Astellas Pharma
Principal Chapter Lead SAP Finance , Ariba, Concur , PlatformX
Astellas Pharma, Northbrook, Illinois, us, 60065
Principal Chapter Lead SAP Finance, Ariba, Concur, PlatformX
Join to apply for the
Principal Chapter Lead SAP Finance, Ariba, Concur, PlatformX
role at
Astellas Pharma . Overview
Do you want to be part of an inclusive team that works to develop innovative therapies for patients? Astellas Pharma Inc. is a pharmaceutical company operating in more than 70 countries, committed to turning innovative science into medical solutions that bring value and hope to patients and their families. This position is based in Northbrook, Illinois. Hybrid work from certain states may be permitted in accordance with Astellas’ Responsible Flexibility Guidelines. Purpose
As the Principal Chapter Lead for SAP Finance, Ariba & Concur, you will provide strategic leadership, technical oversight, and talent development across multiple chapters within a specialized area of digital expertise. You will lead multiple Chapter Leads and their teams, ensuring alignment with the organization's enterprise platform strategy while fostering a culture of innovation, continuous learning, and operational excellence. Our agile operating model includes: Digital Execution – Aligns multiple missions with business goals, facilitates large-scale collaboration, and ensures seamless product development. Digital Capability – Focuses on growth and development of individuals within specific technical disciplines, ensuring continuous enhancement of expertise and leadership. As the Principal Chapter Lead, you will be responsible for developing enterprise-wide capabilities, standardizing best practices, and mentoring Chapter Leads to drive efficiency, resilience, and agility in our digital platforms. Your primary focus will be to enhance digital capabilities, contributing to strategic goals, and nurturing a team of talented professionals. Essential Job Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership & Platform Vision
Define and evolve technical and process standards for SAP Finance (FI/CO, FSCM), Ariba, Concur, and FP&A solutions (SAP BPC, SAP Analytics Cloud for Planning, Group Reporting), ensuring seamless integration across the enterprise ERP and financial landscape. Provide architecture guidance for scalable, secure, and future-ready financial, procurement, travel & expense, and planning solutions. Continuously evaluate new SAP releases, S/4HANA Finance, SAC Planning innovations, and BPC upgrades, recommending adoption strategies to deliver measurable business value.
People Leadership & Capability Development
Lead and mentor Chapter Leads and Members specializing in SAP Finance, Ariba, Concur, and FP&A, fostering a culture of deep functional expertise and technical excellence. Establish career pathways, learning journeys, and certification programs in Finance, Procurement, and Planning technologies to strengthen enterprise-wide capability. Build a robust talent pipeline by attracting and retaining top SAP talent and investing in upskilling on S/4HANA Finance, SAC Planning, AI/ML for FP&A, and intelligent spend management.
Collaboration & Cross-functional Influence
Act as the connector between execution-focused product teams and capability-focused chapters, ensuring balance between project delivery and capability growth. Partner with Finance, FP&A, Procurement, and Travel stakeholders to co-create digital solutions that simplify processes, ensure compliance, and improve planning accuracy and transparency. Collaborate with Enterprise Architecture, Cybersecurity, and Infrastructure teams to ensure secure, compliant, and integrated SAP Finance and Planning solutions. Drive cross-enterprise initiatives such as global template design for Finance, Source-to-Pay process harmonization, integrated FP&A forecasting, and intelligent expense automation.
Operational Excellence & Technical Governance
Define and enforce best practices, architectural standards, and governance frameworks for SAP Finance, Ariba, Concur, and FP&A platforms. Ensure platforms are compliant with financial regulations, cost-effective, and aligned with audit and risk management requirements. Lead enterprise-wide initiatives in areas such as SAP S/4HANA adoption, automation in Procure-to-Pay, Order-to-Cash, and Plan-to-Perform processes, and AI-enabled FP&A operations. Drive continuous optimization to support financial transparency, forecasting accuracy, procurement agility, and employee experience in travel and expense management.
Qualifications Required
Education: Advanced degree in Finance, Accounting, Information Systems, Computer Science, or related field. Experience: Minimum of 15 years of progressive experience in enterprise ERP and financial platforms, with proven expertise in SAP Finance (FI/CO, FSCM), Ariba, Concur, and FP&A solutions. Demonstrated leadership in S/4HANA Finance transformation, intelligent spend management, and enterprise planning & consolidation initiatives. Must have had several full cycle SAP Global Implementations experience leading the Finance SAP implementation team, as part of enterprise transformation programs. Strong Intercompany knowledge with integration with other modules is needed Strong knowledge of global tax requirements and solutions is preferred Knowledge and Integration experience with Bolt-on applications such as Thompson Reuters Tax Engine, OPENTEXT, SWIFTNET and BLACKLINE Agile Expertise: Deep knowledge of Agile principles and frameworks, with hands-on experience leading Agile/Lean transformations in ERP and Finance platform environments. Professional certifications (e.g., SAFe Agilist, Certified Scrum Master) highly desirable. Leadership & Team Development: Strong track record of building, mentoring, and leading high-performing ERP and Finance capability teams. Proven coaching and facilitation skills to develop talent and foster collaboration across global chapters. Strategic Thinking: Ability to define and execute strategic roadmaps for Finance, Procurement, Travel & Expense, and FP&A platforms. Skilled at aligning SAP capabilities with business objectives to simplify processes, ensure compliance, enhance planning accuracy, and drive innovation. Technical Proficiency:
Advanced expertise in SAP Finance (S/4HANA FI/CO Including Treasury and Material ledger, FSCM), Ariba (Source-to-Pay), Concur (Travel & Expense), and FP&A/Planning solutions (SAP Analytics Cloud for Planning, SAP Group Reporting, BPC, and Consolidation tools). Strong knowledge of SAP Cloud Platform (BTP), Fiori, and SAP Analytics Cloud (SAC) for financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, and advanced reporting.
Strong Intercompany knowledge with integration with other modules is needed Strong knowledge of tax is preferred Bolt-on applications such as Thompson Reuters Tax Engine, OPENTEXT, SWIFTNET and BLACKLINE Familiarity with integration tools and middleware (SAP CPI, PI/PO, or equivalent) and exposure to automation solutions (RPA, AI/ML in Finance and FP&A use cases). Understanding financial regulations (SOX, IFRS, GAAP), risk management, and audit compliance requirements. Collaboration & Influence: Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence senior Finance, Procurement, and FP&A leaders. Adept at bridging financial strategy, business requirements, and technology enablement across global organizations. Working Environment
At Astellas we recognize the importance of work/life balance, and we are proud to offer a hybrid working solution allowing time to connect with colleagues at the office with the flexibility to also work from home. Hybrid work from certain locations may be permitted in accordance with Astellas’ Responsible Flexibility Guidelines. Salary Range
$197,400 - $282,000 Benefits
Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance Generous Paid Time Off options, including Vacation and Sick time, plus national holidays including year-end shut down 401(k) match and annual company contribution Company paid life insurance Annual Corporate Bonus and Quarterly Sales Incentive for eligible positions Long Term Incentive Plan for eligible positions Referral bonus program EOE including Disability/Protected Veterans
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Join to apply for the
Principal Chapter Lead SAP Finance, Ariba, Concur, PlatformX
role at
Astellas Pharma . Overview
Do you want to be part of an inclusive team that works to develop innovative therapies for patients? Astellas Pharma Inc. is a pharmaceutical company operating in more than 70 countries, committed to turning innovative science into medical solutions that bring value and hope to patients and their families. This position is based in Northbrook, Illinois. Hybrid work from certain states may be permitted in accordance with Astellas’ Responsible Flexibility Guidelines. Purpose
As the Principal Chapter Lead for SAP Finance, Ariba & Concur, you will provide strategic leadership, technical oversight, and talent development across multiple chapters within a specialized area of digital expertise. You will lead multiple Chapter Leads and their teams, ensuring alignment with the organization's enterprise platform strategy while fostering a culture of innovation, continuous learning, and operational excellence. Our agile operating model includes: Digital Execution – Aligns multiple missions with business goals, facilitates large-scale collaboration, and ensures seamless product development. Digital Capability – Focuses on growth and development of individuals within specific technical disciplines, ensuring continuous enhancement of expertise and leadership. As the Principal Chapter Lead, you will be responsible for developing enterprise-wide capabilities, standardizing best practices, and mentoring Chapter Leads to drive efficiency, resilience, and agility in our digital platforms. Your primary focus will be to enhance digital capabilities, contributing to strategic goals, and nurturing a team of talented professionals. Essential Job Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership & Platform Vision
Define and evolve technical and process standards for SAP Finance (FI/CO, FSCM), Ariba, Concur, and FP&A solutions (SAP BPC, SAP Analytics Cloud for Planning, Group Reporting), ensuring seamless integration across the enterprise ERP and financial landscape. Provide architecture guidance for scalable, secure, and future-ready financial, procurement, travel & expense, and planning solutions. Continuously evaluate new SAP releases, S/4HANA Finance, SAC Planning innovations, and BPC upgrades, recommending adoption strategies to deliver measurable business value.
People Leadership & Capability Development
Lead and mentor Chapter Leads and Members specializing in SAP Finance, Ariba, Concur, and FP&A, fostering a culture of deep functional expertise and technical excellence. Establish career pathways, learning journeys, and certification programs in Finance, Procurement, and Planning technologies to strengthen enterprise-wide capability. Build a robust talent pipeline by attracting and retaining top SAP talent and investing in upskilling on S/4HANA Finance, SAC Planning, AI/ML for FP&A, and intelligent spend management.
Collaboration & Cross-functional Influence
Act as the connector between execution-focused product teams and capability-focused chapters, ensuring balance between project delivery and capability growth. Partner with Finance, FP&A, Procurement, and Travel stakeholders to co-create digital solutions that simplify processes, ensure compliance, and improve planning accuracy and transparency. Collaborate with Enterprise Architecture, Cybersecurity, and Infrastructure teams to ensure secure, compliant, and integrated SAP Finance and Planning solutions. Drive cross-enterprise initiatives such as global template design for Finance, Source-to-Pay process harmonization, integrated FP&A forecasting, and intelligent expense automation.
Operational Excellence & Technical Governance
Define and enforce best practices, architectural standards, and governance frameworks for SAP Finance, Ariba, Concur, and FP&A platforms. Ensure platforms are compliant with financial regulations, cost-effective, and aligned with audit and risk management requirements. Lead enterprise-wide initiatives in areas such as SAP S/4HANA adoption, automation in Procure-to-Pay, Order-to-Cash, and Plan-to-Perform processes, and AI-enabled FP&A operations. Drive continuous optimization to support financial transparency, forecasting accuracy, procurement agility, and employee experience in travel and expense management.
Qualifications Required
Education: Advanced degree in Finance, Accounting, Information Systems, Computer Science, or related field. Experience: Minimum of 15 years of progressive experience in enterprise ERP and financial platforms, with proven expertise in SAP Finance (FI/CO, FSCM), Ariba, Concur, and FP&A solutions. Demonstrated leadership in S/4HANA Finance transformation, intelligent spend management, and enterprise planning & consolidation initiatives. Must have had several full cycle SAP Global Implementations experience leading the Finance SAP implementation team, as part of enterprise transformation programs. Strong Intercompany knowledge with integration with other modules is needed Strong knowledge of global tax requirements and solutions is preferred Knowledge and Integration experience with Bolt-on applications such as Thompson Reuters Tax Engine, OPENTEXT, SWIFTNET and BLACKLINE Agile Expertise: Deep knowledge of Agile principles and frameworks, with hands-on experience leading Agile/Lean transformations in ERP and Finance platform environments. Professional certifications (e.g., SAFe Agilist, Certified Scrum Master) highly desirable. Leadership & Team Development: Strong track record of building, mentoring, and leading high-performing ERP and Finance capability teams. Proven coaching and facilitation skills to develop talent and foster collaboration across global chapters. Strategic Thinking: Ability to define and execute strategic roadmaps for Finance, Procurement, Travel & Expense, and FP&A platforms. Skilled at aligning SAP capabilities with business objectives to simplify processes, ensure compliance, enhance planning accuracy, and drive innovation. Technical Proficiency:
Advanced expertise in SAP Finance (S/4HANA FI/CO Including Treasury and Material ledger, FSCM), Ariba (Source-to-Pay), Concur (Travel & Expense), and FP&A/Planning solutions (SAP Analytics Cloud for Planning, SAP Group Reporting, BPC, and Consolidation tools). Strong knowledge of SAP Cloud Platform (BTP), Fiori, and SAP Analytics Cloud (SAC) for financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, and advanced reporting.
Strong Intercompany knowledge with integration with other modules is needed Strong knowledge of tax is preferred Bolt-on applications such as Thompson Reuters Tax Engine, OPENTEXT, SWIFTNET and BLACKLINE Familiarity with integration tools and middleware (SAP CPI, PI/PO, or equivalent) and exposure to automation solutions (RPA, AI/ML in Finance and FP&A use cases). Understanding financial regulations (SOX, IFRS, GAAP), risk management, and audit compliance requirements. Collaboration & Influence: Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence senior Finance, Procurement, and FP&A leaders. Adept at bridging financial strategy, business requirements, and technology enablement across global organizations. Working Environment
At Astellas we recognize the importance of work/life balance, and we are proud to offer a hybrid working solution allowing time to connect with colleagues at the office with the flexibility to also work from home. Hybrid work from certain locations may be permitted in accordance with Astellas’ Responsible Flexibility Guidelines. Salary Range
$197,400 - $282,000 Benefits
Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance Generous Paid Time Off options, including Vacation and Sick time, plus national holidays including year-end shut down 401(k) match and annual company contribution Company paid life insurance Annual Corporate Bonus and Quarterly Sales Incentive for eligible positions Long Term Incentive Plan for eligible positions Referral bonus program EOE including Disability/Protected Veterans
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