Operations Finance Director – Clinical Research Central Laboratory

Thermo Fisher Scientific

Operations Finance Director driving financial excellence across global clinical research operations. Key business partner influencing portfolio strategy and financial performance with a high-performing finance team.

Posted 5/30/2026full-timeWilmington • Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio • 🇺🇸 United StatesLead💰 $145,000 - $170,000 per yearWebsite

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Partner cross-functionally with Project Management, Business Development, Commercial Finance, and Legal to ensure financial risks are identified and addressed early in the study lifecycle
Establish and maintain operating mechanisms that improve visibility into study financial performance, including budget tracking, variance analysis, and risk forecasting
Translate financial insights into actionable recommendations that influence operational and commercial decision-making
Lead continuous improvement initiatives to enhance financial processes, reduce cycle times, and improve data quality and reporting consistency
Drive accountability across stakeholders for financial performance
Coordinate and oversee sponsor financial audits, ensuring compliance with contractual terms, regulatory expectations, and audit readiness standards
Build, lead, and develop a high-performing, globally distributed finance team

Requirements

What you’ll need

Bachelor's degree or equivalent and relevant formal academic / vocational qualification (Advanced degree preferred)
Previous progressive finance experience within a complex, global organization (comparable to 10+ years’ experience)
Demonstrated leadership experience with increasing levels of responsibility
Understanding of clinical research operations including laboratory analysis
Experience supporting financial management of clinical trials, including study budgets and pass-through costs
Deep knowledge of revenue recognition principles (within a Central Laboratory environment preferred)
Must be able to communicate, receive, and understand information and ideas with diverse groups of people

Benefits

Comp & perks

Health insurance
401(k) matching
Paid time off
Flexibility in work arrangements
Professional development opportunities

ATS Keywords

✓ Tailor your resume

Applicant Tracking System Keywords

Tip: use these terms in your resume and cover letter to boost ATS matches.

Hard Skills & Tools

budget trackingvariance analysisrisk forecastingfinancial managementrevenue recognition principlesclinical trial budgetingdata quality improvementfinancial reporting consistencyaudit readinessfinancial process improvement

Soft Skills

leadershipcross-functional collaborationcommunicationaccountabilitydecision-makingteam developmentoperational influencestakeholder managementproblem-solvingcontinuous improvement

Certifications

Bachelor's degreeAdvanced degree (preferred)