience

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree with 3-7 years of relevant experience

For this role we are only able to consider applicants who have current work authorization in the USA and will not require employer-sponsored VISA support to begin or remain in this position.

As part of our standard hiring process for new employees, employment with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation will be contingent upon successful completion of a background check.

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is dedicated to the belief that all lives have equal value. We’re committed to creating a workplace where employees thrive both personally and professionally. We also believe our employees should reflect the rich diversity of the global populations we aim to serve—in race, gender, age, cultures and beliefs—and we support this diversity through all of our employment practices.

All applicants and employees who are drawn to serve the mission of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will enjoy equality of opportunity and fair treatment without regard to:

* Race

* Color

* Age

* Religion

* Pregnancy

* Sex

* Sexual Orientation

* Disability

* Gender Identity

* Gender Expression

* National Origin

* Genetic Information

* Veteran Status

* Marital Status

* Prior Protected Activity

About BMGF

ALL LIVES HAVE EQUAL VALUE

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) is an American private foundation founded by Bill and Melinda Gates. The primary goals of the foundation are, globally, to enhance healthcare and reduce extreme poverty, and, in the U.S., to expand educational opportunities and access to information technology.

The foundation works with partners worldwide to tackle critical problems in five program areas.

Our Global Health Division aims to reduce inequities in health by developing new tools and strategies to reduce the burden of infectious disease and the leading causes of child mortality in developing countries.
Our Global Development Division focuses on improving the delivery of high-impact health products and services to the world’s poorest communities and helps countries expand access to health coverage.
Our Global Growth & Opportunity division focuses on creating and scaling market-based innovations to stimulate inclusive and sustainable economic growth.
Our United States Division works to improve U.S. high school and postsecondary education, and support vulnerable children and families in Washington State.
And our Global Policy & Advocacy Division seeks to build strategic relationships and promote policies that will help advance our work. Our approach to grantmaking in all five areas emphasizes collaboration, innovation, risk-taking, and, most importantly, results.

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