Vice President, Operational Finance (Clinical Research)

Vice President, Operational Finance (Clinical Research)

Department: Finance & Accounting

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Alcanza Corporate

Reporting To: Jeff Irving

Description

Alcanza is a growing multi-site, multi-phase clinical research company with a network of locations in AL, AZ, FL, GA, IL, MA, MI, MO, NV, SC, TX, VA, and Puerto Rico. We have established a strong presence across Phase I-IV studies and several therapeutic areas including vaccine, neurology, dermatology, psychiatry, and general medicine. Join us as we continue to grow.

The Vice President of Operational Finance provides enterprise-wide leadership of operational finance across a multi-site clinical research network. This role owns the site profitability insights, cost and margin management, and operational KPI governance; partners closely with Operations leadership to translate study performance and patient journey metrics into financial outcomes; and leads the annual planning process, rolling forecasts, scenario and sensitivity analysis, and executive reporting. The VP oversees FP&A and financial systems/ERP/BI to improve liquidity, working capital, and the cash conversion cycle, while supporting strategic initiatives such as acquisitions and de novo site openings.

Key Responsibilities

Essential Job Duties:

Strategic leadership & business partnering

• Serve as the senior finance partner to Operations leadership (COO/VPs), aligning operational goals with financial outcomes and advising on study portfolio decisions and capacity planning.
• Own the enterprise annual operating plan (AOP), quarterly reforecasts, and monthly performance reviews; ensure goals are measurable and cascaded to sites.

Performance management & KPI governance

• Design and maintain an operational finance scorecard that integrates site/study metrics with financial results; provide actionable insights to accelerate site performance and mitigate risks.
• Ensure standardized processes and reporting across the network to support consistency, efficiency, and scale.

Budgeting, forecasting, scenario planning

• Direct the development of annual budgets and consolidated forecasts across business units; implement rolling forecasts and variance analyses.
• Use scenario and sensitivity analyses to evaluate potential outcomes; translate insights into executive recommendations and corrective actions.

Pricing, contracts, and margin management

• Partner with Business Development and Contracts to evaluate study economics, set pricing guardrails, and improve contribution margins.
• Monitor profit drivers (mix, throughput, staffing, vendor costs) and lead margin improvement programs.

Systems, data, and controls

• Oversee optimization of core financial systems and data governance to improve accuracy, completeness, and timeliness.
• Strengthen internal controls, ensure accurate, timely, and complete financial reporting; coordinate external audits and lender reporting requirements.

Talent leadership & development

• Oversee people management for assigned team, including interviewing, timecards, absence tracking/approvals, new hire orientation and training, performance appraisals, and other similar functions. Proactively identify and resolve issues and work to ensure successful team operations.
• Provide coaching and mentorship; promote cross-functional collaboration with Clinical Operations, Patient Experience, Recruitment Ops, Technology & Data.

Administration and Other

• Handle escalated inquiries or issues. Escalate issues as appropriate or needed.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory guidelines and company policies.
• Participate and present in team, department, management or site meetings.
• Maintain a positive, results-oriented work environment, build partnerships within the team and across the organization at large, and model teamwork.
• Perform all other duties that may be requested or assigned

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

Minimum Qualifications: A bachelor's degree in finance or accounting AND 10+ years of progressive finance leadership experience including multi-site operational finance, and specifically within either clinical research or healthcare services, and within privity equity backed environments, is required. 2+ years of people management experience is required. Must have exceptional analytical skills, advanced financial modeling skills, and expert proficiency in Excel.

Required Skills:

• May be required to travel up to 20% of the time, dependent on business needs.
• Proficiency with computer applications such as Microsoft applications, email, electronic health records, web applications, and the ability to type proficiently (40+ wpm).
• Must possess strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and have basic math proficiency.
• Executive-level communication skills with the ability to present complex analyses to senior leadership and the Board.
• Well-developed listening skills and the ability to work well independently as well as with co-workers, subjects, managers, and external customers
• Ability to handle multiple tasks and changes in workloads and priorities.
• Ability to effectively handle multiple tasks and changes in workloads and priorities
• Ability to be professional, respectful of others, self-motivated, and exemplify a strong work ethic
• Must possess a high degree of integrity and dependability
• Ability to work under minimal supervision, identify problems and implement solutions
• Ability to handle highly sensitive information in a confidential and professional manner, and in compliance with HIPAA guidelines

Benefits

• Full-time employees regularly scheduled to work at least 30 hours per week are benefits-eligible, with coverage starting on the first day of the month following date of hire.
• Medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short and long-term disability insurance, health savings accounts, supplemental insurances, and a 401k plan with a safe harbor match are offered.